United States residency by investment.

From
$800k
Permit in
—
Passport in
5 yrs
Index score
65

1 open route

The routes to living in United States.

Our verdict. The EB-5 programme suits an investor who wants a green card for the family and, in time, a US passport: citizenship is possible after about five years. It asks for US$800,000 in a new commercial enterprise in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, or US$1.05 million elsewhere, creating ten full-time jobs; buying a home does not count. The drawback is that the first card is conditional for two years, holders must keep the US as their permanent home, and green-card holders are taxed on worldwide income. The amounts face their first inflation adjustment for petitions filed from 1 January 2027. Next to Panama's Qualified Investor route, the cost is far higher.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

Open65

amounts in force for petitions filed from 15 Mar 2022; first inflation adjustment applies to petitions filed from 1 Jan 2027; regional center program authorised to 30 Sep 2027

Minimum
US$800,000
What counts
Equity investment in a new commercial enterprise creating 10 full-time US jobs: USD 800k in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, USD 1.05m elsewhere. Often real-estate development via regional centers; buying a home does not count.
Processing
Not published
Permit
2 years, not renewable (2-year conditional green card, then petition to remove conditions)
Time you must spend there
no fixed days; must keep US as permanent residence (long absences risk abandonment)
Path to a passport
Citizenship possible after about 5 years; the permit is permanent residence from the start.
Family
spouse and unmarried children under 21
Tax
green-card holders taxed on worldwide income

Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20

Residency rules, thresholds and fees change often, sometimes without notice. Everything here is general information, checked on the date shown, not legal, tax or immigration advice: confirm with the official source and a licensed adviser before you act. Continental sells property; we don’t arrange visas or residency.

Short answers

What people ask.

Can foreign buyers get residency in United States by buying property?
Yes. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program: from US$800,000 (about $800k). Equity investment in a new commercial enterprise creating 10 full-time US jobs: USD 800k in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, USD 1.05m elsewhere. Often real-estate development via regional centers; buying a home does not count.
How long does it take?
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program: the authorities publish no processing time. The permit runs 2 years, not renewable (2-year conditional green card, then petition to remove conditions).
Does it lead to citizenship?
Citizenship possible after about 5 years; the permit is permanent residence from the start.

The Wealth Atlas

What living well in United States costs.

Read it for your passport

United States residency, passport by passport.

Where we can help

Our markets, where a home can count.

We don’t sell homes in United States. These are the countries where we do, and where buying one can count towards residency.

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