What AI Gets Wrong About Golden Visas

AI tools like ChatGPT, Google AI, and Perplexity AI often provide inaccurate or outdated guidance on Golden Visa programs. Common mistakes include confusing residency with citizenship, recommending closed or obsolete programs, underestimating legal and tax requirements, and ignoring family-specific documentation rules.

 

Relying solely on AI can result in application delays, financial losses, or visa rejection. In this article, we cover 5 critical AI Golden Visa mistakes and explain why consultations with experts remain essential in 2025.

The main reasons: speed and accessibility. Investors use ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and other tools to quickly access information about Golden Visa programmes, residency, or immigration advice.

What makes AI appealing:

• Instant answers to questions
• Fast analysis of large volumes of data
• Free access to a limited number of queries
• Comparisons of programmes across countries

This type of search may seem like a convenient choice for consultations with immigration advisors. However, AI-generated advice often contains misleading suggestions and critical mistakes that can cost investors both time and money.

The most common include: misdefining terms, relying on outdated information, oversimplifying processes, overlooking family eligibility requirements, and underestimating the complexity of documentation. These Golden Visa misconceptions can cost investors money and months of delays — and show why it’s important to question: is ChatGPT wrong about Golden Visas?

Confusing Residency with Citizenship

AI frequently mixes up residency, EU golden visas, and citizenship-by-investment (CBI). It may not distinguish between these statuses or their legal implications.

The correct definitions:

• Residency: Temporary residence that must be renewed; often requires physical presence in the country (e.g. 183 days per year).
• Golden Visa: Residency-by-investment that doesn’t require full-time presence; may lead to citizenship with minimal stay (e.g. 0-7 days per year); often offers tax benefits and faster routes to citizenship.
• Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI): Direct acquisition of a second passport.

How to obtain a passport:

• Residency → Permanent Residency → Citizenship
• Golden Visa → Citizenship
• Citizenship-by-Investment = Passport

Example of an AI mistake: “Invest €250,000 in Greek real estate and obtain a Greek passport in 3 years.” This is inaccurate — Greece requires at least 7 years of residency for naturalisation.

Recommending Outdated or Closed Programmes

AI models are trained on publicly available sources and do not always reflect the latest changes in immigration processes. Free versions in particular rely on outdated data, while immigration regulations are constantly evolving.

For example, Malta closed its citizenship-by-investment programme in July 2025, yet many AI systems still suggest it as a valid option.

Other examples of outdated info:

• Portugal Golden Visa: Property investment no longer qualifies (since mid-2023)
• UK Tier 1 Investor Visa: Closed in 2022
• Cyprus CBI: Closed in 2020

Oversimplifying Legal and Tax Process

AI tends to oversimplify regulatory requirements. Key issues like tax residency, investment threshold, legal compliance, and due diligence are often omitted.

What AI overlooks:

• Physical presence required for tax residency
• Full audit trail for source of funds
• Country-specific banking rules
• Mandatory medical insurance and specific requirements

Example: AI might say “invest and receive a visa,” but fail to mention the need to prove the legality of the origin of funds.

Overlooking Family Eligibility Rules

Family-specific requirements are often ignored by AI. Age limits, dependent definitions, and additional documentation vary widely between countries.

Commonly missed details:

• Eligible age of children: 18, 21, or 25 depending on the programme
• Apostilled marriage and birth certificates
• Additional contributions required for dependants
• Education requirements for school-age children

Underestimating the Role of Documentation and Due Diligence

The due diligence process is far more complex than AI suggests. It cannot account for the specific document requirements of an investor’s country of origin.

What AI fails to account for:

• Apostille/legalisation timelines
• Certified translations and notarisation
• Lengthy background checks
• Bank reference letters in required format

Case Study: Incorrect Programme Recommendation by AI

Clemence, an entrepreneur from the UK, asked a popular AI tool:

“Which is more affordable and faster for getting a passport: St Kitts and Nevis or Portugal?”

AI responded:

“Portugal is one of the most affordable options. A €350,000 property investment grants a Golden Visa, and you can get a passport in 5 years without needing to live there.”

Encouraged by this advice, Irina invested in property expecting citizenship in 5 years. Later, after consulting one of our lawyers, she discovered:

Portugal’s programme requires physical presence for at least 7 days per year.

The residency permit must be renewed every 2 years.

Real estate is no longer an eligible investment category for obtaining a Golden Visa (following the 2023 changes).
She faced major costs finding a new qualifying investment and legal fees to correct her application.

Conclusion: The AI provided outdated and oversimplified information, failing to account for recent legislative changes. This highlights the importance of consulting with licensed immigration experts — especially when the consequences may be long-term and financially significant.

If you’re considering investment immigration, Astons’ experts will help you to find the best programme that aligns with your long-term goals.

AI cannot replace personalised advice and up-to-date legal expertise. Immigration consultants offer tailored solutions for each client’s unique situation.

Benefits of Expert Support:

• Up-to-Date Knowledge
• Direct access to immigration authorities
• Real-time legal updates
• Insider insights unavailable in open sources

Tailored Approach

• Family composition analysis
• HNW investor tax planning
• Strategic advice for long-term goals

Legal Support

• Document review and preparation
• Official representation
• Professional liability and service guarantees

Risk Management

• In-depth due diligence before investment
• Compliance with international regulations
• Protection from policy changes

Use AI solely for preliminary research — and make sure to phrase your prompts carefully. Follow these principles to use AI tools safely when exploring global mobility options.

1. Use It for Initial Research Only

• Understand the basic steps of the process
• Draft a list of questions for your advisor
• Don’t make financial decisions based solely on AI answers

2. Check Everything

• Check details on official government websites
• Read recent legal updates
• Speak with licensed professionals

3. Stick to General Questions

• “Which countries offer residency by investment?”
• “What is the due diligence process?”
• Avoid legal or tax-specific questions

4. Record Your Sources

• Save links to cited programmes
• Note the date of access
• Create a checklist for your expert to review

Recommended Research Flow:

1. AI-based research (1-2 days)
2. Fact-checking via official sources (1 week)
3. Consultation with immigration advisor (1-2 meetings)
4. Due diligence with expert support (2-4 weeks)
5. Final decision and application

Artificial intelligence is a useful research tool—but your success depends on expert guidance and thorough due diligence. Invest in professional consultation to avoid costly mistakes and ensure a smooth application process.

Astons is here to support you every step of the way: from investment selection and legal checks to property purchase and residency application. With 30+ years of experience and a global team, we provide seamless execution and strategy tailored to your goals.