Residency by Investment

What residency by investment means

Residency by investment is an immigration pathway that some countries offer to foreign nationals who make a meaningful investment in their economy. It is not a matter of buying a permit: the investment is the starting point of an application that the immigration authority assesses and approves under its own requirements.

Approached correctly, it brings two objectives into a single decision: acquiring an asset or a business in a market with potential, and opening the possibility of residing lawfully in that country.

How it generally works

Each country defines its own immigration category, amounts and procedure. Even so, most programmes follow the same logic:

• A minimum reference amount, set by the country's regulations.
• A properly structured investment, in a form the law recognises.
• Registration or certification of the investment with the competent body.
• Personal documentation and the lawful origin of funds, including criminal record checks.
• Assessment and decision by the immigration authority, which alone approves residency.

Who it is for

It tends to interest investors who want to:

• Diversify their wealth into a market other than their home country.
• Establish a lawful base in another jurisdiction to live, spend part of the year or run a business.
• Expand a company or open operations in a new region.
• Evaluate options that include their family, subject to the requirements of each category.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic's Dirección General de Migración (DGM) provides for permanent residency as an investor for foreign nationals who make economic investments in the country of at least US$200,000, backed by a foreign investment certificate issued by CEI-RD (ProDominicana) or by the National Free Zones Council (CNZF).

The requirements published by the DGM include a residence visa, a letter of admission to the foreign investment programme, a certified record of the investment, the company's incorporation documents, a criminal record certificate, a guarantee policy and medical examinations. According to the DGM, the permanent residency card is first issued for one year and then for four years, renewable.

The key word is certified: the regulations require a foreign investment that the competent body recognises as such. Whether a specific transaction — including a real estate investment — can be structured and certified in that way has to be assessed case by case.

Peru

In Peru, the Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones grants investor resident status to foreign nationals who wish to establish, develop or manage one or more lawful investments under Peruvian law.

The focus is primarily corporate. To change to this status, Migraciones requires proof of an investment of S/ 500,000 or more, under the immigration regulations in force, made by international transfer in a single disbursement through an institution supervised by the Superintendencia de Banca y Seguros. The investment is made in a new company or as a capital increase in an existing one, registered with Sunarp. Residency is granted for 365 days, renewable.

Why structure matters as much as the amount

Two investments of the same size can lead to very different outcomes. The legal form of the transaction, the registration of the investment, the traceability of funds and the investor's documentation determine whether an application is viable. That is why the strategy should be analysed before investing, not afterwards.

The process, step by step

1. Private conversation. We learn about your nationality, current residence, objectives, available capital and family situation.
2. Market selection. We assess which jurisdiction best matches what you are looking for.
3. Identifying opportunities. We present the projects or investment structures that merit evaluation.
4. Eligibility assessment. We coordinate the review with specialised legal and immigration professionals.
5. Structuring the investment. The transaction and its documentation are organised according to the applicable requirements.
6. Immigration application. The relevant professionals prepare and file the application with the authority.
7. Ongoing support. Royal Saturn stays alongside the client throughout the process and in later stages, where applicable.

Royal Saturn identifies, connects, coordinates and supports. Assessment and the final decision rest exclusively with the competent authorities.

General benefits

• Diversification: capital exposed to new markets and assets.
• International residency: a lawful pathway to settle in another jurisdiction.
• Selected real estate: access to projects chosen with an investment lens.
• Business expansion: a corporate presence in a new region, where applicable.
• Family: strategies that may include eligible family members, subject to current requirements.
• Mobility: greater flexibility in organising life, business and investments.

Obtaining immigration residency does not in itself change your tax residence or confer tax benefits. Tax implications depend on individual circumstances and require professional advice.

Official sources

Immigration information verified in September 2026.

• Dirección General de Migración — Permanent residency as an investor
• Government of Peru — Change to investor immigration status
• Government of Peru — Investor resident visa

This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. Requirements, amounts and conditions may change and are subject to assessment and approval by the competent authorities. Making an investment or acquiring a property does not by itself guarantee that residency will be granted.