Golden visas in 2026: what is left and what it costs
Which golden visas still exist, what they cost, and whether they are worth it: Greece, UAE and fund routes, the programs that closed, and cheaper alternatives on Jonzy.
Residency-by-investment had a rough few years: Portugal cut property out of its program, Spain shut its golden visa entirely, and the EU keeps pressuring the rest. Options remain, but the map has changed, and for most relocators an income-based visa is now the smarter buy.
What a golden visa actually buys
Residence rights in exchange for a qualifying investment: property, funds, business or government contributions. Minimal physical presence is usually required to renew, which is the real product, a residence permit you can hold in reserve without moving. Citizenship, where possible at all, comes years later under each country’s normal rules.
The programs that closed or narrowed
Spain terminated its golden visa in 2025. Portugal removed real estate in 2023, leaving fund subscriptions and cultural or research donations. Ireland and the Netherlands ended their investor schemes earlier. The direction of travel across the EU is clear: property-linked residence is disappearing, fund-based routes survive under tighter scrutiny.
What still works
Greece remains the headline European option, property from €250,000 in less-pressured regions, rising to €800,000 in Athens and other hot zones. Portugal continues via funds (typically €500,000). Outside Europe, the UAE grants ten-year golden residence for roughly AED 2 million in property, and several Caribbean states sell citizenship outright. Every threshold here changes often; verify on official portals.
The costs beyond the headline number
Legal fees, government processing per family member, mandatory insurance, taxes on the purchase, and renewal costs stack another five to ten percent on top. Fund routes carry management fees and lock-ups. Compare that against a nomad or passive-income visa whose main cost is paperwork, if you plan to actually live in the country, investment routes rarely win on value.
How Jonzy helps
The catalog tracks investment, retirement and remote-income programs side by side, so you can check whether the lifestyle you want, Athens, Dubai, Lisbon, is reachable with the income you already have before writing a six-figure cheque.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the cheapest golden visa in Europe?
Greece, at €250,000 in property, but only in designated lower-demand areas; prime regions now require €400,000 to €800,000. Add taxes and fees and the real entry cost runs meaningfully higher.
Does a golden visa lead to citizenship?
Only through each country’s standard naturalisation rules, usually five to ten years of genuine residence, language and integration tests. A golden visa shortens nothing by itself; a few Caribbean programs sell citizenship directly.
Do I have to live in the country to keep a golden visa?
Mostly no, that is the point. Greece asks for essentially no stay to renew; others require a token visit. But skipping residence usually also skips the path to citizenship and tax residence benefits.
Are golden visas being abolished?
The property-based EU programs are clearly winding down under Brussels pressure, Spain is gone, Portugal narrowed, Greece keeps raising thresholds. Fund-based and non-EU programs look more durable, but no program should be assumed permanent.