Golden & Investor Visas 2026

A golden visa is a residence-by-investment program that grants residency (and sometimes a path to citizenship) in exchange for a significant financial investment. Investments typically include real estate purchases, business creation, government bonds, or capital transfers.

Investment minimums vary enormously by country. Some programs start around $100,000-200,000 (real estate in countries like Greece or Turkey), while others like the US EB-5 require $800,000-1,050,000. The application fees shown in this table are separate from the actual investment amount.

Many golden visa programs offer a pathway to citizenship after maintaining residency for a set period (typically 5-10 years). Some Caribbean nations offer direct citizenship-by-investment programs with faster timelines. EU golden visas often grant Schengen zone travel rights from day one.

Residency requirements vary. Some programs (like Portugal's former golden visa) had minimal stay requirements of just 7-14 days per year. Others require more substantial physical presence. Check individual country requirements, as these rules change frequently.