Golden Visa Programmes Compared 2026: Europe, Caribbean & Beyond

Golden visa programmes allow foreign nationals to obtain residency — and sometimes a path to citizenship — through qualifying investments. As of 2026, over 30 countries offer some form of residency-by-investment programme. This guide compares the most significant active programmes across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

European Golden Visas

Greece — From EUR 250,000

• Investment: EUR 250,000 (heritage/conversion properties), EUR 400,000 (regional), or EUR 800,000 (Athens, Thessaloniki, major islands)
• Permit: 5-year renewable residence permit
• Physical presence: None for renewal
• Path to citizenship: 7 years with genuine physical presence
• Schengen access: Yes
• Work rights: No (separate permit needed)

Portugal — EUR 500,000 (Fund Route)

• Investment: EUR 500,000 in qualifying funds (real estate route eliminated October 2023)
• Permit: 2-year renewable residence permit
• Physical presence: 7-14 days per renewal period
• Path to citizenship: 5 years (A2 Portuguese language required)
• Schengen access: Yes
• Work rights: Yes

Spain — EUR 500,000

• Investment: EUR 500,000 in real estate (programme under legislative review)
• Permit: 1-year initial, then 2-year renewable
• Physical presence: None for renewal
• Path to citizenship: 10 years (generally requires renouncing previous nationality)
• Schengen access: Yes
• Work rights: Yes

Italy — EUR 250,000-2,000,000

• Investment: EUR 250,000 in innovative startup, EUR 500,000 in Italian company, EUR 2,000,000 in government bonds, or EUR 1,000,000 in philanthropic project
• Permit: 2-year Investor Visa, renewable
• Physical presence: Must not be absent for more than 365 consecutive days
• Path to citizenship: 10 years
• Schengen access: Yes
• Work rights: Yes

Malta — MRVP (Residency Programme)

• Investment: Government contribution of EUR 58,000-98,000 plus EUR 10,000 philanthropic donation, plus EUR 50,000+ property purchase or EUR 10,000+/year rental
• Permit: Permanent residency
• Physical presence: None (but must not spend more than 183 days in any other jurisdiction)
• Path to citizenship: No direct path (separate MEIN programme required)
• Schengen access: Yes

Ireland — EUR 1,000,000

• Investment: EUR 1,000,000 in approved enterprise, fund, REIT, or EUR 500,000 philanthropic endowment
• Permit: 2-year initial, then 3-year renewal, then Stamp 4 indefinite
• Physical presence: 1 day per year
• Path to citizenship: 5 years (with 12 months continuous residence in year 5)
• Schengen access: No (Ireland is not in Schengen)
• Work rights: Yes

Middle East Golden Visas

UAE Golden Visa — AED 2,000,000+

• Investment: AED 2,000,000 in real estate, or qualification as investor, entrepreneur, specialised talent, or outstanding student
• Permit: 10-year renewable residence visa
• Physical presence: No minimum (can be renewed from outside UAE)
• Path to citizenship: No standard path (exceptional grants by Emiri decree)
• Tax: 0% personal income tax, 9% corporate tax on qualifying income

Bahrain — BHD 50,000+

• Investment: Property purchase of BHD 50,000+, or self-sponsored residency based on income
• Permit: Renewable residency with Golden Residency option for property owners
• Tax: No personal income tax

Americas

United States — EB-5 (USD 1,050,000)

• Investment: USD 1,050,000 in a new commercial enterprise (or USD 800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area)
• Permit: Conditional permanent residency (green card) for 2 years, then permanent
• Physical presence: Must maintain US residence
• Path to citizenship: 5 years after green card
• Tax: Worldwide taxation from day one of residency
• Job creation: Must create 10 full-time jobs for US workers

Canada — Various Provincial Programmes

• Investment: Varies by province (Quebec Immigrant Investor Programme periodically suspended)
• Federal Start-Up Visa: No fixed investment but requires letter of support from designated organisation
• Path to citizenship: 3 years of physical presence within 5 years

Panama — Friendly Nations Visa

• Investment: USD 200,000 in real estate or bank deposit, plus economic tie to Panama
• Permit: Permanent residency
• Path to citizenship: 5 years
• Tax: Territorial (foreign-source income untaxed)

Asia-Pacific

Singapore — Global Investor Programme

• Investment: SGD 10,000,000 in business or approved fund
• Permit: Permanent residency
• Path to citizenship: 2 years (after PR, but discretionary)
• Tax: No capital gains tax, territorial system for individuals

Australia — Significant Investor Visa (SIV, Subclass 188)

• Investment: AUD 5,000,000 in complying investments
• Permit: Provisional visa (4 years), then permanent residency
• Physical presence: 40 days per year
• Path to citizenship: 4 years after PR

New Zealand — Active Investor Plus

• Investment: NZD 5,000,000-15,000,000 depending on category
• Permit: Resident visa
• Path to citizenship: 5 years

Thailand — Elite Visa

• Investment: THB 600,000-2,000,000 (membership fee, not an investment)
• Permit: 5-20 year renewable stay
• Path to citizenship: No direct path
• Tax: Territorial (foreign income not remitted in same year is untaxed)

Malaysia — MM2H

• Investment: Fixed deposit of MYR 500,000-1,000,000 plus proof of income
• Permit: 5-year renewable social visit pass
• Path to citizenship: No direct path

Comprehensive Comparison Table

Programme	Min. Investment	Path to Citizenship	Time to Citizenship	Tax System
Greece	EUR 250,000	Yes	7 years	Worldwide (with regimes)
Portugal	EUR 500,000	Yes	5 years	Worldwide (IFICI regime)
Spain	EUR 500,000	Yes	10 years	Worldwide (Beckham Law)
Malta MRVP	EUR 118,000+	No	N/A	Remittance (non-dom)
Malta MEIN	EUR 690,000+	Yes	1-3 years	Worldwide
Ireland	EUR 1,000,000	Yes	5 years	Remittance (non-dom)
UAE	AED 2,000,000	No (exceptional)	N/A	Zero PIT
US EB-5	USD 800,000+	Yes	7-10 years	Worldwide
Singapore GIP	SGD 10,000,000	Yes	3-4 years	Territorial
Panama	USD 200,000	Yes	5 years	Territorial
Thailand	THB 600,000	No	N/A	Territorial

How to Choose

Prioritise EU citizenship path:

Portugal (5 years, minimal presence) or Greece (7 years, genuine presence required)

Prioritise zero tax:

UAE Golden Visa (0% PIT, no CGT) or Panama (territorial system)

Prioritise US access:

US EB-5 (direct green card) or Grenada CBI + E-2 treaty (indirect route)

Prioritise speed and simplicity:

UAE Golden Visa (processed in weeks) or Thailand Elite Visa (fast, low commitment)

Prioritise long-term wealth structuring:

Singapore GIP (strong rule of law, no CGT, path to citizenship) or Malta MEIN (EU passport)

Key Takeaways

• Golden visa programmes range from EUR 118,000 (Malta MRVP) to SGD 10,000,000 (Singapore GIP) — the right choice depends on objectives, not just cost
• Portugal remains the most efficient route to EU citizenship through investment: 5 years, 35 days physical presence, A2 language
• The UAE Golden Visa offers the strongest tax proposition (0% PIT) combined with fast processing and no citizenship path requirement
• The US EB-5 is the most expensive mainstream programme but provides the strongest single-country access (US green card) with full work and residency rights
• Tax treatment varies enormously — some programmes (US EB-5) create worldwide tax obligations from day one, while others (UAE, Panama, Thailand) impose zero or territorial taxation
• Programme availability changes frequently — Spain's real estate route is under review, and several programmes adjust thresholds annually
• Applicants should evaluate programmes based on their specific objectives: citizenship path, tax efficiency, travel access, and family inclusion