Investor visas are designed to attract foreign capital and business people by providing the right of residence in return for a monetary investment.

Investor programs usually have multiple criteria that must be fulfilled for the investment to qualify, often pertaining to job creation, purchasing of real estate, non-refundable contributions or specific targeted industries. Most investor programs are structured to ensure that the investment contributes to the welfare, advancement and economic development of the country. 

Golden Visa refers to a person's residence status in a country where they are not a citizen, but are allowed to reside indefinitely.

Golden Visas are offered as incentives to attract foreign investment. As the market for Golden Visas continues to grow, the permits become accessible to larger number of foreign investors who intend to buy a second home abroad.