Portugal vs Greece vs Italy: how to actually choose between the three.
The honest framework we use with clients — investment routes, tax stacks, citizenship pathways and the trade-offs nobody puts in a brochure.
Read article →Golden Visa & Residency by InvestmentCompare every golden visa.
Compare every golden visa.
Choose your future.
Independent, statute-checked research on 12 residency and citizenship programs across 12 countries. No commissions, no sales desk — just guidance from your first question to approval.
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Golden Visa Programs by Country
Compare golden visa programs by country.
We track every change to investment minimums, processing times and program rules — each figure checked against the primary statute and updated within 30 days of any change.
Portugal
Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
From€500,000
Processing12–18 months
Citizenship10 years
Stay7 days/year
Explore Portugal →
Greece
Greece Golden Visa
From€250,000
Processing4–9 months
Citizenship7 years
Stay0 days required
Explore Greece →
Spain
Spain Golden Visa (closed to new applicants)
From€500,000
ProcessingClosed to new applicants
Citizenshipn/a
Stay1 visit/year
Why Spain closed →
United Arab Emirates
UAE Golden Visa (10-year residency)
FromAED 2,000,000
Processing4–6 weeks
CitizenshipNot available
StayUnlimited absence allowed
Explore United Arab Emirates →Malta
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
From€175,000
Processing4–6 months
CitizenshipPermanent residence only
Stay0 days
Explore Malta →Italy
Italy Investor Visa (Visto per Investitori)
From€250,000
Processing3–4 months
Citizenship10 years
StayFlexible
Explore Italy →Caribbean (CBI)
Caribbean Citizenship by Investment
From$200,000
Processing4–8 months
CitizenshipDirect
Stay0 days
Explore Caribbean (CBI) →
United States
EB-5 Immigrant Investor
From$800,000
ProcessingRural TEA: ~8mo to I-526E · 24–36mo to green card
CitizenshipConditional green card now; permanent green card after the 2-year conditions are removed; US citizenship after 5 years as a permanent resident, with physical-presence and continuous-residence requirements
StayNot a zero-stay program
Explore United States →The Golden Visa Process
How to get a golden visa in five stages.
You don't pick the lawyer, agent, or banker. We match you with the right experts at every stage and stay with you through closing.
01/ 05
Discover
Answer 5 questions about your situation, goals, and timeline. Takes 2 minutes.
02/ 05
Match
We pair you with the right country and the right pre-vetted experts.
03/ 05
Plan
Your coordinator builds a personalized roadmap with timeline and costs.
04/ 05
Execute
Lawyers, agents, bankers work in coordination. We keep things moving.
05/ 05
Settle
Visa approved. Welcome home. We continue supporting you long after.
Concierge vs DIY vs LawyerHow to apply for a golden visa.
How to apply for a golden visa.
Three paths, one obvious choice.
Most agencies are sales channels for one or two programs. We're independent — and we stay with you after approval.
What you get
RECOMMENDEDGolden Visa Insider
Going It Alone
Traditional Lawyer
End-to-end coordination
Partial
Pre-vetted local experts
One firm only
Time to first match
2 minutes
Weeks of research
2–3 weeks
Real estate sourcing
Banking & compliance setup
Referral only
Transparent pricing
Self-discovery
Post-approval support
Golden Visa Insights
View all articles →Golden visa news, research, and analysis.
Original analysis on policy changes, market shifts, and the data nobody else publishes.
Comparison
Strategy
The five tax-residency myths that cost golden visa investors the most money.
A golden visa changes your immigration status, not your tax residency. Most investors discover that distinction too late. Here's the framework that prevents it.
Read article →Fundamentals
The due-diligence checklist we run before any golden visa wire.
Program risk, developer risk, fund risk, banking risk, exit risk. The same questions we ask before signing any subscription agreement or SPA.
Read article →
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FAQ
Common golden visa questions.
Quick answers to what investors ask us most. For deeper context, see our country-specific guides.
What is a golden visa?
A golden visa is a residency permit granted to non-citizens who make a qualifying investment in a country. Investment routes typically include:
- Real estate purchase (e.g. Greece from €250,000)
- Regulated investment funds (e.g. Portugal from €500,000)
- Government bonds or bank deposits
- Business creation or job-generating capital (e.g. US EB-5 from $800,000)
For the full mechanics, read our plain-English guide to golden visas.
Which countries offer golden visas in 2026?
Many countries run residency- or citizenship-by-investment programs. We cover the 12 most relevant in depth:
- Europe: Portugal, Greece, Italy, Malta (Spain's golden visa closed in 2025)
- Middle East: United Arab Emirates
- Americas: United States (EB-5), plus five Caribbean citizenship programs
See the full list on our countries page or compare two side-by-side in Compare.
How much does a golden visa cost?
The headline number is rarely the all-in cost. Plan for:
- Qualifying investment: €250,000 – $1,050,000 depending on country and route
- Government & application fees: €3,000 – €10,000
- Per-dependent fees: €2,000 – €7,500 each
- Legal & due-diligence: €8,000 – €25,000
- Annual fund/management fees: 1–2% where applicable
For a country-by-country cost breakdown read Portugal vs Greece vs Italy.
How long does a golden visa application take?
What's the difference between a golden visa and citizenship by investment?
- Residency by Investment (RBI): right to live in the country; citizenship via naturalization after 5–10 years. Examples: Portugal, Greece, UAE, Italy.
- Citizenship by Investment (CBI): passport granted directly in 4–12 months. Examples: five Caribbean programs. Malta's CBI was struck down by the EU Court of Justice in April 2025.
Read the legal distinction in our fundamentals guide.
Can my family be included in a golden visa application?
Almost every program allows a single qualifying investment to cover your immediate family. Typical eligible dependants:
- Spouse or registered partner
- Dependent children (usually under 18, or under 26 if full-time students and financially dependent)
- Dependent parents (often over 65, or financially dependent)
- In some programs: unmarried adult children and siblings
Do I need to live in the country to keep my golden visa?
Annual stay requirements to maintain the residency:
- Portugal: 7 days/year average
- Greece: no minimum stay
- UAE: no hard minimum stay — a short visit keeps it active
- US EB-5: substantial presence (green card rules)
Tax residency is a separate question — see Tax residency myths.
Is a golden visa worth it?
A golden visa is worth it when you specifically need:
- A Plan B residency outside your home jurisdiction
- EU mobility via Schengen access
- Access to a favourable tax regime (Portugal IFICI, Greece non-dom, UAE 0%)
- A long-term path to citizenship for your children
Before committing, run a due-diligence checklist.