What is a golden visa?

A golden visa is residency granted in exchange for a qualifying investment — typically real estate, a government fund, or a business. Some countries go further and offer citizenship by investment, granting a passport (often via a donation to a national fund). Programmes, prices and eligibility change frequently.

How much does citizenship by investment cost?

Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes start at a US$200,000–250,000 donation; the main European residency-by-investment routes now start around €400,000–500,000. Figures are indicative only and change often — several programmes closed or tightened in 2025–2026 — always confirm with an official, licensed source.

Second passports

Golden visas & citizenship by investment

Want a stronger passport or a second home base? Some countries grant residency — or even citizenship — in exchange for an investment. Here's how the main routes work, roughly what they cost, and how to get introduced to a licensed advisor who can actually handle it.

The main routes (indicative)

Route	Type	From (indicative)	Notes
Caribbean (St Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua, St Lucia)	Citizenship	US$200k–250k donation	Fast; passport in months; minimums rose in 2024
Portugal Golden Visa	Residency → citizenship	~€500k (funds)	No real-estate route (ended 2023); citizenship wait extended to 7–10 yrs in 2026
Greece	Residency	€400k–800k	Real-estate, tiered by area; a €250k tier survives only for special conversion/restoration projects
UAE Golden Visa	Residency	AED 2M property / talent	Long-term renewable residency; mortgaged & off-plan now qualify
USA EB-5	Residency (green card)	~US$800k	Job-creation investment

Indicative only, last checked July 2026. Programmes change constantly and keep closing — Spain ended its golden visa in April 2025, and the EU's top court ruled against Malta's citizenship-by-investment programme the same month. Always confirm current rules and prices with an official, licensed source.

How Onward can help. We're not immigration advisors and we don't handle applications. What we can do is introduce you to a licensed, regulated firm that specialises in the route you're interested in — free, with no obligation. Tell us a little and we'll make the connection.

Request a free introduction

Important: Onward is not a law firm, immigration adviser or licensed citizenship/residency agent, and we do not advise on, prepare or submit applications or handle funds. If you ask us to, we will — with your consent — introduce you to a licensed firm; that firm may pay Onward a referral fee, at no extra cost to you and with no effect on their advice. Nothing here is immigration, legal, tax or investment advice. Programme rules and minimums change frequently — always verify with the licensed firm or the government's own citizenship/residency unit before committing funds.