What Happens After the 5 Year Holding Period for Real Estate? Breaking Down the Golden Visa Real Estate Exit Strategy
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Let’s be honest: one of the biggest questions buzzing in the minds of real estate investors tied to golden visa or residency-by-investment (RBI) programs is, “What happens after the 5 year holding period? Can I sell and still keep my residency? Do I lose everything once the property is sold?”
If you're weighing your exit strategy or simply confused about the difference between residency and citizenship in investment migration, you’re not alone. So, what’s the catch?
First, a crucial distinction that trips up a lot of people: Confusing residency with citizenship. These are two completely different benefits. Residency allows you to live, work, and often study in a country but the passport—citizenship—comes with much more tangible power.
Understanding Citizenship by Investment (CBI) vs. Residency by Investment (RBI)
Before we dive into what happens after the standard 5-year holding period, it’s important to map out the terrain.

Residency by Investment (RBI): You invest in real estate or other local assets and obtain residency rights. This typically comes with the condition to hold onto your investment for a minimum period, often 5 years. Citizenship by Investment (CBI): You make a qualifying investment—sometimes real estate, sometimes a donation or business investment—and after a thorough due diligence process, you receive citizenship and a passport. Citizenship usually comes with fewer ongoing obligations on your investment.
In many cases, golden visa real estate programs fall under RBI, while the headline-grabbing “buy a passport” deals are often CBI programs. But again, never confuse obtaining a visa or residency permit with outright citizenship.
So, what happens after the 5 years? The Golden Visa Real Estate Exit Strategy Explained
Let’s say you purchased a property through an RBI Malta citizenship by investment moneypassinvest.com program, such as those Moneypass Invest helps clients with. You’ve held the property for five years, met all residency requirements, and now wonder about your exit options. Here’s the straightforward reality:
You can sell your property after the holding period. Most programs require you to keep your investment for a minimum period (commonly 5 years). Upon fulfilling this, you are generally free to sell. Residency status is not automatically guaranteed after you sell. This is the main sticking point. Residency is typically conditional on maintaining your investment, so selling could mean losing your residency rights unless you have obtained permanent residency or citizenship by then. If your goal was citizenship, you want to apply before or at the end of this period. With many CBI programs, real estate is just the stepping stone to citizenship, which, once granted, frees you from having to hold the asset.
So, whether you’ll keep your residency after selling real estate depends largely on where you are in the process and the specific laws of the country involved.
Common Mistake: Thinking You Automatically Keep Residency If You Sell Property
Here’s a classic misstep I’ve seen more times than I can count. Many Citizenship or residence by investment investors assume that once they’ve spent 5 years invested and obtained residency, they can sell their property and keep their residency without interruption. Not true.
Residency by investment programs almost always tie your residency status to the investment itself. When the investment disappears, so does your residency right — unless you’ve qualified for permanent residency or citizenship during that timeframe.
Ask yourself: Did I complete the naturalization or permanent residency application within those five years? Am I legally entitled to stay independent of my real estate investment? If the answer is no, plan accordingly.
The Tangible Benefits of a Second Passport: More Than Just Travel Convenience
Can we take a moment to appreciate the quality and design of a world-class passport?
Beyond aesthetics, holding a second passport maximizes your mobility in ways residency never will. A second passport means:
Visa-free travel to 150+ countries including the EU Schengen zone, the UK, and often Canada The right to live, work, and even vote in your new country Certain tax advantages depending on your new nationality Ease of business - think opening bank accounts, signing contracts, and registering companies based on citizenship
Investing in real estate with a citizenship goal in mind isn’t just about holding a property; it’s about unlocking these freedoms that real estate alone can’t guarantee.
How Investment Migration Provides a ‘Plan B’ for Families and Entrepreneurs
Ever wonder why so many successful business owners and high-net-worth families pursue investment migration?
Because it creates a genuine “Plan B” — a safety net that goes beyond financial diversification. Global mobility strategies smooth out the ups and downs of geopolitics, taxation, or sudden lifestyle changes.
Through firms like Moneypass Invest, investors tap into safe, transparent programs that provide:
Access to quality healthcare and education options abroad Options for family inclusion, including spouse and children Security against unexpected political or economic shifts at home Peace of mind with a “Plan B” passport in the drawer
Navigating the Application Process and Required Documents With Confidence
So, you’ve got your eye on a particular real estate golden visa—now what? The application process, if handled wrong, can become a bureaucratic nightmare.


Here's a practical breakdown, like we’re mapping it out over coffee:
Initial Eligibility Screening: Background checks on investor and family members (police clearances, source of funds verification) Property Purchase and Investment Confirmation: Legal title, purchase agreement, proof of funds Residency Application Submission: Completed applications, passports, photos, proof of health insurance where required Interview or In-Person Appearance: Some countries require this; others do not Due Diligence and Government Vetting: Time varies country-by-country. Be patient. Transparency here is key. Approval, Residency Card or Passport Issuance: Welcome to your new home, at least legally.
One pro tip: use trusted intermediaries like Moneypass Invest who know the language of these applications and can help avoid costly, time-consuming mistakes.
Final Thoughts: But Is It Really Worth It?
After 15 years in investment migration, working directly with clients living those “Plan B” benefits, I’m convinced it absolutely is.
The golden visa real estate exit strategy isn’t just about the investment you buy, it’s about the passport you gain or the residency security you build. Knowing when and how you can sell that property without losing your status is vital.
So if you find yourself asking “Do I keep residency if I sell property?”, pause and strategize. Plan your citizenship application in parallel, or secure permanent residency before cashing out your asset.
Trust me, I’ve seen clients close multi-million dollar deals, use their golden visa properties as stepping stones, and then elegantly exit their investments — all while keeping their residency or citizenship intact. It’s a game of timing, patience, and legal know-how.
And if you ever want to chat through your options — no jargon, just facts — reach out. That’s what I’m here for.
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