Unscrupulous business people with close ties to government in countries with higher than average levels of corruption can make huge amounts of money from lucrative public contracts (awarded in processes that aren't exactly competitive). They don’t come under much pressure from activists or NGOs because corrupt politician friends ‘keep them in check’. These ‘business people’ choose to travel and live elsewhere. Many choose Europe. They do not approach their embassy for a Schengen visa. With enough cash, an array of European ‘Golden Visas’ - residence permits or passports - are at their fingertips. There has been a high demand for such documents in the past few years. The Golden Visa market has turned into a multi-billion-euro global phenomenon with price tags varying from country to country - anything from €250,000 to €10 million. Coast or mountains? Real estate or business investment? Recoup your money in five years? Background check? No problem.