Golden visa comparison31jurisdictions in our reference
Cheapest golden visa in Europe
For investors, including founders who have wound up a dormant company and now hold the proceeds, who want to know where a fixed budget still qualifies for residence.
Inside the EU the lowest open threshold is €250,000, listed by Hungary for real estate fund units, by Italy for innovative startup equity and by Portugal for its culture and heritage route; none of the three accepts a home purchase. Spain, Ireland and Latvia no longer take new investor applications. Our filing fee comes on top of the investment and of the government fees.
Our fee for the two programmes we file
- Greece golden visa filing
From €3,50030–60 working days
- Portugal golden visa filing
From €4,50030–60 working days
Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.
Facts checked on
By situation
Which golden visa fits your budget
At €250,000 three EU countries still qualify; above that, the choice turns on whether you want a home and whether you need to stay inside the EU.
Is €250,000 your ceiling, with no property in mind?
You want a passive holding and no company to run
Hungary
Deciding figure€250,000 in units of a real estate fund registered with the Magyar Nemzeti Bank, held in a locked account for at least 5 years.€250,000
CatchThe immigration office page, dated 3 March 2026, does not say the permit leads to permanent status, and whether family members are included is not published.
Compare withPortugal
You are ready to back an Italian startup
Italy
Deciding figure€250,000 in an innovative startup registered in the special section of the companies register, held for at least 2 years.€250,000
CatchThe first permit runs 2 years and is revoked if the money is not invested within 3 months of entry.
The whole family moves on one budget
Portugal
Deciding figure€250,000 for artistic production or national cultural heritage, and family reunification can be filed together with the permit.€250,000
CatchReal estate has not qualified since 7 October 2023, and you must spend at least 7 days in Portugal in the first year.
Should the investment be a home you can use?
A home outside Athens and the popular islands
Greece
Deciding figure€400,000 for residential property of at least 120 sq m outside Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands over 3,100 inhabitants; inside them the figure is €800,000.€400,000
CatchSince Law 5100/2024 the property may not be let short-term, and investor files have no statutory processing deadline.
A new-build flat with permanent residence from the start
Cyprus
Deciding figure€300,000 plus VAT for up to two new homes bought first-hand from a development company, under the fast-track Immigration Permit.€300,000
CatchThe funds must come from abroad, and Cyprus runs this as a permanent residence permit rather than a golden visa, so it is not a row in the table above.
A country outside the EU is acceptable
Georgia
Deciding figure$150,000 in non-agricultural property, raised from $100,000 on 1 March 2026; the value must be maintained.US$150,000
CatchThe permit does not lead to permanent residence by itself, and Georgia is not an EU member.
Compare withGreece
Were you planning on Latvia or Spain?
Latvian property or bank route
LatviaClosed
Deciding figureThe former €250,000 property threshold is not in the new Immigration Law in force from 15 September 2026; files lodged before that date follow the old law.€250,000
CatchExisting holders may renew for up to 5 years only while the investment still qualifies.
Compare withHungary
Spanish property route
SpainClosed
Deciding figureSpain has accepted no new investor applications since 3 April 2025, under Ley Orgánica 1/2025.
CatchPermits already issued keep their validity, and renewals follow the rules of the original grant under Law 14/2013.
Compare withGreece
Comparison table
Golden visa minimum investment by country
Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Portugal all list €250,000, but Latvia’s route closed on 15 September 2026, so three countries remain open at that level inside the EU. Georgia’s threshold is set in US dollars and Georgia is not an EU member. Each figure is the cheapest route the law allows; the conditions attached to it are in the answers below.
Facts checked on
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Country | Lowest investment route | Processing time | First permit | Years to citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HungaryLowest listed threshold | €250,000 | 21 days | 10 years | Not published |
| Italy | €250,000 | Not published | 2 years | 10 years |
| Latvia | €250,000Closed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed |
| Portugal | €250,000 | Not published | Not published | 10 years |
| France | €300,000 | Not published | 4 years | 5 years |
| Greece | €400,000 | Not publishedNo statutory deadline for investor files (excluded from the 90-day rule of Law 5275/2026); filing certificate gives lawful stay meanwhile. | 5 years | 7 years |
| Bulgaria | €511,292 | Not publishedno data | Not published | Not published |
| Estonia | €1,000,000 | 120 days | 5 years | Not published |
| Austria | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Belgium | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Croatia | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Cyprus | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Czech Republic | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Denmark | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Finland | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Georgia | US$150,000 | 30 days | 1 year | Not published |
| Germany | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Ireland | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed |
| Lithuania | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Luxembourg | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Malta | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Netherlands | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Poland | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Romania | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Serbia | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Slovakia | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Slovenia | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Spain | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed |
| Sweden | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Switzerland | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| United Kingdom | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed | Not publishedClosed |
Your case
Compare golden visas for my case
Give us your budget, family size and nationality. We reply with a written comparison of the routes you qualify for and our fee for each.
The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
Legal disclaimerQuestions
Golden visa costs: common questions
Answers use the same dated figures as the table.
Thresholds and total cost
What is the cheapest golden visa in Europe?
Inside the EU, €250,000 is the lowest open threshold, in Hungary, Italy and Portugal, and none of the three routes is a property purchase. Georgia asks $150,000 in property but sits outside the EU, and its permit does not lead to permanent residence by itself. Latvia also listed €250,000 until its route closed on 15 September 2026.
What does a family of four pay in total?
Take a couple with two children buying a home in a Greek region outside the high-demand areas: €400,000 for the property, plus our filing fee from €3,500 with the whole family on one file, plus government fees and property purchase costs, which our fee does not include. In Portugal the same family starts at €250,000 on the culture route plus our fee from €4,500, with family reunification filed alongside the permit. Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.
How long must the money stay invested?
Hungary locks fund units for at least 5 years, Portugal asks you to declare a 5-year holding, and Italy requires 2 years. In Greece the permit is renewable only while the investment is held.
Closed and changed programmes
Which golden visas have closed?
Spain stopped taking new applications on 3 April 2025, Ireland on 15 February 2023 and the United Kingdom on 17 February 2022. Latvia’s investment grounds were left out of the Immigration Law in force from 15 September 2026; files lodged before that date are processed under the 2002 law. Permits already issued in Spain and Latvia can still be renewed on the conditions set out in each transition rule.
Has the cheapest golden visa changed since 2025?
Yes. Greece no longer accepts €250,000 for an ordinary home in new applications, Georgia raised its property threshold from $100,000 to $150,000 on 1 March 2026, and Latvia closed its €250,000 route in September 2026.
Choosing a country
Cyprus vs Portugal golden visa: which is cheaper?
Portugal is lower at €250,000, against €300,000 plus VAT in Cyprus. What you buy differs: Cyprus requires new property, company capital or fund units and grants a permanent residence permit, while Portugal has excluded real estate since 7 October 2023 and counts 5 years to permanent residence.
What is the easiest golden visa in Europe?
By published processing time, Hungary: 21 days for the guest investor permit, not counting the wait for proof of the investment. Estonia publishes 120 days, and Greece sets no statutory deadline for investor files. On presence, Greece requires no minimum stay, while Portugal asks for 7 days in the first year.
When is a golden visa the wrong choice, and what do I hold at the end?
It is the wrong choice if you want short-term rental income from a Greek property, a home purchase in Portugal, or citizenship quickly: Greece counts 7 years of actual residence and Portugal 10. If it does fit, you end up with a residence card from the national migration authority, valid 5 years from issue in Greece; from us you receive the eligibility review, the assembled application file and the filing confirmation.
Sources
Where the thresholds come from
Every figure on this page was last checked on 25 September 2026 against the laws and immigration office pages listed here; secondary sources are marked.
20Sources
| Document | Published by | Kind | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legislation | |||
| D.Lgs. 286/1998 (Testo unico immigrazione) art. 26-bis — entry and stay for investors | Normattiva | Legislation | Checked on |
| D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 9 — EU long-term residence permit | Normattiva | Legislation | Checked on |
| Legge 91/1992 art. 9 — naturalisation by residence | Normattiva | Legislation | Checked on |
| Immigration Law (adopted 31.10.2002) – no longer in force | Latvijas Vēstnesis / likumi.lv | Legislation | Checked on |
| Lei n.º 56/2023, de 6 de outubro (Mais Habitação) — art. 53.º(d) revokes subparagraphs i), iii) and iv) of art. 3.º(1)(d) of Lei 23/2007 | Diário da República | Legislation | Checked on |
| Lei n.º 61/2025, de 22 de outubro — amends the Aliens Act (family reunification, qualified job-seeker visa, startup residence) | Diário da República | Legislation | Checked on |
| Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio — amends the Nationality Law (Lei 37/81) | Diário da República | Legislation | Checked on |
| Immigration offices and ministries | |||
| Residence permit for business – for large investors | Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Carte talent : carte de séjour pluriannuelle d'un étranger en France (verified 01.06.2026) | Service Public (DILA, Premier ministre) | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Naturalisation française par décret (verified 16.07.2026) | Service Public (DILA, Premier ministre) | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Migration / Residence Permits | Public Service Development Agency, Ministry of Justice of Georgia | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Vendégbefektetői tartózkodási engedély (guest investor residence permit) | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Vendégbefektetői vízum (guest investor visa) | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Autorização de Residência para Investimento — Art. 90.º-A | AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Autorização de residência permanente (art. 80.º) | AIMA | Immigration offices and ministries | Checked on |
| Secondary sources | |||
| Permanent Residence in Bulgaria | Bulgarian Citizenship (law firm site) | Secondary sourcessecondary source | Checked on |
| Georgia raises real estate investment bar for residence permits by 50% | Legal.ge | Secondary sourcessecondary source | Checked on |
| Georgia Residence by Investment | Mirabello Consultancy | Secondary sourcessecondary source | Checked on |
| Greek Golden Visa 2026: The Complete Guide Under Laws 5100/2024 and 5275/2026 | Hellenic Law Firm | Secondary sourcessecondary source | Checked on |
| Greek Citizenship: Requirements and How to Qualify in 2026 | Global Citizen Solutions | Secondary sourcessecondary source | Checked on |