05/10/2026
If you are comparing “Golden Visa” programs around the world, there is one important point to understand:
Not all investment programs offer the same outcome.
Some provide temporary residence.
Some offer permanent residence.
Others grant citizenship directly — without a prior residence requirement.
Here is a snapshot of 17 investment-based residency and citizenship programs with relatively low entry thresholds in 2026, starting from around €50,000.
UNDER €100,000
🇱🇻 Latvia — from €50,000
Business investment route. From September 2026, Latvia changed its investment framework, removing the previous real-estate and bank-deposit routes. The €50,000 route also involves a €10,000 state budget contribution.
🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe — from US$90,000
Citizenship by contribution. No prior residence period.
🇳🇷 Nauru — from US$90,000
Citizenship by contribution under the 2026 promotional rate. The standard contribution is higher.
FROM US$130,000
🇻🇺 Vanuatu — from US$130,000
Citizenship by contribution, with no minimum residence requirement.
FROM €169,000
🇲🇹 Malta MPRP — from approximately €169,000 when renting
This is Permanent Residence, not citizenship and not a conventional temporary Golden Visa.
The minimum rental-based structure includes property costs, government fees, contribution and charitable donation.
US$200,000–250,000: CARIBBEAN CITIZENSHIP
🇩🇲 Dominica — from US$200,000
🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda — from US$230,000
🇬🇩 Grenada — from US$235,000
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia — from US$240,000
🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis — from US$250,000
These programs generally involve a non-refundable contribution and can lead directly to citizenship without a residence stage.
FROM €250,000: EUROPEAN RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
🇬🇷 Greece — from €250,000 in specific cases
The €250,000 route applies to certain special real-estate cases, such as eligible conversions or restoration projects. Standard thresholds can be €400,000 or €800,000 depending on the location.
🇵🇹 Portugal — from €250,000
The €250,000 route relates to eligible cultural or artistic investment. Investment-fund routes start at €500,000.
🇭🇺 Hungary — from €250,000
Residence through the qualifying investment route, including approved investment funds.
🇮🇹 Italy — from €250,000
Investment in an eligible Italian innovative startup.
🇪🇬 Egypt — from US$250,000
Citizenship by investment through a qualifying government contribution.
FROM US$300,000
🇵🇦 Panama — from US$300,000
Qualified Investor Permanent Residence. Under the latest 2026 rules, the US$300,000 threshold applies to qualifying first-sale/new real estate. Resale property has a higher threshold.
🇨🇾 Cyprus — from €300,000
Permanent Residence through qualifying real estate, company investment or approved investment funds, subject to the program's conditions.
⚠️ THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IS NOT “WHICH ONE IS CHEAPEST?”
Before choosing an investment program, compare at least three things:
1️⃣ What do you actually receive?
Temporary residence, permanent residence, or citizenship?
2️⃣ Is the investment recoverable?
A €250,000 property investment is fundamentally different from a €250,000 non-refundable government contribution.
3️⃣ What happens after you receive the status?
Look at renewal requirements, physical presence, family eligibility, taxation, mobility and the possibility of eventually obtaining permanent residence or citizenship.
Because:
€200,000 for citizenship ≠ €200,000 for permanent residence ≠ €200,000 for a property investment.
And one final lesson from 2026:
👉 The cheapest program today may not be available tomorrow.
Spain closed its Golden Visa in 2025.
Ireland closed its Investor Programme in 2023.
Latvia changed its investment framework in September 2026.
Panama also tightened its real-estate requirements in September 2026.
So don't choose an immigration program simply because it has the lowest price tag.
Choose based on the outcome you actually want.