Is the Golden Visa Still a Thing in 2026? What the Data Really Says

For more than a decade, the “Golden Visa” has been shorthand for a simple promise: invest money, get residency. But in 2026, the term feels like a relic from a different era. Governments were eager for foreign capital, and investors were eager for a Plan B passport.

Today, the picture is more complicated. Some of the world’s most popular Golden Visa programs have been shut down. Others have doubled their minimum investment thresholds. And the ones that remain are under more scrutiny than ever.

Yet despite the headlines, the Golden Visa is not dead. It has simply evolved, and the data shows a quieter, more selective, more regulated market emerging.

The Big Trend: Europe Is Closing Doors, But Not All of Them

Across Europe, governments have spent the last three years tightening or eliminating Golden Visa routes. The reasons are familiar: housing affordability, money‑laundering concerns, and political pressure from the EU and OECD.

Here’s what the data shows:

• Spain ended its Golden Visa in April 2025, shutting down a 12‑year program that had attracted thousands of real‑estate investors.
• Ireland closed its Immigrant Investor Programme in 2023, citing reputational and compliance concerns.
• The UK ended its Tier 1 Investor Visa in 2022, after years of criticism over due diligence failures.

But the story doesn’t end there.

According to Investment Migration Insider, eight European countries still operate Golden Visa programs in 2026, though most have been reformed or restricted.

Where Golden Visas Still Exist, And What They Cost Now

The remaining programs are fewer, pricier, and more complex. Based on 2026 data, here are the key players:

Portugal: Still Alive, But Transformed

Real estate route closed in October 2023.

Surviving options:

• €500,000 investment funds (now the dominant route)
• €250,000 cultural donations
• €500,000 scientific research
• Business creation with 10+ jobs
• Processing times hit 39.6 months, with 20,000+ applicants still waiting.

Citizenship at 5 years remains possible, though parliament attempted to extend it to 10 years before the Constitutional Court intervened.

Despite the chaos, Portugal still offers the EU’s most attractive low‑stay residency.

Greece: The New Heavyweight

• Thresholds doubled in 2024.
• €800,000 for Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini.
• €400,000 for other regions.
• Still one of the few major EU programs allowing real estate.

Hungary: The Comeback

• Reintroduced a €250,000 “Guest Investor Residence Permit” via investment funds.
• One of the lowest entry points in the EU.

Italy: The Quiet Contender

• Investment options from €250,000 to €2 million, including startups and government bonds.

Malta & Cyprus: Still Open, Still Expensive

• Malta: ~€99,000+ in contributions and fees.
• Cyprus: €300,000 real estate route remains.

The Data: A Shrinking but Resilient Market

Three years ago, an investor with €500,000 had half a dozen European options. In 2026, that list has shrunk dramatically.

But the programs that remain are attracting more targeted investors, those who value mobility, diversification, and long‑term residency planning.

Some key numbers:

• Portugal has attracted €7.3 billion in investment since launch, with 17,700 main applicants and 42,600 total beneficiaries.
• Greece’s threshold increase has not slowed demand, especially in non‑Athens regions where €250,000 options still exist.
• OECD data shows a global tightening trend, with higher thresholds and stricter due diligence across developed countries.

The Golden Visa is no longer a volume business. It’s a premium, compliance‑heavy, slow‑moving residency product.

Why Governments Haven’t Killed Golden Visas Completely

Despite political pressure, Golden Visas remain attractive to governments for three reasons:

1. They bring in capital without increasing public spending.

Funds, research, and business‑creation routes are politically safer than real estate.

2. They attract globally mobile, high‑net‑worth individuals.

Countries like Portugal and Italy see this as a strategic demographic.

3. They support sectors governments want to grow.

Cultural investment, scientific research, and innovation funds are now central to Golden Visa design.

The era of “buy a flat, get a visa” is over. But “invest in our economy, get a visa” is alive and well.

So… Is the Golden Visa Still a Thing?

Yes, but it’s no longer the Golden Visa you remember.

The data shows a clear shift:

• Fewer programs
• Higher investment thresholds
• Longer processing times
• More scrutiny and compliance
• More non‑real‑estate investment routes

The Golden Visa has matured from a fast‑track residency hack into a regulated investment migration tool.

For investors, that means more paperwork, but also more stability. For governments, it means less political backlash and more targeted capital.

Golden Visas are still here in 2026, but they’ve evolved into something more selective, more expensive, and more politically acceptable.

If you’re looking for a quick residency-by-real-estate purchase, the door has closed.

If you’re looking for a structured, fund‑based, long‑term investment route into Europe, the Golden Visa is still very much alive.