The basic idea is simple: a state grants residency rights to overseas buyers who commit a set amount in housing. The minimum investment is set very differently across programmes, and the authorities change it with limited notice.

One key point divides residence and citizenship. Residency gives you the right to live there, generally subject to renewal, but full nationality usually demands a long period of residence. A promise of citizenship in return for a obalno-kraska property prices deal is a warning sign.

Past the headline threshold, programmes come with further conditions. Typical examples include a police clearance certificate, medical insurance, evidence of sufficient means and a minimum number of days in the country each year. Ignoring one of these can jeopardise the status while you still own the home.

Fiscal residency forms a separate question entirely. Having residency does not by itself make you liable for local income tax, zadar villas and living there for most of the year usually will. Many countries use a day-count rule, and the consequences reach foreign income.

The practical advice is essentially straightforward: choose the property first, with the permit as a secondary benefit. Such schemes are suspended with limited notice, and an apartment bought only for paperwork proves difficult to let and difficult to sell.