Investment Programmes
Golden Visa
Also known as: Residency by Investment, RBI, Investor Visa
Quick answer
BOE — Spain investor-route repeal and transition · Diário da República — Portugal immigration law · checked 9 Nov 2026
Compare current golden visa countries or review the Greece golden visa route.
Residence by investment and citizenship by investment are distinct legal outcomes. Each national programme defines its own qualifying investments, family eligibility, renewal conditions and permitted activities. An investment does not establish an automatic passport entitlement.
The closure of Spain's investor provisions does not cancel all existing permissions: the transitional rules govern earlier applications and renewals. Portugal retains non-property investment routes under its immigration law. Check the country-specific programme rather than a generic price comparison.
Sources
- BOE — Spain investor-route repeal and transition · checked 9 Nov 2026
- Diário da República — Portugal immigration law · checked 9 Nov 2026
Related terms
Citizenship by Investment (CBI)
Citizenship by investment is an application route linking nationality to a qualifying contribution or investment and other legal conditions. It differs from residence by investment. St. Kitts and Nevis lists a US$250,000 minimum Sustainable Island State Contribution for an applicant or family of up to four under its terms checked in 2026; due-diligence and other fees are additional.
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises 29 countries in the European Commission's 2025 membership list: 25 EU members plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Internal border checks are normally removed, but temporary controls can apply. Short-stay visitors generally have a combined allowance of 90 days in any 180-day period, subject to their nationality and immigration status.
Permanent Residence (PR)
Permanent residence is an immigration status allowing a non-citizen to remain on an ongoing basis under a country's law. It is distinct from citizenship and can have maintenance or loss conditions. In the United States, a Green Card evidences lawful permanent residence; there is no general requirement to hold a temporary visa for five years before acquiring it.
ETIAS
ETIAS is the European Union's planned electronic travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt visitors to participating European countries. As checked on 9 Nov 2026, it is not operational and applications are not being collected.
Deeper guides
Panama Qualified Investor Visa 2026: $300K, No Sunset
Panama's Qualified Investor Visa in 2026 — $300K real estate, and the widely-repeated October 2026 deadline is not in the law. 30-90 day processing. Day-one permanent residency. Territorial taxation. Full comparison with Hungary, UAE, and EU alternatives.
Italy Investor Visa 2026: €250K Startup Route + €300K/Year Flat Tax
Italy's Investor Visa in 2026 — €250K startup, €500K limited company, €2M government bonds, or €1M philanthropic donation. Paired with the €300K/year flat-tax regime (2026 Budget Law) on worldwide foreign income for high-net-worth new residents. 3-6 month processing, 10-year path to citizenship with B1 Italian. Full comparison with Portugal, Greece, and Malta.
Hungary Golden Visa 2026: Europe's Cheapest Residency-by-Investment (€250K)
Hungary's Guest Investor Visa Programme in 2026 has two active routes after the 15 January 2025 reform: €250K into an MNB-approved real estate fund (min 40% Hungarian residential exposure) or €1M higher-education donation. 4-8 week processing, 15% flat tax, 9% corporate tax, Schengen access, 10-year permit. Full comparison vs Portugal and Greece.
Best Golden Visa for HNW Boomer Retirees in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Portugal (€250k standard cultural support; €500k fund; 7/10-year nationality tiers), Greece, Italy, UAE, Singapore GIP — the 5 top Golden Visa programs for HNW Boomer retirees. Cross-tax considerations + hidden costs.
Portugal Golden Visa 2026: Routes, Backlog Reality, and the May 2026 Citizenship Change
Portugal golden visa in 2026: €250K cultural route (€200K for eligible low-density projects), €500K fund route, five statutory routes, and the nationality law in force from 19 May 2026. AIMA publishes no end-to-end processing average.
Spain's Golden Visa Is Dead: 7 Alternatives for Residency-by-Investment in 2026
Spain ended its golden visa in April 2025. Seven alternatives remain: Greece (€400K real estate), Portugal (€500K funds), Hungary (€250K cheapest in EU), Malta, Italy, Latvia, and UAE. Full comparison with investment minimums, processing times, tax implications, and path to citizenship.