Library guide · Jurisdiction Strategy
What Is a Golden Visa?
How residency by investment works, how it differs from citizenship by investment, and which programs matter in 2026.
A golden visa is residency by investment: the right to live in a country in exchange for a qualifying investment, such as real estate or a business, often leading to citizenship years later. It differs from citizenship by investment, which grants a passport immediately.
Golden visas have become a standard tool for internationally mobile families, and they are routinely confused with citizenship by investment. The distinction is simple once you separate residency from a passport.
What it is
A golden visa is residency by investment: the right to live in a country in exchange for a qualifying investment, most often real estate, a business, or a government contribution. It typically grants renewable residency, access to the country and region, and, after a qualifying residence period, a possible path to citizenship.
Golden visa versus citizenship by investment
The two are often mixed up:
- A golden visa gives you residency now, and citizenship perhaps later, after years of residence.
- Citizenship by investment (CBI) gives you a passport now.
A golden visa is the residence-first route; CBI is the immediate-passport route. See What Is Citizenship by Investment?
The programs that matter in 2026
The table below compares leading programmes. Click a column to sort, or filter by country. Figures are indicative and change often, so confirm current terms before relying on them.
| Country | Route or minimum investment | Path to citizenship | Status 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Property or business (from about AED 2M) | Residency only (10-year visa) | Active, leading destination |
| Portugal | Funds from about 500,000 euros (property route curtailed) | After about 5 years | Active, revised |
| Greece | Property 800,000 euros in prime zones, 400,000 elsewhere (was 250,000) | After about 7 years | Active, tiered thresholds |
| Italy | Investor visa, 250,000 to 2M euros | After about 10 years | Active |
| United States (EB-5) | About 800,000 to 1.05M dollars | Green card, then citizenship | Active |
| Malta | Residency plus a separate citizenship route | Separate citizenship-by-investment route | Active, heavily scrutinised |
| Spain | n/a | n/a | Terminated in 2025 |
The landscape is shifting, and generally tightening:
- UAE offers the standout 10-year golden visa, paired with zero personal income tax, which is why it leads the field for relocating wealth.
- Portugal and Greece remain active in Europe, but Greece moved to a tiered property threshold (800,000 euros in high-demand areas, 400,000 elsewhere), and Spain terminated its golden visa in 2025.
- Others across Europe and beyond continue, with their own thresholds and conditions.
Why families use them
The motives are mobility, optionality and a base: the right to live and bank in a stable jurisdiction, a foothold in a region, and flexibility for the family and the next generation. As with any cross-border move, a golden visa does not by itself change your tax residency or what you owe elsewhere; that depends on where you actually live and your home country's rules. See What Is Tax Residency?
Frequently asked questions
- What is a golden visa?
- A golden visa, or residency by investment, grants the right to live in a country in exchange for a qualifying investment, typically real estate, a business or a government contribution. It usually leads to permanent residency and, after several years, potentially citizenship. It is distinct from citizenship by investment, which grants a passport directly.
- What is the difference between a golden visa and citizenship by investment?
- A golden visa grants residency (the right to live somewhere), with citizenship possible later after a residence period. Citizenship by investment grants a passport now. A golden visa is the slower, residence-first route; citizenship by investment is the immediate-passport route.
- Which golden visa programs matter in 2026?
- The UAE's 10-year golden visa is the standout, paired with zero income tax. Portugal and Greece remain active, though Greece moved to a tiered property threshold (800,000 euros in high-demand areas, 400,000 elsewhere) and Spain terminated its golden visa in 2025. Programs are tightening, so terms should be checked before relying on them.
This guide is educational and general in nature. It does not constitute investment, legal, tax or financial advice.
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