the open European golden visa programmes compared for US and Canadian applicants
Europe's golden visas have narrowed to five: Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus and Hungary. Spain closed in April 2025 and Latvia's property route in September 2026. Below we compare the remaining programmes for clients in the US and Canada.
Figures verified 27 September 2026 · Licensed CICC consultant, Toronto
Government minimums before fees. Citizenship years are years of actual residence required for naturalisation, not the age of the permit.
| Portugal | Greece | Malta | Cyprus | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | €250,000 donation; €500,000 fund | €250,000 conversion; €400,000 / €800,000 by zone | €375,000 property or €14,000/yr rent + ~€99,000 fees (family of 4) | €300,000 + VAT | €250,000 fund; €1m donation |
| Asset | Fund, donation, jobs (no real estate) | Real estate (single 120 m² unit) | Real estate bought or rented | Real estate, shares or fund | Fund units (no direct property) |
| Permit | 2-year cards, renewable | 5 years, renewable | Permanent, for life | Indefinite | 10 years, renewable once |
| Minimum stay | 7 days a year | None | None | One visit every 2 years | None |
| Processing | 18–24 months | 6–12 months | 6–8 months | 2–6 months | 2–4 months |
| Schengen | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Citizenship | 10 years residence (7 CPLP), A2 | 7 years residence, B1 | Not a route | About 8 years, B1 | 8 years, exam |
| Family | Spouse, children, dependent parents | Spouse, children under 21, parents | Spouse, children; adults €7,500 each | Spouse, children under 18 (25 if studying) | Spouse, minor children, parents |
Spain's golden visa closed on 3 April 2025 (existing holders keep and renew). Latvia's €250,000 property and €280,000 deposit routes closed on 15 September 2026; company capital and a €150,000 state fund route remain. Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands closed earlier.
Fund route €500,000
Suited to applicants who want the lightest stay requirement and a path to an EU passport, now after 10 years.
€250,000–800,000 by zone
Suited to applicants who want the lowest property entry point and a permit with no obligation to reside.
~€99,000 fees + property
Suited to families who want permanent status in an English-speaking EU state, with minors included at no extra cost.
€300,000 + VAT
Suited to applicants who prioritise speed and a low-tax, English-speaking base.
€250,000 fund
Suited to applicants seeking the lowest-cost long-term residence permit in the EU.
Jane Katkova has advised on citizenship and residence by investment since 1998. We confirm eligibility, the complete fee schedule and the realistic processing time before you pay anything, and we advise against a programme when it does not fit your circumstances.
Decide first whether you will ever live there. If not, Greece or Hungary provide the option at the lowest cost and Malta gives permanence. If you might, Portugal's D7 or D8 visas cost far less than a golden visa and count towards naturalisation in the same way. Either way, tax residency changes only when you relocate; plan the US filing or the Canadian departure before you do.
Start from Schengen: Cyprus is excluded if visa-free European travel is the goal. Then nationality: several programmes restrict Russian, Belarusian and Iranian nationals. Then the passport question: Greece and Portugal lead to naturalisation; Malta does not. For most of our clients in this group the shortlist is Greece at €400,000 or Portugal's fund.
Bring your nationality, budget, family and how much time you would spend in Europe. You receive a written recommendation with the full cost for your family.
Greece at €250,000 for an approved conversion or listed restoration, or Hungary at €250,000 in a real-estate fund. For a standard property, Greece at €400,000 outside the €800,000 zones. Portugal's lowest-cost route is the €250,000 cultural donation, though most clients use the €500,000 fund.
Hungary and Cyprus, at two to six months. Malta takes six to eight, Greece six to twelve, and Portugal 18 to 24 at AIMA.
Greece, after seven years of actual residence and B1 Greek. Portugal now requires ten years under its May 2026 law. Cyprus about eight, Hungary eight. Malta's permanent residence is not a citizenship route. In every case you must genuinely live there; holding the permit from Toronto does not count.
No. It was abolished by Organic Law 1/2025 on 3 April 2025 with no replacement. The non-lucrative visa and the digital nomad visa are the routes that remain, and both require you to live in Spain.
Compare them side by side: all residence programmes we advise on. Looking for a passport rather than a permit? See Grenada's National Transformation Fund route or Canadian citizenship by birth.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Programme rules change; we confirm every figure before you commit.
A confidential consultation with a licensed CICC consultant. We assess eligibility and total cost before you commit to any programme.