Global Mobility
Residency Through Property: What Still Works in 2026
Programmes change faster than buyers do. Here is how to think about mobility without buying yesterday's rulebook.
99Habitat Editorial · 25 Aug 2026 · 6 min read
In short
Property-linked residency has shifted away from Western Europe towards the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. The UAE, Qatar, Mauritius and Greece still connect qualifying property to a residence permit, while Portugal and Spain have narrowed or removed the property route. Because terms change frequently, the asset should stand on its own merits even if the programme changes.
The centre of gravity has moved
For a decade, 'residency through property' meant Southern Europe. That era has largely closed: several programmes have been restructured, repriced or ended, and the ones that survive have moved thresholds upward and away from the most desirable neighbourhoods.
The Gulf filled the gap. Property-linked renewable residence visas in the UAE and Qatar are administratively straightforward and, crucially, are tied to ownership rather than to a fund subscription.
Read the permit, not the pitch
A residence permit is not citizenship, and rarely is it a path to it. It usually grants the right to live, bank and school locally, with renewal conditional on continued ownership.
Ask three questions before anything else: who is included as a dependant, what happens if the property is sold, and how many days a year you must actually be present.
The rule we give every client
Buy an asset you would be content to own if the programme disappeared tomorrow. Programmes are policy; policy changes. A well-located, well-titled property with genuine tenant demand survives a rule change. A mediocre asset bought only for a permit does not.
References
This article is general information, not investment, tax or legal advice. Rules change — confirm current requirements with qualified counsel before you transact.
Next step
Deciding where to buy abroad?
Tell us your objective and we will tell you which three countries actually fit it.
Find my Global Property Match