How we check facts

Where the figures come from

The reference cites 472 primary sources and 194 secondary ones. Primary means the document that sets the rule or publishes the number: a law in its official consolidated version, a government or migration authority site, a financial regulator, an official statistics office or a public register.

• Laws and regulations: 131 sources
• Government sites: 290 sources
• Regulators: 50 sources
• Official statistics: 1 source
• Secondary sources, such as tax summaries by accounting networks or specialist guides: 194 sources

A secondary source is used when the primary text is not published in English or does not state the figure directly. It is listed under “Secondary sources” in the sources table at the foot of each page, and where a figure rests only on a secondary source, the note next to it says so; the Greek startup investment route, for example, is shown as reported but not confirmed from the primary legal text.

A date on every figure

Each figure is shown with the date it was checked and a link to its source. The date belongs to the figure, not to the page: a page can hold facts checked on different days, and the line “Facts checked on” under the page title shows the latest of them.

When a source does not publish a number, the page says “Not published” instead of an estimate. The Greek golden visa has no statutory decision deadline, so its processing time appears as not published, with the reason in the note.

When a law changes or a programme closes

A programme that stops accepting applicants keeps its page. Its status changes to closed, with the closing date, and the application button is replaced by open alternatives. Spain’s golden visa, for example, is listed as closed since 3 April 2025.

• The changed figure is replaced and receives a new check date.
• The change is added to the dated list of updates on the country and programme pages, newest first, with its source.
• A programme under reform is marked “changed” with the date the new rules took effect.
• An announced change that is not yet law is marked as upcoming and is not applied to the figures.

Greece shows the last point: a rise in property transfer tax for non-EU buyers was announced on 6 September 2026 and is listed as an announcement only, while the current rate stays in the tables.

What you will not find here

• Figures estimated by eye or rounded from memory
• Approval rates or success percentages
• Client reviews, star ratings or testimonials
• Rankings of countries by an invented score

Our own fees are the one exception to the source rule, because they are our prices rather than published facts. They are marked “Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.” and are always shown apart from government fees, which come from the reference.

Reporting an error

Write to [email protected] with the page address, the figure you believe is wrong, and the source that shows the correct one. We check the report against the primary source; if the figure changes, the page gets the new value and a new check date.

The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation. Before filing, we check your case against the rules in force on that date, which may be newer than the last check shown on a page.