Golden Visa Countries 2026: Every Country That Offers Residency or Citizenship by Investment

More than 30 countries worldwide offer formal residency- or citizenship-by-investment programmes. Commonly called "golden visas," these programmes grant legal residency or citizenship in exchange for a qualifying economic contribution — typically real estate, government bonds, business investment, or a direct contribution to a national fund.

This guide lists every active golden visa country in 2026, organised by region, with the essential details you need to start comparing options.

Europe

Europe remains the most popular destination for golden visa investors, thanks to Schengen zone travel, strong rule of law, and clear paths to EU citizenship.

Portugal

• Programme: Golden Residence Permit (ARI)
• Minimum investment: €500,000 (qualifying investment funds, venture capital, or cultural/heritage contributions)
• Real estate route: Removed in October 2023
• Processing: 12–18 months
• Residency type: Temporary (renewable every 2 years)
• Path to citizenship: 5 years
• Schengen access: Yes
• Key advantage: Shortest path to EU citizenship with minimal stay (7 days/year)

Greece

• Programme: Greece Golden Visa
• Minimum investment: €250,000 (renovation/conversion projects), €400,000 (standard areas), or €800,000 (prime areas including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini)
• Processing: 6–12 months
• Residency type: 5-year renewable
• Path to citizenship: 7 years of physical residency
• Schengen access: Yes
• Key advantage: Real estate investment still available; €250,000 entry for renovation projects is the lowest in the EU Schengen zone

Malta

• Programme: Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
• Minimum investment: ~€120,000 (rental route with contributions) or ~€450,000 (purchase route). Government contribution: €37,000 flat; admin fee: €60,000 (updated via Legal Notice 146/2025)
• Processing: 4–8 months
• Residency type: Permanent
• Path to citizenship: MEIN programme terminated July 2025 (ECJ ruling). New merit-based citizenship system under development
• Schengen access: Yes
• Key advantage: English-speaking, permanent status, generous family inclusion

Italy

• Programme: Investor Visa for Italy
• Minimum investment: €250,000 (innovative startup), €500,000 (Italian company), €1M (philanthropic), or €2M (government bonds)
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Residency type: 2-year investor visa, then renewable residence permit
• Path to citizenship: 10 years
• Schengen access: Yes
• Key advantage: Access to one of the world's largest economies; €250K startup route is affordable

Cyprus

• Programme: Fast-Track Immigration Permit
• Minimum investment: €300,000 (new residential property)
• Processing: 4–6 months
• Residency type: Permanent (lifetime)
• Path to citizenship: 7 years (cumulative within last 10 years)
• Schengen access: No (Cyprus not yet in Schengen)
• Key advantage: Lifetime permanent residency with minimal stay requirements; one of the fastest EU programmes

Ireland

• Programme: Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) — Currently under review/paused
• Minimum investment: Was €1,000,000 (enterprise investment) or €500,000 (investment fund)
• Status: Programme paused for new applications as of early 2024; may reopen in modified form
• Key note: Monitor for updates if Ireland is your target

Hungary

• Programme: Guest Investor Programme
• Minimum investment: €250,000 (real estate fund) or €500,000 (direct real estate)
• Processing: 3–4 months
• Residency type: 10-year renewable
• Path to citizenship: 8 years
• Schengen access: Yes
• Key advantage: Competitive pricing in a central European Schengen member

Latvia

• Programme: Residence Permit by Investment
• Minimum investment: €50,000 (company investment creating 5+ jobs) or €250,000 (real estate in Riga)
• Processing: 1–3 months
• Residency type: 5-year renewable
• Path to citizenship: 10 years
• Schengen access: Yes
• Key advantage: One of Europe's lowest thresholds

Montenegro

• Programme: Citizenship by Investment — CLOSED: the Montenegro CBI programme closed to new applications on 31 December 2022 and was not renewed. Pre-existing approved applications and granted citizenships remain valid, but no new investors can enter the programme
• Minimum investment: €450,000 (approved development projects in northern regions) or €650,000 (coastal developments) plus €200,000 government contribution
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Residency type: Citizenship
• Path to citizenship: Immediate
• Schengen access: No (not yet EU member, but EU accession candidate)
• Key advantage: Direct citizenship in a future EU member state

Caribbean

The Caribbean is home to the world's most established citizenship-by-investment programmes, offering immediate passports with strong global mobility.

St Kitts & Nevis

• Programme: Citizenship by Investment (since 1984)
• Minimum investment: $250,000 (Sustainable Island State Contribution) or $325,000+ (real estate)
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Citizenship: Immediate
• Visa-free countries: 155+
• Key advantage: Oldest and most established CBI programme; includes UK and EU visa-free travel

Antigua & Barbuda

• Programme: Citizenship by Investment
• Minimum investment: $230,000 (NDF, family of 4+) or $325,000 (real estate)
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Citizenship: Immediate
• Visa-free countries: 150+
• Key advantage: Best value for larger families

Grenada

• Programme: Citizenship by Investment
• Minimum investment: $235,000 (National Transformation Fund) or $270,000 (real estate)
• Processing: 4–6 months
• Citizenship: Immediate
• Visa-free countries: 145+
• Key advantage: Only CBI programme with E-2 Treaty Investor Visa access to the United States

Dominica

• Programme: Citizenship by Investment (since 1993)
• Minimum investment: $200,000 (Economic Diversification Fund) or $200,000 (real estate)
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Citizenship: Immediate
• Visa-free countries: 145+
• Key advantage: Lowest single-applicant threshold in the Caribbean

St Lucia

• Programme: Citizenship by Investment
• Minimum investment: $240,000 (National Economic Fund) or $300,000 (real estate)
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Citizenship: Immediate
• Visa-free countries: 145+
• Key advantage: Government bonds option available ($300,000, held for 5 years)

Middle East

United Arab Emirates

• Programme: UAE Golden Visa
• Minimum investment: AED 2 million (~€500,000) in property, or qualification by profession (entrepreneurs, scientists, professionals, outstanding students)
• Processing: 2–4 weeks
• Residency type: 10-year renewable
• Path to citizenship: Not available through investment
• Key advantage: Zero income tax, fastest processing of any programme worldwide

Jordan

• Programme: Investor Residency
• Minimum investment: $750,000+ in various qualifying investments
• Processing: 2–4 months
• Residency type: Renewable
• Path to citizenship: Possible after extended residency
• Key advantage: Gateway to Middle Eastern markets

Asia-Pacific

Thailand

• Programme: Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa
• Minimum investment: $500,000 in Thai government bonds, FDI, or property (Wealthy Global Citizen category: requires $1M+ in assets AND $80,000/yr personal income in the two prior years)
• Processing: 1–3 months
• Residency type: 10-year (5 + 5)
• Path to citizenship: Extremely rare through investment
• Key advantage: 17% flat tax for qualifying professionals; excellent lifestyle

Malaysia

• Programme: Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
• Minimum investment: Three-tier fixed deposit (2024 MM2H restructure under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture): Silver — RM 500,000 ($110,000, 5-year visa); Gold — RM 2 million ($435,000, 15-year visa); Platinum — RM 5 million (~$1.09 million, 20-year visa). Main applicant must be 25 or older; no upper age cap
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Residency type: 5-year renewable
• Path to citizenship: Not through this programme
• Key advantage: Low cost of living, English widely spoken, tropical lifestyle

Singapore

• Programme: Global Investor Programme (GIP)
• Minimum investment: SGD 10 million (~$7.5 million) in business or fund
• Processing: 6–12 months
• Residency type: Permanent residency
• Path to citizenship: After 2 years of PR
• Key advantage: One of the world's strongest passports (visa-free to 195 countries); premier business hub

Australia

• Programme: National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent / Subclass 858, renamed Dec 2024). The Significant Investor Visa (SIV, Subclass 188) and the broader Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) were CLOSED to new applications in 2024; only existing lodged applications continue to be processed
• Minimum investment: AUD 5 million (~$3.3 million) in complying investments
• Processing: 6–12 months
• Residency type: Provisional (4 years), then permanent
• Path to citizenship: After 4 years of permanent residency
• Key advantage: Access to one of the world's highest-quality lifestyles; strong passport

New Zealand

• Programme: Active Investor Plus Visa
• Minimum investment: NZD 5 million (~$3 million) minimum (direct investment weighted)
• Processing: 6–12 months
• Residency type: Leads to permanent residency
• Path to citizenship: 5 years after residency granted
• Key advantage: Small, stable, English-speaking nation with outstanding quality of life

Americas

United States

• Programme: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa
• Minimum investment: $800,000 (Targeted Employment Area) or $1,050,000 (standard)
• Processing: 24–48+ months (significant backlogs for some countries)
• Residency type: Conditional permanent residency (green card), then permanent after 2 years
• Path to citizenship: 5 years after green card
• Key advantage: Full US permanent residency and eventual citizenship in the world's largest economy

Canada

• Programme: Start-Up Visa
• Minimum investment: No fixed minimum, but must secure support from a designated Canadian angel investor group ($75,000+), venture capital fund ($200,000+), or business incubator
• Processing: 12–24 months
• Residency type: Permanent
• Path to citizenship: 3 years of physical presence
• Key advantage: Direct path to Canadian permanent residency and citizenship

Panama

• Programme: Friendly Nations Visa / Qualified Investor Visa
• Minimum investment: $300,000 (real estate) for Qualified Investor Visa
• Processing: 3–6 months
• Residency type: Permanent
• Path to citizenship: 5 years
• Key advantage: US dollar economy, territorial tax system, strategic location

Africa

Mauritius

• Programme: Mauritius Residence by Investment
• Minimum investment: $375,000 (real estate in approved developments)
• Processing: 2–4 months
• Residency type: Permanent (for 10 years, renewable)
• Path to citizenship: After sustained residency
• Key advantage: Zero capital gains tax, English/French-speaking, gateway to African markets

Programmes That Have Ended or Are Paused

It's important to know which programmes are no longer accepting applications:

• Malta MEIN (Citizenship by Investment) — Terminated July 2025 following ECJ ruling that it violated EU law
• UK Tier 1 Investor Visa — Closed February 2022
• Cyprus Citizenship by Investment — Suspended November 2020
• Ireland IIP — Paused since early 2024
• Bulgaria CBI — Ended January 2022
• Moldova CBI — Never launched despite legislation

How to Choose the Right Country

Consider these factors when selecting a programme:

Your primary goal: Is it travel freedom? Tax optimisation? A backup plan? Quality of life? EU access?

Your budget: Programmes range from $200,000 (Dominica) to $7.5 million+ (Singapore). Be realistic about total costs including legal fees, due diligence, taxes, and ongoing maintenance.

Your timeline: Need something fast? Cyprus (2 months) and UAE (2 weeks) are the fastest. Can you wait? Portugal's 5-year citizenship path may be worth the longer processing time.

Your family situation: Programmes like Malta and the Caribbean nations allow parents and even siblings. Others limit inclusion to spouse and minor children.

Your tax situation: Some programmes (UAE, Caribbean) offer zero income tax environments. Others (Portugal, Italy) have special tax regimes for new residents.

Working With an Immigration Lawyer

Investment migration is a complex field where mistakes are expensive and sometimes irreversible. A specialist immigration lawyer can:

• Assess which programme genuinely fits your situation (not just sell you the most expensive one)
• Navigate due diligence requirements, especially for applicants with complex business backgrounds
• Manage the application process from start to finish
• Coordinate with local professionals (notaries, bankers, real estate agents)
• Protect your interests if complications arise

Compare verified immigration lawyers by country and specialisation at Golden Visa Lawyers.

Conclusion

The golden visa market in 2026 offers more options than ever, but also more complexity. Programmes are evolving, thresholds are changing, and due diligence requirements are tightening globally. The right choice depends entirely on your individual circumstances — your goals, your budget, your family, and your timeline.

Use this guide as your starting point, then consult with a qualified immigration lawyer to turn your plan into reality.