Golden Visa Countries

2026 Golden Visa Comparison Table

The table compares the most-requested programmes by minimum investment, permit term and physical presence. Amounts are investment thresholds only. Government fees, taxes and professional fees are extra.

Golden Visa Programmes Still Open in Europe

A residence permit from an EU member state lets the holder travel visa-free in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For passport holders who need a Schengen visa, including Turkish citizens, this is the main appeal of a European golden visa.

Greece Golden Visa: €800,000 and €400,000 Thresholds

Greece raised its real estate thresholds under Article 64 of Law 5100/2024. The minimum is €800,000 in all of Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 residents, and €400,000 elsewhere. The investment must be in a single property with at least 120 m² of main living space. A separate €250,000 threshold applies to converting commercial buildings to residential use or restoring listed buildings. Short-term (Airbnb-style) rental of golden visa properties is prohibited.

The permit is valid for 5 years and renews as long as the investment is held. The spouse, children under 21 and the parents of both spouses can be included. See our Greece Golden Visa page for the full process.

Portugal Golden Visa: Fund, Culture and Job-Creation Routes

Portugal removed the real estate and capital transfer routes with Law 56/2023. The main routes still open under Article 3 of Law 23/2007 are:

• At least €500,000 in Portuguese non-real-estate investment funds (at least 60% invested in Portuguese companies)
• At least €250,000 in artistic production or cultural heritage
• At least €500,000 in scientific research
• €500,000 to set up or recapitalise a company, with 5 permanent jobs
• Creating at least 10 jobs

Amounts are 20% lower in low-density areas, and the investment must be held for at least 5 years. Key change: Organic Law 1/2026, published on 18 May 2026, raised the residence period for naturalisation from 5 to 10 years for nationals outside the EU and the Portuguese-speaking community (CPLP).

Hungary Guest Investor Programme

Hungary's Guest Investor programme, relaunched in 2024, has two routes. The first is at least €250,000 in units of a real estate investment fund that holds at least 40% of its portfolio in Hungarian residential property, with the units held for at least 5 years. The second is a donation of at least €1,000,000 to a public higher education institution. The permit is issued for up to 10 years and can be extended once for another 10 years.

Italy Investor Visa

According to the official Investor Visa for Italy portal, there are four routes: €250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian limited company, a €1,000,000 philanthropic donation, or €2,000,000 in Italian government bonds. The visa is valid for 2 years. It suits entrepreneurs who want residence through an active business stake.

Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)

Malta is one of the few European programmes that grants permanent residence directly. Under the rules published by Residency Malta Agency, the applicant must buy property worth at least €375,000 or lease property for at least €14,000 a year. On top of that come a €37,000 government contribution, a €60,000 non-refundable administration fee and a €2,000 donation to an NGO. The applicant must show capital assets of €500,000 (at least €150,000 financial) or €650,000 (at least €75,000 financial). Each adult dependant adds a €7,500 contribution. Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme was abolished after the EU Court of Justice ruling of 29 April 2025.

Republic of Cyprus Permanent Residence

Under Regulation 6(2) of the Republic of Cyprus, applicants need an investment of at least €300,000 (a new home bought from a developer, other real estate, share capital in a Cypriot company or units in an investment fund) and at least €50,000 in annual income from abroad. An extra €15,000 is required for a spouse and €10,000 for each child. The permit is permanent, but the investment and income must be evidenced each year.

Latvia: Real Estate Route Closed

Latvia's new Immigration Law, in force from 15 September 2026, removed the real estate and bank investment routes. The company capital route continues with €50,000 in capital plus a €10,000 state payment. Residence permits now have a standard 2-year term. The €150,000 state-managed fund route set out in the law cannot be used yet because the fund has not been established.

UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and USA Golden Visa Programmes

UAE (Dubai) Golden Visa Requirements

The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) issues the Golden Residency as a 10-year renewable residence permit. The main categories are:

• Real estate investors: one or more properties with a combined value of at least AED 2,000,000. Off-plan properties are accepted, as are properties financed by loans from approved local banks.
• Public investment: a deposit of at least AED 2,000,000 with an approved investment fund or national bank, a company with capital of at least AED 2,000,000, or at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes.
• Entrepreneurs: a UAE-registered SME with annual revenue of at least AED 1,000,000, a business idea approved by an accredited entity, or a founder of ventures previously sold for at least AED 7,000,000.
• Skilled professionals: a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000, at least a bachelor's degree, and a job at occupational level 1 or 2.

Holders can sponsor their spouse, children regardless of age, and parents. The permit stays valid even if the holder is outside the UAE for more than 6 months. The official fee items published by Dubai GDRFA for the investor permit total AED 1,640, excluding the medical test and Emirates ID. The UAE golden visa grants residence only and does not lead to citizenship. See our Dubai Golden Visa page for the process.

Qatar Residency Through Real Estate

Qatar's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Aqarat) sets two levels. Property worth at least QAR 730,000 (about USD 200,000) in areas open to foreign ownership gives a residence permit tied to the property. Property worth at least QAR 3,650,000 (about USD 1,000,000) adds permanent residency benefits in health, education and certain investment activities. Areas open to non-Qatari ownership are set by Council of Ministers Decision No. 28 of 2020.

Saudi Arabia Premium Residency

Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency costs SAR 800,000 one-off for unlimited duration or SAR 100,000 per year for the renewable limited-duration product. Categories added in 2024 include residential property ownership of at least SAR 4,000,000 and an investor route requiring at least SAR 7,000,000 invested and 10 jobs. Current conditions are published on the Premium Residency Center's official portal.

USA EB-5 Investor Green Card

According to the USCIS Policy Manual, the EB-5 minimum investment is $800,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA) or infrastructure project and $1,050,000 otherwise. The investment must create 10 full-time jobs. Investors first receive a 2-year conditional green card and then apply to remove conditions. The amounts will be adjusted for inflation on 1 January 2027. The Regional Center Program is authorised until 30 September 2027.

Closed and Changed Golden Visa Programmes (2022–2026)

Many websites still list programmes that no longer exist. Check these changes before planning an application:

Golden Visa Notes for Turkish Citizens

Dual citizenship

Under Article 44 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, Turkish citizens who acquire another citizenship submit their documents and the multiple citizenship is recorded in the civil registry. No prior permission is needed to keep Turkish citizenship.

Greek border regions and islands

Articles 24–26 of Greek Law 1892/1990 require non-EU and non-EFTA buyers to obtain prior permission before acquiring property in designated border areas. These include the Dodecanese (Rhodes and Kos), Evros, Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Santorini (Thira). Transactions made without permission are void, so non-EU buyers, including Turkish citizens, should plan the permission process before choosing an island or border-area property.

Tax residence and double taxation

A residence permit does not by itself change your tax residence. Turkish tax residence is determined by the residence criteria in the Turkish Income Tax Law. The Turkey–UAE Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, signed on 29 January 1993, is in force. Review the tax impact in both countries with an adviser before structuring the investment.

Getting a Golden Visa Through Company Formation

Many programmes accept a business investment instead of property. For entrepreneurs moving their operations abroad, this turns the qualifying investment into an active business:

• UAE: a company with at least AED 2,000,000 in capital, or an SME with at least AED 1,000,000 in annual revenue. See Dubai company formation and Dubai mainland company formation.
• Italy: €500,000 in an Italian limited company or €250,000 in an innovative startup.
• Portugal: €500,000 to set up or recapitalise a company, with 5 permanent jobs.
• Latvia: a company with €50,000 in capital plus a €10,000 state payment.
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar: the Premium Residency investor route and company formation can be planned together. See Saudi Arabia company formation and company formation in Qatar.

Which Golden Visa Fits Your Goal?

Golden Visa Application Process Step by Step

1. Eligibility review: your goals, budget, family and tax position are assessed and programmes are compared.
2. Choosing the investment structure: property, fund, company or donation. Company formation and bank accounts are planned where needed.
3. Document preparation: passport, police clearance, health insurance, proof of income and source of funds, with translations and apostilles.
4. Completing the investment: title deed, fund units or company capital are finalised and evidenced.
5. Application and biometrics: the application is filed with the immigration authority, and fingerprints and photos are taken.
6. Permit and renewal tracking: the card is collected, and renewal dates and investment-holding conditions are monitored.

World Company Setup manages company formation, bank accounts, tax advice and the residence application through one team. Request a free initial assessment to find the right programme for you.

References and Verification Method

Amounts, terms and legal information on this page were checked against the official sources below on 28 September 2026. Programme rules change often, so this page is reviewed monthly.

• UAE ICP – UAE Golden Residency: icp.gov.ae
• Dubai GDRFA – Golden Residency service and fees: gdrfad.gov.ae
• UAE Government – Golden Visa: u.ae
• Greek Housing Policy Portal – Law 5100/2024, Art. 64: stegasi.gov.gr
• Portugal – Law 23/2007 (consolidated): diariodarepublica.pt
• Portugal – Organic Law 1/2026 (Diário da República, 18 May 2026): diariodarepublica.pt
• Spain – Organic Law 1/2025 (BOE-A-2025-76): boe.es
• Italy – Investor Visa for Italy: investorvisa.mise.gov.it
• Hungary Immigration Office – Guest Investor: oif.gov.hu
• Residency Malta Agency – MPRP legal framework: residencymalta.gov.mt
• EU Court of Justice – C-181/23 Commission v Malta press release: curia.europa.eu
• Republic of Cyprus Civil Registry and Migration Department – Investors' permanent residence: gov.cy
• Latvia Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs – New Immigration Law: pmlp.gov.lv
• Qatar Real Estate Regulatory Authority – Owning real estate: aqarat.gov.qa
• Saudi Premium Residency Center: pr.gov.sa
• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part G: uscis.gov
• Irish Immigration Service – IIP closure: irishimmigration.ie
• Netherlands IND – Foreign investor scheme abolished: ind.nl
• Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901: mevzuat.gov.tr
• Turkey–UAE Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement: gib.gov.tr

This page is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and your adviser before applying.