Golden Visa 2026 Europe: Which Programs Are Open, What They Cost, and Where to Apply

Three closures define the current market: Spain terminated its golden visa program in April 2025, Portugal closed real estate investment as a qualifying route in late 2023, and Ireland shut its program years earlier. What remains are Greece, Malta, Hungary (relaunched in 2024), Italy, and Latvia. Applicants who spent 2022 to 2024 eyeing Spain or Portugal need to recalibrate now.

Greece is the dominant European golden visa destination in 2026, with a minimum real estate investment of EUR 400,000 in Athens, Thessaloniki, and island zones with populations above 3,100, and EUR 250,000 in lower-demand areas. Processing has improved, with approvals typically running 6 to 12 months after submission. Residency does not require physical presence, making it viable as a pure optionality play rather than a tax relocation. For a detailed breakdown of costs and qualifying routes, see Greece Golden Visa Explained.

Malta's MRVP (Malta Permanent Residence Programme) does not require property purchase, only a combination of a government contribution of EUR 28,000 minimum, a property rental of at least EUR 10,000 per year or purchase at EUR 300,000 minimum, plus a EUR 2,000 donation to a registered NGO. It grants permanent residency, not temporary, so there is no renewal cycle. Malta also offers a separate citizenship by naturalisation route after 1 or 3 years of residency, making it the most credible EU passport track still operating in 2026.

Hungary relaunched its golden visa in July 2024 under the Guest Investor Visa, with three qualifying routes: EUR 500,000 into approved real estate funds, EUR 250,000 as a donation to a higher education institution, or EUR 1,000,000 in direct real estate. The fund route is notable because it does not require physical property ownership, reducing management complexity. Hungary is Schengen-area access without requiring EU citizenship, and the 10-year renewable residency term is among the longest initial grants in Europe.

Italy's investor visa requires EUR 500,000 into an Italian company, EUR 250,000 into an innovative startup, EUR 1,000,000 in philanthropy, or EUR 2,000,000 in government bonds. The startup route is the most cost-efficient if the applicant has a genuine business rationale. Latvia's program accepts EUR 50,000 to EUR 250,000 depending on the route, making it the lowest entry point remaining in the EU, though Latvian residency carries less strategic weight than Greek or Maltese status for most investors.

Spain's closure removes the only program that offered a direct path to Spanish citizenship after 10 years of residency via the golden visa track. Portugal's residency-to-citizenship pipeline still functions through the remaining non-real-estate routes, including venture capital fund investments from EUR 500,000 and scientific research contributions from EUR 500,000, but applicants must be prepared for longer processing queues now that real estate demand has shifted to these alternatives. Anyone planning a 5 to 10 year path to EU citizenship should model their program choice against each country's naturalization timeline, not just the residency entry requirements.