For international buyers, purchasing a preconstruction condo in Miami can go beyond providing a future second home or investment vehicle. For those in the know, it can also open the door to a potential pathway to permanent US Residency.
Designed to encourage foreign investment in US projects that support job creation, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program allows qualifying investors and their immediate families to pursue residence through an eligible investment to a green card without further sponsorship needed.
As more developers integrate EB-5 investment opportunities into their projects, Miami’s luxury preconstruction condo market has become a prominent destination for international investors exploring the program. The structure benefits both sides: developers gain access to capital, while qualifying investors gain the opportunity to pursue permanent residency.
Keep reading to learn more about the program and discover a curated selection of EB-5 eligible developments in Miami, chosen for their established developers and brands, exceptional design, lifestyle-driven offerings, and confirmed participation in the program.
What Is the EB-5 Program?
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is a US immigration program designed to attract foreign capital into qualifying American businesses and create jobs for US workers. As of September 3, 2026, federal law sets the standard EB-5 investment at $1.05 million and the amount for a qualifying Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or infrastructure project at $800,000. Each investor must demonstrate that their investment creates at least 10 permanent full-time jobs. They must also prove that their funds were obtained lawfully and that the investment meets the program’s at-risk requirements.
For property investors, the process begins by engaging an EB-5 immigration attorney and conducting immigration and investment due diligence. Purchasing a condo within the program does not, by itself, satisfy EB-5 requirements unless the transaction is expressly tied to a qualifying investment structure in the offering documents. This includes filing the appropriate petition with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), generally Form I-526E when investing through a Regional Center rather than individually.
Depending on their circumstances and visa availability, investors already in the US on a nonimmigrant visa may also be eligible for an adjustment of status.
In addition, an EB-5 visa offers benefits that extend to the entire immediate family. Successful investors can pursue two-year conditional permanent residence, followed by removal of conditions when they meet the statutory requirements, plus their spouse and unmarried children under 21, allowing the whole family to live, work, and study in the country.
Top 7 EB-5 VISA Miami Preconstruction Condo Projects
ORA by Casa Tua
Location: Brickell
Completion: 2029
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Developers: Fortune International Group and Casa Tua
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Architect: Arquitectonica
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Interior Designer: m2atelier
Casa Tua has evolved from its celebrated South Beach restaurant into a global hospitality brand, with new locations in Italy and France, encompassing private members’ clubs and boutique hotels. Rising 77 stories in Brickell, ORA by Casa Tua will bring the brand’s heartfelt approach to residential living to 533 fully furnished residences, with Italian-inspired interiors and floor plans spanning from studios to four bedrooms.
Resort-style amenities include a rooftop pool and lounge, a two-floor fitness and wellness center with a hammam, a three-story sky garden and sculpture garden, and private event spaces. Casa Tua will also operate four food and beverage concepts and a gourmet market within the tower.
ORA is one of Miami condos offering short-term rental flexibility, including seasonal use or participation in the project’s rental program, along with the added appeal of an immigration strategy.
House by Shigeru Ban
Location: Design District/Buena Vista
Completion: 2029
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Developer: Yakol Capital Partners
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Architects: Pritzker Prize Laureate Shigeru Ban and ODP Architects
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Interior Designer: Milan-based Dexelance
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, “House” will mark his first residential project in Florida. The 12-story, 320-residence development offering one- to four-bedroom condos will span an entire city block, bringing Ban’s signature architectural themes of sustainability, natural materials, and biophilic design to Miami.
Lifestyle offerings include a rooftop pool, indoor padel courts, fitness and wellness facilities, children’s spaces, event areas, and ground-floor retail and dining.
Located within a Qualified Opportunity Zone, the mid-rise project will combine globally recognized architectural pedigree with a compelling EB-5 investment opportunity at the lower $800,000 threshold.
OKAN Tower
Location: Downtown Miami
Completion: 2027
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Developer: Turkey’s Okan Group
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Architect and Interior Designer: Behar Font & Partners
Inspired by the graceful form of a tulip blossom, Okan Tower will rise 70 stories in Downtown Miami, bringing Hilton hospitality to a striking mixed-use development.
The tower will combine 236 short-term rental condo-hotel units, 163 luxury residences, 316 Hilton hotel suites, and 64,000 square feet of office space, with separate elevators and amenities designed for each residential category. Condo-hotel floor plans range from studios to two bedrooms, while private residences offer a choice of one- to three-bedroom layouts.
Luxury residences will feature access to a 70th-floor rooftop pool deck, a wellness spa and fitness center, an owner’s lounge, and a wine cellar, theater, and more. Condo-hotel owners will enjoy dedicated resort-style amenities and can participate in the Hilton rental program, with professional hospitality services available across the property.
The appeal is threefold: Hilton-backed hospitality, the potential for short-term rental income, and access to the lower $800,000 EB-5 threshold through Okan Tower’s designation as a Targeted Employment Area (TEA).
Edge House
Location: Edgewater
Completion: 2028
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Developer: Peru-based Grupo T&C
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Architect: Kobi Karp Architects
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Interior Designer: Adriana Hoyos Design Studio
The 57-story Edge House will be designed as the neighborhood’s first biosecure development and one of many with LEED certification, incorporating advanced air, water, and surface purification through its wellness partnership with Clear.
The modern tower will feature 608 turnkey residences with refined interiors and furnishings, and amenities comprising two resort-style pools, a fitness and wellness center, coworking spaces, a residents’ lounge, kids’ club, podcast studio, and gourmet market. Layouts range from studios to three bedrooms.
With no rental restrictions, owners will have significant flexibility and can select lockout residences offering the option to use or rent separate portions of the residence. Only a limited number of EB-5 investment slots have been made available through the project’s structured financing.
Meliá Miami Brickell
Location: Brickell
Completion: 2027
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Developer: Urban Network Capital Group (UNCG) and Meliá Hotels International
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Architect: DTI Architects
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Interior Designer: Concepto Taller de Arquitectura and Adriana Hoyos Design Studio
Marking Meliá Hotels & Resorts’ first branded residences in the US, the eight-story project will bring 110 fully furnished condo-hotel units to Brickell, with a choice of studio to one-bedroom layouts.
Each residence will feature wellness-focused details including circadian lighting, probiotic diffusers, vitamin-C shower filters, and ambient systems designed for well-being, complemented by a rooftop pool and bar, a restaurant, a gym, and a spa with cold plunges and BrainTap therapy.
Designed primarily for investors, owners will be able to use their residence for up to 30 days a year while choosing between independent third-party rentals and Meliá’s professionally managed program. Select residences are also eligible for EB-5.
ELLE Residences
Location: Edgewater
Completion: 2028
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Developer: Vertical Developments and UNCG
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Architect: Behar Font & Partners
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Interior Designer: The One Atelier
Few EB-5 eligible developments in Miami make as strong a statement about fashion and design as ELLE Residences Miami.
Bringing an ELLE-approved aesthetic to Edgewater, the 26-story tower will feature 189 turnkey homes that blend mid-century modern design with French elegance and tropical warmth, with a choice of one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Additionally, two floors of amenities will be anchored by a French Riviera-inspired rooftop pool, a residents’ lounge, spa, high-tech fitness center, meditation garden, open-air cinema, café, and restaurant.
For international buyers, the project pairs ELLE’s style pedigree with short-term rental flexibility through a fully managed program. Additionally, its EB-5 structure offers qualifying investors access to the lower $800,000 threshold.
The William
Location: North Miami Beach
Completion: 2029
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Developer: Blue Road and Ilia Development Group
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Architect: Carlos Ott and Behar Font & Partners
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Interior Designer: Urban Robot Associates
Named after one of the city’s earliest landowners, The William will offer a contemporary interpretation of the city’s architectural character by world-renowned architect Carlos Ott. The 26-story tower will feature 374 residences with views of the nearby nature preserve, offering a choice of studio to three-bedroom floor plans.
Its 40,000 square feet of amenities include a rooftop pickleball court, a ninth-floor pool deck with summer kitchens, a fitness center, club room, coworking center, children’s playroom, self-serve market, and 4,500 square feet of retail.
The William holds a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) designation, allowing qualifying investors to access the lower $800,000 EB-5 threshold, while monthly rentals provide additional income flexibility.
Special Mention: Nexo Residences
Another brand-new EB-5 VISA investment condo project in Miami is Nexo Residences. The short-term rental-friendly development received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy this August, bringing 254 turnkey residences to North Miami Beach, with a choice of studios to four-bedroom layouts.
Developed by Fortune International Group in partnership with Blue Road and designed in collaboration with internationally acclaimed architect Carlos Ott, the 15-story development pairs contemporary design with a tech-forward, resort-style amenity package. Residents have access to a pool with a sun shelf, two spas, an indoor-outdoor fitness center with a virtual trainer, a rooftop open-air observatory deck, and a two-story tech hub with a café. Call, text, or email us for further information.
Q&A
How do I apply for the EB-5 VISA?
The process typically begins with selecting a qualifying for-profit investment—in this case, an EB-5 VISA Miami condo project—most commonly through a USCIS-approved Regional Center, and placing the required capital into that enterprise. From there, the immigration attorney files Form I-526E, documenting the lawful source of funds and the project's job creation plan.
Once approved, the applicant and their immediate family receive a two-year conditional green card, either through consular processing abroad or adjustment of status (which entails a different set of forms).
Within the 90-day window before the conditional residency expires, applicants must file Form I-829, supported by evidence that the investment remained at risk and that the required number of jobs were created. A final approval then converts residency status to a permanent, ten-year green card.
Who is eligible for an EB-5 VISA?
Any foreign national who can document a lawful source of the required investment capital is generally eligible, along with their spouse and unmarried children under 21. There is no requirement for a job offer, employer sponsor, or specific education or language proficiency.
However, all applicants must clear standard US background, criminal, and health checks to ensure they are not deemed legally inadmissible to the country.
What is the minimum investment required for an EB-5 VISA?
The current statutory minimum is $1.05 million, or $800,000 for qualifying investments in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or certain infrastructure projects.
Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, these thresholds are adjusted for inflation every five years. Beginning January 1, 2027, they are expected to rise to approximately $1.2-$1.25 million for the standard investment and $900,000 for TEA investments, pending official review and confirmation.
Is it possible to get a loan for the EB-5 VISA?
Potentially, yes. Investors may use borrowed funds toward an EB-5 investment, provided the arrangement meets USCIS requirements, including demonstrating a lawful source of funds and personal liability for repayment.
However, a conventional mortgage on the condo itself should not be assumed to satisfy the EB-5 investment requirement and should be reviewed with an experienced EB-5 attorney.
How long does an EB-5 VISA take to process?
There is no single guaranteed timeline. EB-5 Visa processing depends on various factors, including the type of petition and project, USCIS processing times, visa availability, the investor’s country of origin, and whether they’re adjusting their status in the US or applying through consular processing.
Use the official USCIS website for current processing times or check your personal case status.
Can I legally work in the US with an EB-5 VISA?
Yes, you can. Once obtaining conditional permanent residency, investors and their qualifying family members can work for any employer, start a business, or remain unemployed, with none of the restrictions attached to employer-sponsored visas.
If already in the US and eligible to concurrently file for adjustment of status, investors may also apply for work authorization (EAD) and a travel permit (Advance Parole), allowing them to legally work and travel internationally while their EB-5 application is being processed, subject to applicable requirements.
What changes are coming to the EB-5 VISA in 2027?
Three dates are important for prospective EB-5 investors:
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September 30, 2026 is the current grandfathering deadline for petitions filed under the existing rules.
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January 1, 2027 marks the first inflation-based adjustment to the minimum investment amounts, which are expected to increase.
On September 30, 2027, the current authorization for the EB-5 Regional Center Program expires, unless Congress reauthorizes it.
Conclusion
For international buyers, the right Miami preconstruction opportunity can represent far more than a future residence. With careful structuring, it can become part of a broader strategy encompassing lifestyle, income diversification, wealth preservation, and a potential pathway to US permanent residency for the entire family.
At Blackbook Properties, our knowledgeable team has extensive experience working with international clients and understands that investing in Miami from abroad demands strategic, informed decisions built around long-term wealth protection and asset management.
Our data-driven market intelligence, proprietary tools, and extensive professional network help us guide clients toward success, connecting them with trusted industry and legal experts when needed. If you’re ready to explore your next Miami home, call, text, or email us to get the conversation started.
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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and provides an overview of the EB-5 program and a selection of preconstruction condo opportunities. Blackbook Properties is a real estate brokerage and does not provide immigration or legal advice. Please consult a licensed immigration attorney before making any EB-5 investment or immigration decisions.