Portugal and Greece are the only two programs where the combination of a realistic citizenship timeline, no mandatory stay, and genuine EU passport quality all hold simultaneously. Every other program on this list involves a meaningful trade-off on at least one of those three variables.
Greece: Lowest Entry Point Left in Southern Europe
Greece's golden visa starts at EUR 250,000 for real estate in most regions, though Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini now require EUR 800,000. There is no minimum stay requirement to maintain the permit, which makes this the go-to for people who want EU residency without relocating. After seven years of continuous legal residency, citizenship becomes possible, but that clock only runs if you actually spend 183 or more days per year in Greece.
Portugal: Still Open, But the Property Route Is Gone
Portugal closed its real estate investment route in October 2023, but the program survives through fund investments and qualifying business activity. The most accessible current route is a EUR 500,000 investment into an approved Portuguese investment fund, with no physical residency requirement beyond one seven-day visit per year. Portugal remains the strongest path to an EU passport of any golden visa program, requiring five years of residency before naturalization and no language test barrier at the residency stage. For a full comparison of how this stacks up against investor routes outside Europe, see Golden Visa vs Investor Visa Dubai: Which One Actually Fits Your Situation.
Spain: Solid Program Under Political Pressure
Spain's golden visa requires EUR 500,000 in real estate, purchased debt-free, with no mortgage counting toward the threshold. The permit is valid for two years initially and renewable in three-year blocks, with no minimum stay to keep the residency active. The Spanish government announced plans to abolish the real estate route in early 2024, and while it had not been formally cancelled as of mid-2025, applicants should treat this as a closing window rather than a stable long-term option.
Malta: The Fastest Route to EU Residency Proper
Malta's Permanent Residence Programme is not technically a golden visa, but it delivers permanent EU residency in roughly four to six months, faster than any comparable European program. The total cost runs approximately EUR 150,000 to EUR 200,000 when combining the government contribution, property rental or purchase requirement, and a charitable donation of EUR 2,000. Citizenship requires a separate track through the Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation programme, which starts at EUR 600,000 and has an annual quota that fills quickly.
Hungary: The New Entrant With Clean Numbers
Hungary relaunched its golden visa in July 2024 under the Guest Investor Programme, requiring a EUR 250,000 investment into an approved real estate investment fund, or EUR 500,000 in residential property, or a EUR 1,000,000 donation to a public interest trust. The fund route is the most practical, offering a ten-year renewable residency permit with no minimum stay requirement. Hungary is Schengen-area but not in the EU for currency purposes, and the citizenship path is long and discretionary, so this program suits people who want Schengen access and a stable holding structure rather than an EU passport.
Italy: The Alternative for Passive Income Holders
Italy's Investor Visa requires EUR 250,000 into an innovative startup, EUR 500,000 into an Italian company, EUR 1,000,000 in philanthropic donations, or EUR 2,000,000 in Italian government bonds. The startup route is the entry point most applicants target. Italy also runs a separate flat-tax regime for new residents that caps annual tax on foreign income at EUR 100,000 per year regardless of how much you earn abroad, which makes it structurally interesting if you pair residency with legitimate offshore income planning.
Things people ask first.
Which European golden visa is easiest to get?
Greece is the easiest on both investment threshold and process complexity. The EUR 250,000 entry point in non-prime zones is the lowest in the EU, the application timeline runs roughly three to six months, and there is no residency obligation to keep the permit active.
Can I get EU citizenship through a golden visa?
Yes, but only indirectly and only in specific countries. Portugal allows naturalization after five years of legal residency. Greece requires seven years of actual physical presence, meaning 183 or more days per year. Spain requires ten years. Malta has a separate and much more expensive citizenship program that runs in parallel.
Does a European golden visa give me Schengen travel rights?
Yes. Residency in any Schengen country allows you to travel freely within the Schengen Area. Hungary, Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Italy are all Schengen members, so golden visa holders in those countries can move across the zone without additional visas.
Is Portugal's golden visa still available in 2025?
Yes, but only through fund investment and qualifying business routes, not real estate. The fund route at EUR 500,000 is the most common path currently used by applicants.
Do I have to live in the country to keep my European golden visa?
For Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Hungary, there is no meaningful minimum stay to maintain the residency permit itself. Italy requires short annual visits. However, if your goal is eventual citizenship, you will need to meet that country's physical presence threshold for naturalization, which is separate from the residency maintenance rule.
What is the cheapest golden visa in Europe right now?
Greece at EUR 250,000 (in eligible non-prime regions) and Hungary at EUR 250,000 (via the approved fund route) are tied for the lowest entry point among active European programs in 2025.
Which European golden visa actually fits your income structure and timeline?
The Offshore Playbook maps the full decision tree: how each program interacts with your existing tax residency, which citizenship timelines are realistic given your travel patterns, and how to structure the investment itself to avoid common compliance traps.
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