Qatar, a representative of one of the most economically successful regions on the planet (Middle East), is introducing a new way to obtain the Qatar Residency Visa. This will be one of the most cost-effective programs compared to neighboring countries. At the same time, one of the poorest countries in the world, Mozambique (Africa), introduced a very expensive residence permit program – the Mozambique Investor Visa Program.
New Investment Option for Qatar's Residency Visa
This fall, Qatar introduced the opportunity to obtain a Temporary Residence Permit for a property purchase of at least US$200,000 (QAR 730,000). However, this option is only available in designated zones such as Doha’s Lusail and The Pearl districts.
The program provides a one-year residence permit with the possibility of renewal. The Qatar Residency Visa program further requires 90 days of physical presence per year. Qatari authorities report that application processing takes days, if not weeks.
You can also obtain a Qatar Permanent Residence Permit, but this requires an investment of US$1 million. In the UAE, for example, you can purchase real estate for US$545,000 and obtain permanent residency for 10 years.
Qatar’s economy is based on oil and gas exports, which provide its residents with a very high standard of living thanks to resource revenues. This translates into a high GDP per capita, low crime rates, free healthcare and education, and ample opportunities for the realization of ideas. However, despite the wealth, the cost of living is very high, and basic amenities are primarily available to citizens.
Mozambique Investor Visa Program
President-elect Daniel Chapo announced the Mozambique Investor Visa Program at the Mozambique Tourism Summit. It was stated that all processing will be done remotely, and the government will create a dedicated portal for this purpose, advocating for digital application processing.
The minimum investment threshold is known to start at US$500,000 and reach US$1 million for a 10-year visa. It has not been announced whether program participants will be eligible for expedited naturalization.
Mozambique’s pricing policy suggests that a program with such terms is unlikely to be competitive, particularly because other countries in the region offer direct pathways to citizenship for investments five times lower.
For example, Sao Tome and Principe’s new citizenship program (from US$90,000) and Egypt’s citizenship (from US$250,000) are among them. Botswana plans to launch a citizenship-by-investment program starting from US$75,000.
Interestingly, even before the program’s launch, the Botswana government invited potential participants to register their interest on a dedicated website. Apparently following the example of the US presidential administration, which launched a dedicated website, the Trump Gold Card. Botswana claims to have received 464 applications in the first week since the announcement of its citizenship-by-investment program. If the program is successful, Botswana could not only attract millions of dollars in investment but also cement its status as a new investment hub for Africa.
