The European Union is implementing more rigorous due diligence requirements across member states offering Golden Visa and Citizenship by Investment programmes. These measures reflect the EU’s ongoing commitment to combating financial crime, enhancing transparency, and safeguarding the integrity of its immigration systems.

What’s Changing in 2025?

As of early 2025, countries operating investor residency or citizenship schemes are now required to adopt stricter identity verification processes, enhanced source of funds analysis, and inter-agency data sharing protocols. This includes closer scrutiny of politically exposed persons (PEPs), beneficiaries of offshore trusts, and applicants from high-risk jurisdictions.

These changes come in response to growing EU-level pressure to ensure that such programmes are not exploited for money laundering, tax evasion, or the circumvention of international sanctions. The European Commission has issued compliance directives urging member states to align their investor immigration schemes with the Union’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) frameworks.

Impacted Programmes

Programmes in Greece, Cyprus, Malta, and several Eastern European nations are undergoing active revision. Authorities in these countries are working to standardise application reviews and to integrate biometric and financial background verification using EU-wide data sources.

Some countries are also imposing additional pre-screening stages before an application can be formally lodged, significantly increasing the processing time for applicants. While these reforms may reduce application volume in the short term, they are designed to reinforce long-term programme legitimacy.

What Investors Should Expect

Applicants should be prepared to submit extensive financial documentation, including audited bank statements, tax returns, declarations of beneficial ownership, and confirmation of asset origin. Any unexplained or unusually structured transactions may lead to delays or outright refusal.

This is particularly relevant for investors using complex business structures or funding sources involving multiple jurisdictions. Full legal compliance and a clear paper trail have become essential components of a successful application.

How Coates Global Helps Clients Stay Ahead

At Coates Global, due diligence is treated as a strategic advantage — not a burden. Our legal teams conduct internal pre-checks and simulate regulator-grade compliance reviews before submitting any application. We identify potential red flags early and provide guidance on mitigating documentation to ensure alignment with evolving EU requirements.

As the regulatory climate intensifies, expert-led preparation is no longer optional — it is vital. Coates Global remains at the forefront of compliance-led immigration consultancy, ensuring clients’ applications are strong, secure, and future-proof.