Golden Visa comparison
Best European Golden Visas (2026): Portugal vs Greece vs Italy
The best European golden visas in 2026 are Portugal, Greece and Italy: Portugal starts at €250,000 (cultural support) with about 7 days a year in the country, Greece at €250,000 to €800,000 in property with no stay rule, and Italy at €250,000 in an innovative startup. Spain closed its golden visa in April 2025.
Side by side
Portugal vs Greece vs Italy golden visas (2026)
| Country | Minimum investment | Real-estate route? | Minimum stay | Processing | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | EUR 250,000 (cultural support; EUR 200,000 in low-density areas) or EUR 500,000 (investment funds) | No - abolished in 2023 | Low: ~7 days/year (14 per 2-year period) | 12-24+ months from submission (AIMA backlog) | After 10 years of residence (7 for EU/Portuguese-speaking) - raised from 5 in May 2026 |
| Greece | EUR 250,000 (conversion/restoration) up to EUR 800,000 (prime areas) | Yes - tiered (EUR 250k conversion, EUR 400k standard, EUR 800k prime areas) | None | Usually 4-9 months (2-month legal deadline once the file is complete; 12+ months in busy offices such as Attica) | After 7 years - but requires genuinely living in Greece plus a language exam |
| Italy | EUR 250,000 (innovative startup) up to EUR 2,000,000 (government bonds) | No - never offered | None (for the permit) | Fast - pre-approval in about 30 days | After 10 years of residence |
Last updated 16 October 2026. Investment thresholds, stay rules, and citizenship timelines change and carry conditions; figures are checked against official government sources in each country. Portugal's citizenship change (Lei Organica 1/2026) is recent and how prior residence counts is still being clarified. Estimate full costs with the Golden Visa cost calculator.
Movingto is a Portugal-first immigration firm that puts a named, Bar-registered lawyer from its in-house legal team on your case and publishes its fees.
Official sources (checked 16 October 2026): Portugal, AIMA residence permit for investment (ARI); Italy, Investor Visa for Italy portal and its policy guidance.
You want the smallest qualifying investment
The cheapest routes are Greece's EUR 250,000 option (converting a commercial building to residential, or restoring a listed one) and Italy's EUR 250,000 innovative-startup investment, plus Portugal's EUR 250,000 cultural-support route (EUR 200,000 in low-density areas), which is a non-refundable contribution. Portugal's most common route is the EUR 500,000 investment fund.
You don't intend to relocate
Greece and Italy require no minimum stay to hold the permit, and Portugal's requirement is famously light (about 7 days a year). All three suit someone who wants EU residence without moving - but note that citizenship later does require real presence.
You want a fast, predictable process
Italy is the quickest, with pre-approval (nulla osta) usually issued within about 30 days. Portugal is the slowest because of the AIMA backlog; Greece sits in between, usually 4-9 months.
You are ultimately aiming for citizenship
Set expectations: none of these is a quick, passive passport in 2026. Portugal raised its citizenship requirement to 10 years (from 5) in May 2026; Greece is 7 years but requires you to actually live there; Italy is 10 years of genuine residence. A licensed adviser maps the realistic timeline for your case.
Portugal Golden Visa
From EUR 250k (cultural) or EUR 500k (funds); lowest stay; slow AIMA processing.
Greece Golden Visa
From EUR 250k; real-estate routes; no minimum stay.
Italy investor visa
From EUR 250k; fast approval; flexible routes.
Common questions
Questions before you choose a program.
Which European golden visa is cheapest in 2026?
The lowest entry points are Greece's EUR 250,000 route (converting a commercial property to residential, or restoring a listed building) and Italy's EUR 250,000 innovative-startup investment, plus Portugal's EUR 250,000 cultural-support route (EUR 200,000 in low-density areas), a non-refundable contribution. Portugal's most common route is the EUR 500,000 investment fund. Costs beyond the investment (government fees, legal fees, family members) vary - the golden-visa cost calculator helps estimate the full picture.
Which golden visa has no minimum stay?
Greece and Italy require no minimum stay to obtain and renew the residence permit, so you can hold it without living there. Portugal does have a minimum, but it is very light - roughly 7 days a year. Note that qualifying for citizenship later is different and does require genuine physical presence.
Can I still get a golden visa by buying real estate?
Only in Greece, and the thresholds were raised in 2024: roughly EUR 800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and larger islands, EUR 400,000 elsewhere, and a EUR 250,000 option for converting or restoring specific buildings. Portugal abolished its real-estate route in 2023, and Italy never offered one.
How long does it take to get citizenship?
Longer than the marketing often suggests, and the rules tightened recently. Portugal raised its requirement to 10 years of residence (7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking nationals) in May 2026, up from 5. Greece allows naturalisation after 7 years but you must genuinely live there and pass a language exam. Italy requires 10 years of legal residence. None is a passive route to a passport, and a licensed adviser confirms how prior and future residence counts for your situation.
Is Spain's golden visa still available?
No. Spain abolished its golden visa in April 2025, so it is no longer an option for new applicants. The active European programs covered here are Portugal, Greece, and Italy.
Which golden visa is fastest?
Italy is generally the fastest, with pre-approval (the nulla osta) usually issued within about 30 days. Portugal is currently the slowest due to the AIMA processing backlog, with cases often taking 12-24+ months from submission. Greece falls in between: the legal deadline is 2 months once the file is complete, but well-prepared cases usually take 4-9 months and busy offices such as Attica 12 months or more.