Golden visas in 2026: residency by investment, country by country
Buy residency, not a passport. Every major golden visa in 2026 — cost, routes and catch — and how to choose.
A golden visa is residency (not citizenship) granted for an investment — usually real estate, funds or a business. In 2026 the most popular are Portugal, Greece and the UAE; Spain closed its programme in April 2025 and Portugal dropped real estate in 2023. Costs run from about €50,000–250,000 up to €800,000+. Most lead to permanent residency, some to citizenship after five years.
What a golden visa is (and isn't)
A golden visa is residency granted in exchange for an investment — usually real estate, an investment fund, or a business. It is not a passport: that's citizenship by investment, a separate and more expensive thing. Some golden visas eventually lead to citizenship after years of residence; many are simply a long-term right to live somewhere (and, often, a tax base).
The best golden visas in 2026
| Country | From | Main route | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | From €250,000 (donation) / €500,000 (funds) | Funds / donation / business | EU / Schengen |
| Greece | From €250,000 / €400,000 / €800,000 | Real estate (tiered) | EU / Schengen |
| Spain | — (programme closed) | None — abolished 2025 | EU / Schengen |
| the UAE | ~AED 2,000,000 (~€500,000) property | Property / talent | Gulf (UAE) |
| Italy | From €250,000 (startup) | Startup / company / bonds | EU / Schengen |
| Malta | ~€150,000+ all-in | Contribution + property | EU |
| Cyprus | From €300,000 (property + VAT) | Property €300k | EU |
| Latvia | From ~€50,000 (company) / €250,000 (property) | Property / company / deposit | EU / Schengen |
| Hungary | From ~€250,000 (real-estate fund) | Real-estate fund / donation | EU / Schengen |
| the United States | From $800,000 (targeted area) | EB-5 job-creating investment | US green card |
| Thailand | LTR income tiers / Elite membership fee | LTR or Privilege (Elite) visa | Thailand |
| Panama | From ~$300,000 (real estate) | Qualified Investor / Friendly Nations | Panama |
| Mauritius | From $375,000 (property) / $50,000 (permit) | Property / occupation permit | Mauritius |
| Malaysia | Fixed deposit from ~$150,000 (tier-dependent) | MM2H fixed deposit | Malaysia |
Country guides: Portugal · Greece · Spain · UAE · Italy · Malta · Cyprus · Latvia · Hungary · United States · Thailand · Panama · Mauritius · Malaysia.
What changed recently
This space moves fast. Spain abolished its Golden Visa in April 2025. Portugal removed real estate in October 2023 (funds and business remain). Greece raised its property tiers in 2024 (up to €800,000 in prime areas). Ireland closed its investor programme in 2023, and Hungary relaunched one in 2024. Always confirm a programme is still open on current terms before you commit.
Golden visa vs citizenship by investment
If you want the right to live somewhere (and often a tax base) at the lowest cost, a golden visa wins — Greece, Portugal and Latvia start well below the price of a passport. If you want a second passport and its mobility, you need citizenship by investment (Caribbean or Malta) or citizenship by descent. Check the passport rankings to see what each is worth.
How to choose
Weigh four things: cost (Latvia and Greece are cheapest), EU access (an EU golden visa lets you spend time across Schengen), path to citizenship (Portugal's five-year, low-stay route is the standout), and tax (the UAE's 0% or Panama's territorial system may matter more than the visa).
Where it fits in a borderless plan
Residency is one flag; where you're tax-resident is another. Combine a golden visa with a tax plan and a self-custody plan for your Bitcoin, and see who this suits in our guide for investors.
Frequently asked questions
What is a golden visa?
A golden visa is a residency permit granted in exchange for an investment — typically real estate, an investment fund, or a business. It gives the right to live in a country (and often a tax base), and some, but not all, lead to citizenship after years of residence.
Which country has the cheapest golden visa?
In the EU, Latvia (company or deposit routes from around €50,000) and Greece (€250,000 for property conversions, otherwise €400,000+) are the cheapest. Costs and rules change, so confirm current thresholds.
Did Spain end its golden visa?
Yes — Spain abolished its Golden Visa on 3 April 2025, ending the €500,000 real-estate residency route. The non-lucrative and digital-nomad visas are the nearest alternatives, but neither is an investment residency.
Does a golden visa lead to citizenship?
Sometimes. Portugal's leads to citizenship after five years with a minimal stay; Greece and others grant residency but require seven or more years of genuine residence for a passport. Many golden visas are residency only.
Golden visa vs citizenship by investment — what's the difference?
A golden visa gives residency (the right to live somewhere); citizenship by investment gives a passport. Golden visas are cheaper and start at residency; CBI is more expensive and gives nationality and its mobility immediately.
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