Every program on this list has either raised its minimum or announced potential closure in the past 24 months. The cost of waiting is not zero, it is the higher entry price or the closed door that comes next.
Portugal Golden Visa
Portugal wins for Europeans and those who want an EU passport without moving there. The minimum is EUR 500,000 into a qualifying fund (direct real estate no longer qualifies in most cases), physical presence is just seven days per year, and citizenship is available after five years. For a deeper breakdown of which funds actually have a track record, see Best Golden Visa Funds Portugal: Ranked by Minimum, Strategy, and Track Record.
UAE Golden Visa
The UAE Golden Visa costs AED 2 million (roughly USD 545,000) in qualifying real estate or meets the threshold via a salary or business ownership route. There is no income tax, no wealth tax, and no requirement to spend a minimum number of days in the country to keep the visa active. The visa itself is valid for 10 years and renewable, though it does not lead to citizenship.
Greece Golden Visa
Greece recently raised its threshold to EUR 800,000 in high-demand zones (Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini) and EUR 400,000 elsewhere. Processing has improved significantly and is now running six to nine months in most cases. Greece is Schengen, offers a path to citizenship after seven years of residency, and has no minimum stay requirement to maintain the permit.
Malta Permanent Residency Programme
Malta's MPRP is not technically a golden visa but functions identically: a EUR 150,000 government contribution plus a EUR 375,000 property purchase or EUR 14,000 per year in rent gets you permanent EU residency with no minimum stay. Citizenship via naturalisation is a separate, higher-cost track requiring EUR 690,000 minimum contribution plus residence. Malta's program is the fastest route to a permanent EU residency card, typically 12 to 14 months.
Spain Golden Visa
Spain's golden visa requires EUR 500,000 in real estate with no mortgage (the unencumbered portion must reach the threshold). Spain announced plans to scrap the program but as of mid-2025 it remains open. The appeal is straightforward EU Schengen access, no minimum stay requirement, and citizenship eligibility after 10 years. Anyone considering this program should move quickly given the political uncertainty around its future.
Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa
Thailand's LTR Visa is the standout non-European option for retirees and remote workers who want Southeast Asia as a base. At USD 80,000 in qualifying investments or a pension income threshold of USD 40,000 per year, the cost is a fraction of the European alternatives. It grants a 10-year renewable visa, a 17% flat tax on employment income for qualifying expats, and a 90-day re-entry cycle that is easy to manage. No path to citizenship exists, but for pure lifestyle and tax efficiency it ranks among the world's top options.
Things people ask first.
Which golden visa is the cheapest in 2025?
Thailand's LTR Visa is the cheapest at USD 80,000 in investments, though it does not include an EU Schengen component. Among European programs, Greece at EUR 400,000 in qualifying zones is the lowest-cost entry point to Schengen residency.
Which golden visa leads to a passport the fastest?
Portugal is the fastest EU citizenship route at five years with only seven days per year of physical presence required. Malta's citizenship by naturalisation is possible in one to three years but costs considerably more.
Do golden visas actually reduce your taxes?
Only if you break tax residency in your home country properly. Holding a golden visa while remaining tax-resident in a high-tax country changes nothing about your tax bill. The UAE is the strongest tax optimization tool here because it combines zero income tax with an easy-to-maintain residency and no minimum stay.
Can you hold multiple golden visas simultaneously?
Yes. There is no international rule preventing you from holding residency in Portugal and the UAE at the same time, for example. The question is which country you claim as your tax residence, and that depends on where you spend sufficient days and where your ties are strongest.
Is the Portugal golden visa still worth it after the real estate route closed?
Yes for most applicants. The fund route still qualifies, and Portugal remains the only EU golden visa with a five-year citizenship clock and a seven-day physical presence requirement. The path is more complex than buying an apartment but the endpoint, an EU passport, is unchanged.
Which golden visa is best for families?
Portugal and Greece both allow the investor to include a spouse and dependent children under the same application. The UAE Golden Visa also covers dependents and additionally allows parents to be sponsored, which makes it popular for family consolidation in a zero-tax environment.
Which golden visa actually fits your tax situation and timeline?
The Offshore Playbook maps the specific sequence: which program to enter first, how to break home-country tax residency cleanly, and how to stack a second passport on top without triggering a compliance problem. gramps.chat can run your specific scenario before you commit a dollar.
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