In several programs, the per-dependent government fee is not the real cost driver. Attorney and document preparation fees per dependent often exceed the government charge by two to five times, particularly in Portugal, Greece, and Spain, where apostille chains for foreign family documents are mandatory.
How Dependent Fees Are Structured Across Programs
Most programs charge a flat government fee per dependent, though a few fold spouse and minor children into the main applicant's fee entirely. The three most common structures are: a fixed fee per person regardless of relationship, a tiered fee where spouses pay more than minor children, and a single family application fee that covers everyone up to a household cap. Understanding which model a program uses matters before you assume the headline investment figure covers your whole family.
Portugal: Dependent Fees on Top of a Closed Fund Investment
Portugal's golden visa currently requires a minimum EUR 500,000 investment in a qualifying fund, and dependent fees are charged separately by the immigration authority SEF (now AIMA). Government processing fees run roughly EUR 533 per dependent at initial application, plus a renewal fee of around EUR 266 per dependent every two years. A family of four adding a spouse and two minor children should budget an additional EUR 1,600 to EUR 2,400 in government fees over the first renewal cycle, excluding legal fees. For a full breakdown of the base program costs, see Golden Visa Cost Portugal: Every Fee, Route, and Real Number for 2025.
UAE and Dubai: Low Dependent Fees, Simple Structure
The UAE golden visa charges dependent fees that are genuinely low relative to the investment thresholds involved. Adding a spouse and children typically costs AED 100 to AED 400 per person in government fees, with the biometric and Emirates ID components adding another AED 200 to AED 370 per person. The total out-of-pocket cost to include a spouse and two children rarely exceeds AED 2,500 (roughly USD 680) in government charges, making the UAE one of the most family-efficient programs on a per-dependent basis.
Spain: Dependent Inclusion With Moderate Per-Person Costs
Spain's golden visa allows the main applicant to include a spouse, dependent children under 18, and dependent parents in the initial application. Government visa fees run approximately EUR 80 per person for the initial national visa, but the foreigner identity card (TIE) adds roughly EUR 16 per person. Legal and preparation costs from a Spanish immigration lawyer typically add EUR 500 to EUR 1,500 per dependent depending on complexity. Spain's program is now closed to new real estate investment applications as of early 2025, so prospective applicants need to qualify through fund or business investment routes where the thresholds are higher.
Greece: Per-Dependent Fees on One of Europe's Lowest Base Thresholds
Greece charges a dependent processing fee of EUR 150 per person for the initial five-year residence permit. Spouses, minor children, and dependent parents of either spouse qualify. For a family of four, the dependent fees add EUR 450 to the base government costs, which is modest, but legal fees in Greece commonly run EUR 500 to EUR 1,000 per dependent for document preparation and apostille work. The base investment threshold for most areas is EUR 400,000 in real estate as of 2024, though prime areas in Athens and Thessaloniki require EUR 800,000.
EB-5 USA: Dependent Inclusion Is Administratively Simple but Costly Overall
The US EB-5 program includes a spouse and unmarried children under 21 within the same petition, with no additional investment required for dependents. However, USCIS filing fees apply per applicant. The I-526E petition fee is around USD 11,160 for the primary applicant, and each derivative beneficiary (spouse and each child) pays the same I-526E fee if filing separately or an associated filing fee at the adjustment of status stage, which runs approximately USD 1,440 per person. For a family of four, the government filing fees alone can exceed USD 15,000 before attorney costs, which typically add USD 15,000 to USD 50,000 for the full case.
Things people ask first.
Do golden visa dependents need to make a separate investment?
No. In every major golden visa program, dependents are included under the primary applicant's qualifying investment with no additional capital contribution required. The costs for dependents are administrative fees only.
Which golden visa program is cheapest for a family of four?
On a per-dependent government fee basis, the UAE is the most cost-efficient, with total add-on costs for a spouse and two children under USD 700. Greece is the most affordable European option at EUR 150 per dependent in government fees, though legal costs add substantially to that.
Can dependent parents be included in a golden visa application?
Some programs allow it and some do not. Portugal, Spain, and Greece permit dependent parents of either spouse to be included. The UAE allows parental inclusion under specific conditions. The US EB-5 does not include parents as derivative beneficiaries.
What happens to dependent children who turn 18 during the residency period?
Most programs require a dependent child who ages out to either qualify independently or transition to a different residence status. Some programs, including Portugal, allow children who were included as dependents and began their schooling locally to apply for an independent permit. Check the specific program rules well before the child's 18th birthday.
Are dependent fees charged again at renewal?
Yes. Government renewal fees apply to each family member in most programs, not just the primary applicant. Portugal, Greece, and the UAE all charge per-person renewal fees, so a family of four pays four sets of renewal charges each cycle.
Do legal fees apply per dependent or per family?
It depends on the law firm and the complexity of each dependent's documents. Many firms offer a family package rate, but if dependents have documents from different countries requiring separate apostille and translation work, per-person billing is common. Always confirm the fee structure before engagement.
Want the full family cost picture before you commit to a program?
The Offshore Playbook maps out total family costs across the major golden visa programs, including dependent fee stacks, renewal cycles, and the document requirements that catch most families off guard. Gramps.chat can run the numbers for your specific family structure in real time.
Get the Offshore Playbook