Golden Visa 2026 Countries: Which Programs Are Still Open and Worth It

Greece, UAE, Spain (for existing applicants with grandfathered applications), Malta, Turkey, and Portugal's fund route are all actively issuing golden visas in 2026. Greece remains the most accessible entry point in Europe at EUR 250,000 in most regions, though Attica, Thessaloniki, and several islands now require EUR 800,000. UAE issues its 10-year golden visa for property purchases of AED 2 million (roughly USD 545,000) or via approved investment and talent categories. Golden Visa Cost by Property Route: Every Major Program Compared for 2025 has a side-by-side breakdown of what each property threshold actually costs after fees.

Portugal closed its direct property route in October 2023, and Spain announced the closure of its investor visa program in April 2024. Ireland suspended its program in 2023 after FATF concerns. These closures are permanent or indefinite, so any agent telling you these property routes are still available in 2026 is either confused or dishonest. Portugal's fund and venture capital route survived the cull and is still processing applications, with a minimum commitment of EUR 500,000.

Indonesia's Second Home Visa allows a USD 130,000 blocked deposit (not invested, refundable) for a 5 or 10-year residency. Jordan offers residency for a JOD 30,000 deposit or property purchase. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman have investor residency schemes that fly below most advisors' radar but are worth examining for those with business interests in the Gulf or Middle East. None of these give you a path to a European passport, but for pure residency and banking access they are functional and cheap.

Greece requires 7 years of continuous residency before naturalisation, and you must actually live there. Malta's MEIN program is the fastest legitimate EU citizenship route, with a minimum EUR 600,000 contribution plus property and charitable donation requirements, granting citizenship in as little as 12 months if you satisfy residency. Turkey grants citizenship after a USD 400,000 property purchase with no residency requirement at all, making it the fastest passport for those who only need a travel document upgrade. Portugal's fund route leads to citizenship after 5 years under the same terms as before, provided you maintain residency connection.

Getting a golden visa does not automatically make you a tax resident, and that distinction matters enormously. Greece's non-dom program lets golden visa holders pay a flat EUR 100,000 annual tax on foreign income regardless of actual earnings, which is compelling for high earners. UAE has no income tax at all, but you need to spend enough time there to actually break tax residency in your home country, typically 183 days or a formal tax residency certificate. Malta non-dom status is available alongside MEIN citizenship but requires careful structuring. If your goal is tax reduction rather than just a residency card, the program selection has to be driven by where you will actually spend time.

The right program depends on three variables in order: your passport problem (what travel access do you actually need), your tax situation (what structure reduces your effective rate), and your liquidity (how much capital you can lock up and for how long). Someone with a US passport who wants EU residency and has EUR 800,000 liquid should look hard at Greece or Malta. Someone with a developing-country passport who wants visa-free access and has USD 400,000 should look at Turkey first. Someone who wants pure lifestyle residency without a citizenship path and has USD 130,000 should look at Indonesia or Thailand's Long Term Resident visa. Do not optimise for the cheapest entry threshold if the jurisdiction does not solve your actual problem.