Find the best countries to buy property for your goals

It depends on your goal, your budget, and your passport. In our catalogue, most properties with a gross yield of 6% or more are in the UAE and Turkey, golden visa properties are in the UAE, and citizenship properties are in Turkey. Start with what you want the investment to do, then compare markets from there.

These markets give foreign buyers a clear route to ownership, with rules that vary by country and often by nationality:

• UAE: In Dubai, foreigners can buy freehold in designated areas, whether they live in the UAE or abroad. Abu Dhabi has nine designated areas with its own ownership rules. Source
• Turkey: Foreign buyers can purchase ahead of getting a residence permit, and owning property can lead to a renewable short-term permit. The government sets which nationalities are eligible. Source
• Japan: Foreign buyers can purchase whether they live in Japan or abroad. Non-residents report the purchase to the Ministry of Finance within 20 days. Source
• Thailand: Foreign buyers can own condominium units, up to a combined 49% of each building. Land ownership follows separate, stricter rules. Source
• Cyprus: Non-EU buyers apply to the local District Administration for permission, which takes two to three weeks, and can usually buy up to two units. Source
• Portugal: Buyers need a Portuguese tax number (NIF), which the tax authority also issues to non-residents, who may need a tax representative too. Source
• Spain: Buyers need a foreigner’s identity number (NIE), available through Spanish consulates. A proposed tax on non-EU, non-resident buyers has stalled in Congress, so check the latest position. Source · Latest report

Rules can change, so confirm your position with a local lawyer before you commit.

Compare four things for each market: the ownership rules for foreign buyers, the costs of buying and holding, the strength of rental demand, and how easily you could sell later. Weigh them against your goal, because an income investor and a family relocating will often choose different countries.

Japan and the UAE are among the easiest countries to buy property as a foreigner, because both let non-residents buy with relatively few extra steps. Ease also depends on your nationality and how you plan to fund the purchase, so a route that suits one buyer may take longer for another.

Gross yield is a year of rent shown as a percentage of the purchase price, before costs such as service charges, management fees, and tax. A listing appears under this goal when its gross yield reaches 6%. Your net return will be lower once those costs are included, so compare both before you decide.

A qualifying price is one requirement among several. Each programme also sets its own conditions, and the issuing authority makes the final decision. We link to official sources so you can read the rules directly, and we recommend confirming your position with a qualified adviser.

We review developers for track record, delivery history, and disclosure standing, and we request details such as past delivery, litigation history, and ownership structure. Our Trust Standard publishes the full approach, including what we checked for each listing.

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