Golden Visa 2026: investment residency programmes compared
Eight programmes in one table: minimum investment, qualifying routes, time to citizenship and what applies to Russian and Belarusian passports. Every row links to the official source and shows when it was checked; rows still being matched against the primary text are marked “being verified”.
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| Country | Min investment | Routes | Time to citizenship | RU/BY passports | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 PortugalARI (Golden Visa) | €500,000 | Qualifying Portuguese non-real-estate funds (≥5-year maturity, ≥60% in Portuguese companies); company creation €500K + 5 jobs; research €500K; culture €250K; 10 jobs. Real estate and the €1.5M capital transfer were removed in 10/2023 | 10 yrs non-EU/CPLP; 7 yrs EU/CPLP (Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force 19.05.2026; counted from permit issue) | Not excluded by law; enhanced AML / source-of-funds checks. Bank and fund practice variesbeing verified | ||
| 🇮🇹 ItalyInvestor Visa | €250,000 | €250K innovative startup; €500K Italian company / VC fund; €2M government bonds; €1M philanthropy; held 2 yrs | ~10 yrs of residence (general rule)being verified | Suspended for RU/BY citizens, including RU/BY dual nationals | ||
| 🇬🇷 GreeceGolden Visa | €250,000 (exceptions only) | €800K Attica / Thessaloniki / Mykonos / Santorini / islands >3,100 inhabitants; €400K elsewhere (single property ≥120 m²); €250K only for conversion to residential or listed-building restorationbeing verified | 7 yrs of residence (general rule)being verified | New applications by RU/BY nationals suspended (Ministry Circular 1/2026)being verified | ||
| 🇪🇸 SpainGolden Visa — closed | — closed | Golden visa abolished 03.04.2025 (LO 1/2025, DF 21). Alternatives: non-lucrative residence, digital nomad visa, entrepreneur | n/a | n/a | ||
| 🇹🇭 ThailandLTR Wealthy Global Citizen | US$500,000 invested in Thailand + US$1M global assets | Thai government bonds / company, VC, PE / property; US$50K insurance or US$100K deposit; 10-yr visa (5+5) | Not a citizenship route | Not excludedbeing verified | ||
| 🇦🇪 UAEGolden Visa (property) | AED 2,000,000 | Property (registered ownership from AED 2M; approved-bank mortgage allowed); other categories exist | Not a citizenship route | being verified | being verified | |
| 🇭🇺 HungaryGuest Investor | €250,000 | MNB real-estate fund units from €250K (≥5 yrs) or a €1M donation to a university. The €500K property option was withdrawn before launch (Gazette 20.12.2024) | being verified | being verified | being verified | |
| 🇲🇹 MaltaMPRP (permanent residence) | Assets €500K (incl. €150K liquid) + housing + contributions | Property purchase from €375K or lease from €14K/yr + €60K admin + €37K contribution + €2K donation (L.N. 146/2025)being verified | PR ≠ passport: naturalisation needs real residencebeing verified | RU/BY applications currently not accepted (Residency Malta)being verified | being verified |
FAQ
Is Portugal golden visa still open in 2026?
Yes. ARI still accepts applications, but real estate and the €1.5M capital transfer were removed in October 2023. The main route is €500,000+ in qualifying Portuguese funds. Since 19 May 2026 citizenship takes 10 years (7 for EU and CPLP nationals).
Is Spain golden visa closed?
Yes. Spain abolished its investor visa on 3 April 2025 (LO 1/2025, BOE-A-2025-76). Alternatives are the non-lucrative residence, the digital nomad visa, entrepreneur residence or Portugal's fund route.
Which golden visas are open to Russian passports?
Portugal (ARI) and Thailand (LTR) do not exclude RU/BY citizens by law, though banks and funds run enhanced source-of-funds checks. Italy suspended its Investor Visa for RU/BY; Greece and Malta currently do not accept new RU/BY applications (being verified). The UAE and Hungary are being verified.
What is the cheapest golden visa in 2026?
On paper the lowest thresholds are Hungary (€250,000 in real-estate fund units), Italy (€250,000 in an innovative startup) and Greece (€250,000, only for commercial-to-residential conversion or restoration). Italy and Greece are closed to RU/BY passports, so the realistic floor depends on your passport.
Does buying property still give EU residence in 2026?
Among the EU programmes in the table, Greece is the only one where buying property is itself the qualifying investment. Malta MPRP requires buying or renting a home on top of government contributions. Portugal removed property in 2023, Spain closed its programme in 2025 and Hungary withdrew its property option before launch.
In-depth guide (Russian): investment residency in Europe 2026 →