How RUE helped Chinese citizens obtain a residence permit in the EU through property investment

In 2025, Europe remains one of the most popular destinations for Chinese citizens looking to obtain a residence permit through investment. Interest in European countries is driven by factors such as a stable legal system, a high quality of life, good education, safety and the freedom to travel within the Schengen Area. However, despite the European space being open, residence-by-investment programmes differ in terms of their conditions, investment thresholds and applicant requirements, making thorough preparation and legal support essential.

The most popular destinations for Chinese investors are Greece, Malta, and Cyprus. These countries offer official government programmes that allow applicants to obtain an RP in exchange for investing in real estate, a business, or a special state fund. These programs grant the right to live in the country, access to the European education and healthcare systems, and the freedom to travel within the Schengen Area. At the same time, most countries do not impose strict requirements for permanent residence; maintaining the investment and periodically confirming resident status is sufficient. This is especially important for Chinese citizens, as it enables them to conduct business between China and Europe without having to relocate permanently.

Nevertheless, obtaining a European residence permit requires transparency and compliance with local regulatory requirements. European states carefully verify the origin of funds, ownership structure and the investor’s compliance profile. China’s currency controls also affect the process of transferring capital, so it is important to prepare the necessary financial documentation in advance to confirm the legitimacy of the investment. Additionally, all programmes require the investment to be maintained for several years, and withdrawing it before the established period expires may result in the loss of resident status.

In recent years, the European Union has tightened control over investment programmes in an effort to prevent money laundering and sham residence schemes. Some countries are revising the terms of their programmes, raising investment thresholds or cancelling the possibility of obtaining a residence permit solely through the purchase of real estate. For Chinese investors, this means the need for more careful choice of jurisdiction and analysis of long-term risks. The reliability and stability of the legal regime, the possibility of extending status and the pathway to permanent residence are now more important than the cost.

Today, an investment residence permit in Europe is not viewed as a means of rapid immigration, but rather as part of a global presence strategy. For affluent Chinese families, it is a tool for protecting capital, diversifying assets, and accessing European education and healthcare. However, unlike in previous years when buying property was sufficient, investors now face more complex requirements, such as participating in real economic projects, creating jobs, and adhering to ESG standards.

Therefore, while Europe remains attractive to Chinese investors in 2025, the approach to obtaining a residence permit is becoming more professional and deliberate. Potential applicants must consider not only economic aspects, but also legal ones, such as the transparency of sources of funds, tax residency, reporting obligations and compliance. Success in this process is not determined by the size of the investment, but by the quality of preparation: establishing the correct ownership structure, selecting a sustainable programme and complying with all the host country’s requirements. A European residence permit remains an achievable goal for Chinese citizens, but it now requires a strategic approach and deep integration into the European legal and business environments.

So, how does the process of obtaining a residence permit through real estate investment work?

In recent years, Regulated United Europe (RUE) has been actively assisting Chinese clients interested in obtaining a residence permit (RP) in Cyprus by purchasing real estate. Thanks to its comprehensive legal and administrative approach, the RUE team provides full support throughout the entire process – from selecting a property and verifying its legal status to submitting documents to the immigration authorities and obtaining the residence permit. Chinese clients often encounter specific challenges when investing in Cypriot real estate, such as difficulties with Chinese currency controls, the need to prove the origin of funds, and differences between Chinese and European legal procedures. RUE’s lawyers overcome these obstacles by structuring the transaction in strict accordance with Cypriot legislation and the requirements of the Migration Department. The company prepares documents confirming the legitimacy of the source of funds, facilitates the transfer of capital and ensures the notarisation and registration of property rights.

One of RUE’s key strengths is its ability to combine legal, tax and immigration aspects into a single strategy. Special attention is paid to selecting properties that meet the minimum investment threshold of €300,000 (excluding VAT) set by the Cypriot residence permit programme for Chinese clients. At the same time, the property must be purchased from a Cyprus-registered developer, and payment must come from the applicant’s personal bank account. RUE specialists select projects that fully meet these criteria, thereby minimising the risk of refusal. Once the transaction has been completed, RUE’s lawyers will prepare the document package for submission to the Civil Registry and Migration Department. This package includes notarised deeds, payment confirmations, income certificates and official translations from Chinese. All documents are pre-checked for compliance with the requirements to eliminate formal errors, which often cause delays. The company also arranges apostilles and notarisation of documents in China through trusted partners, significantly speeding up the process. Thanks to its systematic approach and constant interaction with Cypriot authorities, most RUE clients receive their residence permits within four to six months of applying. This status extends to the investor’s entire family – spouse and minor children – and provides them with the right to reside, study, and travel freely within the Schengen Area. Special attention is given to tax planning. RUE’s lawyers and consultants help Chinese citizens to optimise their tax burden, avoid double taxation and structure their asset ownership in accordance with European standards. If necessary, Cypriot companies are created to manage and subsequently rent out the property. In recent years, demand from Chinese investors for Cyprus has grown significantly due to its stable political situation, mild climate and favourable business environment. However, many clients note that, without RUE’s support, navigating the bureaucratic procedures would have been extremely challenging. The company selects the property, prepares the documents and takes over communication with banks, developers and immigration authorities, ensuring transparency at every stage.

Thus, RUE has become a reliable partner for Chinese citizens who have decided to obtain a residence permit by purchasing real estate in Cyprus. Thanks to its in-depth knowledge of legislation, experience of working with local authorities and its personalised approach to each client, the company consistently achieves successful acquisition of resident status and legal protection of investments. For Chinese investors, this is more than just a legal service; it is a real opportunity to establish themselves securely in the European Union and integrate into the European economic space. Below are three case studies of RUE clients obtaining residence permits in different EU countries.

How RUE helped Chinese citizens obtain a residence permit when buying property in Cyprus

A Chinese family from Shenzhen approached Regulated United Europe with the goal of obtaining permanent residence in Cyprus through investing in real estate. They viewed Cyprus as a strategic destination for diversifying their assets and planned to use the property as an investment and as a place to stay during business trips to Europe. The main tasks were to select a project that met the requirements of the Cypriot permanent residence programme and to provide full legal support for the transaction and immigration procedure.

Regulated United Europe‘s lawyers carried out comprehensive due diligence on the developer and the property, prepared the sale and purchase agreement, and ensured ownership was registered with the Cyprus Land Department. The company’s specialists also organised the opening of a local bank account, arranged the transfer of funds in euros and verified that the investment met the minimum threshold of €300,000. Subsequently, RUE compiled the documentation package for submission to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, including proof of income, insurance, police clearance certificates and notarised translations.

Thanks to RUE’s professional support, the PR procedure was completed without delay, and the family received their Cypriot residence cards within three months of applying. The company’s specialists also helped obtain residence permits for the spouse and minor child and prepared a tax plan for optimal property ownership and subsequent application for non-domicile (NON-DOM) tax residency status. This project is an example of how Chinese investors can legally and safely obtain European residency by combining the opportunities of the Cypriot programme with legal and tax planning.

How RUE helped Chinese citizens obtain a residence permit when buying property in Malta

A client from Guangzhou, who owns a manufacturing company, approached Regulated United Europe (RUE) to request Maltese residence for a family of four. The client’s main goals were to secure European education for the children and to be able to travel freely within the Schengen Area. Wanting to minimise risks, the client opted for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), which combines investment in real estate with a contribution to a state fund. RUE specialists analysed the Maltese real estate market and selected a property in the Sliema area worth €420,000 that fully met the programme’s requirements. The legal team then drafted the preliminary purchase agreement, carried out legal due diligence on the property title and organised notarial support and registration of the deed of sale. Subsequently, RUE’s lawyers compiled the complete application package, including proof of income, bank statements, translations and certified certificates. The company also communicated with the regulator, coordinated payment of the mandatory government fees and prepared declarations on the source of funds, a key element for approval.

Consequently, the client and his family were granted permanent residence in Malta, enabling them to live, study and travel within the Schengen Area without visas. Thanks to RUE, the entire process – from selecting the property to issuing residence cards – took less than six months. This case is an example of the effective integration of Chinese investors into Malta’s investment programme, with full compliance with regulatory requirements.

How RUE helped Chinese citizens obtain a residence permit when buying property in Greece

A group of Beijing-based entrepreneurs investing in the tourism sector approached Regulated United Europe with the aim of obtaining Greek residence permits through the Golden Visa programme. They planned to purchase several apartments in Athens and on Crete, for personal use and rental purposes. The main objective was to structure the transaction efficiently – buying the properties with shares distributed among several investors while submitting residence permit applications simultaneously.

Regulated United Europe’s lawyers developed an individual investment structure, ensuring that each property met the minimum threshold of €250,000. The company’s specialists carried out legal due diligence on the properties, organised the signing of preliminary agreements and oversaw the notarisation of the transactions. The RUE team also helped to open bank accounts in Greece for the transfer of funds and subsequent payments, and prepared the full immigration package for submission to the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

Once all the procedures had been completed, the Chinese investors received five-year residence permits, granting them the right to reside in Greece, rent out the properties and subsequently renew their status, provided that the investment is maintained. Thanks to RUE’s work, the process was completed without delay, and the clients also received advice on taxation and rental business management. This project is a prime example of effective cooperation between Chinese investors and the Greek authorities, with Regulated United Europe acting as the legal coordinator to ensure full compliance with the programme’s requirements and protect clients’ interests at every stage of the transaction.