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Comparison · PORTUGAL ↔ GREECE
Head-to-head dossier
Portugal vs GreeceGolden Visa, side by side — 2026
The short verdict
It depends. Portugal and Greece solve different problems — neither program "wins" in the abstract.
The full picture is below — by the numbers, then category by category.
By the numbers
Headline metrics
| Metric | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 🇬🇷 Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Reformed | Active |
| Headline minimum | €250,000 | €250,000 |
| Processing time | 12–24 months | 2–6 months |
| Path to citizenship | 5 years | 7 years |
| Physical presence | 7 days/year | 0 days required |
| Tax overlay | NHR 2.0 (IFICI) for qualifying activities | Non-dom flat tax €100k/year |
| Best for | Founders, remote professionals and HNW families who want an EU passport without relocating immediately. | Investors who want a Mediterranean base, a tangible asset, and a Schengen card without relocation pressure. |
Category by category
- 01
Entry price
TieBoth programs start at the same headline minimum (€250,000).
- 02
Faster to a card
Edge: GreecePortugal: 12–24 months. Greece: 2–6 months.
- 03
Faster path to citizenship
Edge: PortugalPortugal: 5 years. Greece: 7 years.
Who each one is for
🇵🇹 Portugal — best for
Founders, remote professionals and HNW families who want an EU passport without relocating immediately.
- +Path to EU citizenship in 5 years
- +Only ~7 days/year physical presence
- +Family included (spouse, children, dependent parents)
- +Visa-free travel to 191 countries after naturalization
🇬🇷 Greece — best for
Investors who want a Mediterranean base, a tangible asset, and a Schengen card without relocation pressure.
- +Zero physical presence required
- +Fastest EU Golden Visa to process
- +Real estate route still fully open
- +Schengen access from day one
The honest tradeoffs
🇵🇹 Portugal — working against you
- − Real estate route closed in October 2023
- − AIMA backlogs have stretched processing to 18+ months
- − Portuguese language A2 required for citizenship
🇬🇷 Greece — working against you
- − Tier 1 zones jumped from €500k to €800k in Sept 2024
- − Citizenship requires 7 years + Greek language B1
- − Property cannot be short-term let (Airbnb) since 2024
Read the full dossier