Golden visas compared
Twenty programs side by side, with costs, stay rules and timelines. Figures checked 8 Oct 2026.
A headline minimum of 300,000 or less in the program’s own currency.
7 days or less a year.
| Program | Route type | Minimum investment | Physical stay | Path to citizenship | Family included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portugal Golden Visa Open · 10 years DetailsCitizenship 10 years from 19 May 2026; Nationality Regulation amendment not published (as at 7 Oct 2026). |
Funds, research, arts and culture, company capital or job creationSchengen travel | €250,000Arts and culture routeSource: AIMA, residence permit for investment (art. 90.º-A) ↗ | 7 days, then 14 every 2 years | 10 yearsThe Nationality Law sets 7 for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens | Family members apply with the investor; their permits depend on the investor's |
Greece Golden Visa Open DetailsThresholds under Migration Code art. 100 unchanged (as at 9 Oct 2026). |
Property, or capital in a registered start-upSchengen travel | €400,000–€800,000Property, by region; €250k for conversionsSource: Migration Code art. 100, as amended by Law 5100/2024 ↗ | None required | 7 or 12 yearsPlan on 12 for now | Spouse or partner, unmarried children under 21 and the parents of both spouses |
Italy Investor Visa Open DetailsSuspended for Russian and Belarusian nationals. |
Innovative start-up, company capital, government bonds or a donationSchengen travel | €250,000Innovative start-up; others higherSource: D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 26-bis (Normattiva) ↗ | None for the first 5 years | 10 yearsDiscretionary; Italian at B1 | Spouse, children under 18 and some dependent parents, on family visas |
Malta Permanent Residence Open DetailsApplications through a licensed agent. |
Buy or rent property, plus a government contribution and feesSchengen travel | Property, contribution and feesBuy from €375,000 or rent from €14,000 a yearSource: S.L. 217.26, Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations ↗ | No minimum days; keep a home in Malta | No investment routeSee CJEU C‑181/23 | Yes; €7,500 for each adult dependant other than a spouse |
Cyprus Permanent Residence Open DetailsTightening announced to Parliament, no bill. |
House or apartment; Other real estate; Cyprus company; Investment fund | €300,000Plus a secured income of at least €50,000 a yearSource: Migration Department, Immigration Permits for Investors: criteria, 4th Revision, in force 2 May 2023 (page posted 29 Dec 2025) ↗ | Take up residence within a year of approval if you live abroad | Eight years in allGreek at B1 level | Your spouse and children under 18 |
Latvia Golden Visa Open · company route only DetailsOpen (company route); property and bank routes closed since 15 Sep 2026; fund route not usable (no fund set up). new Immigration Law (in force 15 Sep 2026), art. 27(1) points 10 and 36. |
Company investmentSchengen travel | €50,000Plus €10,000 to the state budgetSource: Immigration Law (likumi.lv) ↗ | No minimum stay to keep the permit; PR needs absences under 6 months in a row, 10 in total.Source: Immigration Law arts 27(1), 31(3), 36(1) ↗ | Naturalisation needs a further five years from the permanent permit | A spouse, minor children (including those under guardianship) and persons in the investor's custody |
USA EB-5 Open · Sep 2027 DetailsPending renewal · to 30 Sep 2027 Authorised to 30 Sep 2027; petitions filed from 1 Oct 2026 lack lapse protection (INA 203(b)(5)(S)). Open · no end date No statutory end date; the 2027 date does not apply. |
Investment in a US business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs | US$800,000Or US$1,050,000. A petition filed before 1 January 2027 keeps today's amounts.Source: 8 U.S.C. §1153 (INA 203), govinfo ↗ | US residence expected | 5 yearsAfter the green card | Spouse and qualifying children, as derivatives |
US Gold Card Lawsuit pending DetailsExecutive order, no statute or rule; AAUP v. DHS pending (no ruling on dismissal as at 8 Oct 2026). |
Gift to the US Department of Commerce, then Form I-140G (EB-1 or EB-2) | US$1,000,000Gift per person, plus a US$15,000 filing feeSource: Executive Order 14351, The Gold Card, 90 FR 46031 ↗ | US residence expected | 5 yearsAfter the green card | Each spouse or child needs their own US$1,000,000 gift |
Canada investor programs Open · Quebec only DetailsOpen PQ moratorium is a campaign pledge, not law (as at 9 Oct 2026). Paused · no new applications Intake set at zero from 1 Jan 2026 until further notice (MI 90); 2025-certificate filings closed 30 Jun 2026. |
Quebec Investor Program: five-year guaranteed investment plus a contribution | CAD 1,000,000Quebec Investor Program, plus CAD 200,000Source: Québec, Investor Program conditions ↗ | 12 months in Québec | 1,095 days in 5 yearsAfter PR; earlier days in Canada count half, up to 365 | Spouse and children; Quebec review fee CAD 0 for them |
| Property, fully owned by the investor (other categories exist) | AED 2,000,000Property routeSource: ICP, entry permit for real estate investor residency ↗ | None; exempt from the 180-day absence rule | No general route | Included family members receive visas | |
Paraguay residence Open DetailsSUACE investor route. |
SUACE investor certificate | USD 70,000With an approved business plan and five formal jobsSource: MIC, Resolución N° 0283 of 21 Apr 2026 (Constancia de Inversionista Extranjero) ↗ | Can be cancelled after over 1 year away (temporary) or 3 years (permanent).Source: Ley 6984/2022 art. 55.2 ↗ | At least three years' residenceThe three years run continuously from permanent residence | Spouse and children apply separately; minors need a resident or co-applying parent.Source: Ley 6984/2022 ↗Source: DNM, residencia temporal ↗ |
| Contribution or approved real estateVisa-free, under EU review | US$250,000Sustainable Island State ContributionSource: CIU, Sustainable Island State Contribution ↗ | None | On approvalSubject to due diligence; interview mandatory | The contribution covers a family of up to 4 | |
| National Transformation Fund or an approved projectUS visa bond: since 2 Apr 2026, US visitor-visa applicants may have to post $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.Visa-free, under EU review | US$235,000National Transformation FundSource: Investment Migration Agency, becoming a citizen ↗ | None | On approvalSubject to due diligence; interview mandatory | The fund covers the main applicant and up to 3 dependants | |
| Economic Diversification Fund or approved real estateUS flag: Since 1 Jan 2026, US Proclamation 10998 suspends US immigrant and B, F, M and J visas for Dominican nationals. Proclamation 10998, 90 FR 59717 (source) ↗US visa bond: since 21 Jan 2026, US visitor-visa applicants may have to post $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.Visa-free, under EU review | US$200,000Fund contribution, main applicantSource: CBIU Dominica, Economic Diversification Fund ↗ | None | On approvalSubject to due diligence | Qualifying spouse, children, parents and grandparents; US$250,000 covers the main applicant and up to 3 dependants | |
| Fund, bonds, real estate or an approved enterpriseVisa-free, under EU review | US$240,000National Economic FundSource: CIU Saint Lucia, citizenship by investment ↗ | None | On approvalSubject to due diligence; interview since Sep 2023 | The fund covers the applicant and up to 3 dependants | |
Malta citizenship by merit Discretionary DetailsDiscretionary: Malta says it is "neither a programme nor a scheme". |
Discretionary naturalisation for exceptional contribution | No set amountDiscretionarySource: Maltese Citizenship Act, Cap. 188, art. 10(9) ↗ | At least 8 months' residence before the formal application | Discretionary grantThe Minister decides; no appeal | Spouse, children under 18 and supported unmarried children aged 18 to 28 |
Vanuatu Open DetailsSchengen and UK visas required. |
Honorary citizenship under the Development Support Program, the Vanuatu Contribution Program, the Capital Investment Immigration Plan, and the Real Estate Option ProgramUS visa bond: since 21 Jan 2026, US visitor-visa applicants may have to post $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. | USD 130,000Single applicant, plus a USD 5,000 due-diligence feeSource: Vanuatu Citizenship Commission, fees and charges ↗ | No requirement to live in or visit Vanuatu | Citizenship certificate within 90 days after approval | Spouse and children under 18; dependants aged 18 to 21 under CIIP.Source: Vanuatu Citizenship Commission, fees and charges ↗ |
Nauru Open DetailsUSD 90,000 special price to 31 Dec 2026. |
Contribution | USD 115,000Cut to US$90,000 under a special project running to 31 December 2026Source: Nauru Program Office, Contribution (checked 8 Oct 2026) ↗ | No residence requirement | Cabinet decidesYou then take an oath of allegiance | A spouse, children, parents, grandparents and siblings |
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Open DetailsApplications open (INZ). |
Listed equities, bonds, property development, philanthropy, managed funds, direct investments | NZD 5 millionHeld in approved New Zealand investments for 3 years (Growth)Source: INZ Operational Manual, BN7.1 Key features of the investment categories (effective 1 Jun 2026) ↗ | 21 or 105 days in New Zealand as a resident during the investment period | At least 1,350 days in the 5 years before applyingAnd at least 240 days in each of those years | Your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under |
Malaysia Premium Visa Programme Open DetailsOpen to applicants of any age through JIM-registered agencies. |
Fixed deposit of RM1,000,000 plus RM40,000 a month income or RM1 billion net worth | RM1,000,000Participation fee RM200,000 | No minimum stay | No route to permanent residence or citizenship | Spouse, children under 25, disabled children of any age, and parents and parents-in-law |
Indicative minimums for a main applicant, as at 8 Oct 2026. Fees, taxes and family members are additional unless stated. Approval is discretionary. “Source” links go to the government or legal text behind each minimum.
Questions this table answers
What is the cheapest EU golden visa?
€250,000: Portugal’s arts and culture route and Italy’s innovative start-up route. Greek property starts at €400,000 and rises to €800,000 by region, with €250,000 for conversions. Malta permanent residence combines buying property from €375,000, or renting from €14,000 a year, with a government contribution and fees.
Which golden visa leads to citizenship fastest?
St Kitts, Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia grant citizenship on approval; St Kitts quotes 120–180 days. Among residence routes, Canada counts 1,095 days of physical presence in the 5 years after permanent residence, and the US and Panama allow naturalisation after 5 years. Portugal and Italy take 10 years; Greece 7 or 12.
Which programs need little or no time in the country?
Greece sets no minimum stay. Italy sets none for the first 5 years. Portugal asks for 7 days in the first year, then 14 days in every 2-year period. Canada’s Quebec Investor Program expects 12 months living in Québec.
How can I get US residence through investment?
EB-5 starts at US$800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, or US$1,050,000 otherwise, in a business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. It leads to a green card. The Gold Card is a US$1,000,000 gift per person plus a US$15,000 filing fee, filed on Form I-140G for EB-1 or EB-2 classification. Naturalisation is possible 5 years after the green card.
Can my family be included?
In most programs, yes. Greece includes unmarried children under 21 and the parents of both spouses. The St Kitts contribution covers a family of up to 4; Grenada and St Lucia cover the main applicant and up to 3 dependants. The Gold Card needs a separate US$1,000,000 gift for each spouse or child.
Turn this table into a shortlist.
We'll weigh the programs in this table against your family, tax position and travel plans. For a quick shortlist first, answer three questions on goal, capital and timing.