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Golden visa comparison · 2026

Golden Visa Programmes Compared

Every investor route we cover on one page: what you invest, when you can settle and when you can apply for citizenship. Pick two countries and open the head-to-head comparison.

In short

Use this page to narrow the field. Each card shows the investor route that is open today, when it can lead to permanent residence and to citizenship, and links to the head-to-head pages where the country is compared with another. The full programme guide for each country is one click away. Figures are taken from our country fact registers, which are checked against official sources.

Golden visa comparison: key factsLast verified 27 September 2026
Investment permanent residenceRegulation 6(2): at least €300,000 (excl. VAT) in new residential property, other real estate, a Cypriot company with 5+ staff, or Cyprus investment funds Source: Chambers: amendments to the permanent residency by investment criteria (2023) · Philippou Law: Cyprus permanent residence by investment, Regulation 6(2) · M. Hadjitofi: revised permanent residency by investment scheme
Citizenship8 years (7 of the last 10 + the final 12 months continuous), Greek B1 and the "Knowledge of Contemporary Cyprus" exam; dual citizenship allowed Source: KPMG Cyprus: revised rules for citizenship based on years of residence · European Commission: Cyprus new citizenship legislation (2024)
1-bed apartment, Nicosiaabout €720/month in the centre, €620 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Nicosia (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single person (Nicosia)about €850/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Nicosia (Sep 2026)
Golden visa (real estate)€800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands over 3,100 residents; €400,000 elsewhere; one property of at least 120 m² Source: Law 5038/2023 art. 100 (Migration Code): golden visa real-estate thresholds
Golden visa: €250,000 optionOnly for converting a commercial building to residential use or restoring a listed building — anywhere in Greece Source: Law 5038/2023 art. 100 (Migration Code): golden visa real-estate thresholds · Mitos (gov.gr): golden visa, change of use — initial issuance
Long-term residenceAfter 5 years; absences of at most 6 months in a row and 10 months in total; Greek language and civics, income and insurance needed Source: AIDA (ECRE): long-term residence in Greece
Citizenship7 years of legal, continuous residence (usually after long-term residence; 12 years on other permits); PEGP exam (B1 Greek + civics, €150); fee €550; dual citizenship allowed Source: Mitos (gov.gr): naturalisation of foreign nationals · gov.gr: PEGP naturalisation knowledge exam · US Department of State: dual nationality
1-bed apartment, Athensabout €665/month in the centre, €575 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single person (Athens)about €835/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026)
Investor visa€250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company, €1 million donation or €2 million in Italian government bonds; no property route Source: Embassy of Italy in Pretoria: Investor Visa for Italy
Permanent residenceEU long-term permit after 5 years: no more than 6 months away in a row or 10 months in total, A2 Italian and enough income Source: Assolombarda: EU long-term residence permit
Citizenship by residence10 years of legal residence, B1 Italian and enough income; €250 fee; dual citizenship allowed Source: InfoImmigrazione: citizenship by residence (Jul 2026) · Chamber of Deputies: Italian citizenship law — current rules
1-bed apartment, Romeabout €1,085/month in the centre, €780 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single person (Rome)about €845/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026)
Share capital investment€50,000 (company with ≤50 staff and ≤€10m turnover or balance) Source: PMLP: Share capital investor
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years on a temporary permit, with Latvian at A2 level and a culture and history course Source: PMLP: New Immigration Law takes effect, key changes · LV portāls: New Immigration Law in force (official publisher)
1-bed apartmentabout €520/month (range €400–600) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single personabout €870/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026)
Permanent residence by investment (MPRP)€60,000 admin fee, €37,000 contribution, €2,000 donation, plus a €375,000 property purchase or €14,000/year rent for 5 years; assets of €500,000 (€650,000 with fewer financial assets) Source: BDO Malta: MPRP amendments · KPMG Malta (licensed agent): MPRP · Dixcart: MPRP key facts
Long-term residenceEU long-term resident status after 5 years of legal residence Source: EUR-Lex Directive 2003/109/EC
CitizenshipBy naturalisation after 1 year of continuous residence plus 4 years in the preceding 6, at the minister's discretion; dual citizenship allowed Source: Maltese Citizenship Act Cap.188
Rent1-bedroom in Valletta about €1,263 a month in the centre (€993 outside); Sliema about €1,564; Gozo about €813 (Numbeo, 2026) Source: Cost of Living in Valletta (Numbeo) · Cost of Living in Sliema (Numbeo) · Cost of Living in Gozo (Numbeo)
Living costsA single person spends about €880 a month without rent in Valletta (Numbeo, June 2026) — about €2,140 with a central 1-bedroom Source: Cost of Living in Valletta (Numbeo)
Golden visa (ARI)Five routes in 2026: €500,000 in qualifying non-real-estate funds, €500,000 research, €250,000 culture, €500,000 company capital with 5 jobs, or 10 jobs; real estate and €1.5M capital transfer closed since October 2023 Source: Lei 23/2007 consolidated text (PGD Lisboa) art. 3 · Lei 56/2023: Diário da República
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of temporary residence, with A2 Portuguese, means of support and accommodation Source: Lei 23/2007 art. 75 (PGD Lisboa)
CitizenshipSince 19 May 2026: 10 years of legal residence (7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries), counted from when the first permit is issued; applications pending before then keep the old 5-year rule Source: Lei Organica n.o 1/2026: Diario da Republica · Portugal Citizenship Law Published: LiveinPT
Lisbon rent1-bedroom about €1,425 a month in the centre and €1,063 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Lisbon
Lisbon living costsA single person spends about €760 a month without rent — about €2,185 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Lisbon
Golden visaClosed: Organic Law 1/2025 repealed the investor visa from 3 April 2025. Applications filed before that date are decided under the old rules, and existing holders can renew Source: Inversores – Unidad de Grandes Empresas (Ministerio de Inclusión)
Long-term residenceAfter 5 years of continuous legal residence (no absence over 6 months, 10 months in total), with health insurance and sufficient resources; card renewed every 5 years Source: Hoja 50 – Autorización de residencia de larga duración UE (Ministerio de Inclusión)
Citizenship10 years of legal, continuous residence for Americans (2 for Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea; 1 if married to a Spaniard), plus the DELE A2 Spanish and CCSE civics exams Source: Código Civil (BOE) arts. 22–23 · Instituto Cervantes – Nacionalidad española (DELE A2 y CCSE)
1-bed apartment, Madridabout €1,332 a month in the centre, €1,066 outside (Numbeo, October 2026) estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid
Living costs, single person (Madrid)about €820 a month without rent — about €2,150 with a central 1-bedroom estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid

Side by Side

All Programmes in One Table

The investor route, the road to permanent residence and the road to citizenship in each country.

CountryInvestor routePermanent residenceCitizenship
Latvia€50,000 share capital in a Latvian company + €10,000 state fee; other routes closed in 2026After 5 years, with A2 Latvian and a culture course—
MaltaPermanent residence (MPRP) — about €99,000 in fees plus €375,000 property or rentEU long-term residence after 5 years; MPRP gives it from the startNaturalisation after 5 years at the minister's discretion; dual citizenship allowed
Greece€800,000 property in Athens and popular islands, €400,000 elsewhere, €250,000 to convert or restore a building; 5-year permitLong-term residence after 5 years, with Greek language and civics7 years, B1 Greek and civics exam; dual citizenship allowed
ItalyInvestor visa — €250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in a company or €2 million in bonds; no property routeEU long-term permit after 5 years, with A2 Italian10 years, B1 Italian; dual citizenship allowed
PortugalGolden visa — €500,000 in funds or a company, €250,000 for culture; real estate closed since 2023After 5 years, with A2 Portuguese10 years since May 2026 (7 for some nationalities)
Cyprus€300,000 in new property, other real estate, a company or funds — permanent residence; €50,000 yearly incomeDirectly through the €300,000 investment route; Category F for people living on foreign income8 years, Greek B1 and a civics exam; dual citizenship allowed
SpainClosed since 3 April 2025Long-term residence after 5 years10 years for Americans, plus A2 Spanish and civics exams

Shortlists

Which Programme Fits Your Goal?

Generated from the same data as the table — open a country to read the conditions.

A second passport sooner

Shortest road to citizenship — check the residence and language rules in each guide.

Living there on a budget

Monthly cost of a central 1-bedroom plus everyday costs in the capital.

Settling for good

Earliest permanent residence after you arrive.

Before You Invest

What American Investors Should Check

  • US tax on funds

    Portuguese investment funds are PFICs for US investors: Form 8621 each year and punitive default tax unless the fund provides a PFIC statement for a QEF election

  • Health cover

    Medicare usually does not cover health care outside the US — plan for local or private insurance in Europe

  • Programmes change

    Spain closed its golden visa, Portugal and Latvia narrowed theirs and Greece raised its amounts. Check the date on each guide and ask before you commit money.

Golden visas in Europe — programme guide →Golden visa head-to-head comparisons →Golden visa calculator →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which European golden visa is cheapest for Americans?

It depends on what you count. Some programmes charge fees and contributions, others ask you to buy property, invest in funds or put capital into a company you run. The cards above are sorted by the lowest entry amount, but read the route line: the amounts are not like for like.

Which golden visa leads to citizenship fastest?

Use the "A second passport sooner" shortlist above. Citizenship always has its own conditions — years of residence, language and often an exam — so the investment alone is never enough.

Can you help me choose a programme?

Yes. Book a free consultation — we look at your budget, family and plans and tell you honestly which programme fits, and which ones to avoid.

Across Europe

Every guide and comparison

Written by US GO EU TeamResearched from official sources in each country · How we research and update

✓ Facts verified 27 September 2026

Choose the Right Programme

Book a free consultation. We compare the investor routes that fit your budget and tell you what the move will really cost.

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