Golden Visa comparison
A golden visa buys EU residence through investment - but the active European programs differ sharply on cost, whether real estate qualifies, how much time you must spend in the country, and how long the road to citizenship really is. This compares Portugal, Greece, and Italy side by side for 2026. (Spain abolished its golden visa in April 2025.)
Side by side
| Country | Minimum investment | Real-estate route? | Minimum stay | Processing | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | EUR 500,000 (investment funds) | No - abolished in 2023 | Low: ~7 days/year (14 per 2-year period) | Slow - AIMA backlog, often 1-3 years | 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 | Around 3-9 months (90-day legal target) | 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 |
As of 2026. Investment thresholds, stay rules, and citizenship timelines change and carry conditions; figures are confirmed with licensed immigration counsel 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.
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. Portugal's lowest route is the EUR 500,000 investment fund.
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.
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 with a 90-day legal processing target.
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.
EUR 500k fund route; lowest stay; slow AIMA processing.
From EUR 250k; real-estate routes; no minimum stay.
From EUR 250k; fast approval; flexible routes.
Common questions
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. Portugal's cheapest qualifying 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 one to three years. Greece falls in between, with a 90-day legal processing target.