Golden Visa Minimum Investment 2026: Country Comparison l VIDA Capital

Last updated: October 14, 2026

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Key Takeaways

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Golden visa minimum investments in 2026 range from €250,000 in Greece to $1,050,000 in the US EB-5 program, and government, legal, and fund fees significantly increase the real outlay.
Portugal’s €500,000 fund route remains open and provides a capital-efficient path to EU citizenship without relocation, with only 14 days of physical presence required every two years.
Several major programs have closed without replacement, including Spain, the UK, and Ireland, so investors need to confirm current program status before planning.
Total costs include government fees per family member, legal representation, and fund subscription fees that many headline comparisons omit.
VIDA Capital guides investors through the Portugal Golden Visa process and connects them to the VIDA Fund, an asset-backed hospitality investment that qualifies for the program.

Contact VIDA Capital to explore Portugal Golden Visa options.

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Minimum Investment Requirements For Golden Visa Programs

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Golden visa minimum investment thresholds differ by country and by route. In 2026, they include €250,000 in Greece for specific redevelopment projects, €500,000 in Portugal through approved investment funds, AED 2,000,000 in the UAE, and $800,000–$1,050,000 in the US EB-5 program. Government fees, legal fees, and fund subscription fees add meaningfully to every program’s true price, so the headline minimum understates what you will actually pay.

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Talk to VIDA Capital about Portugal’s €500,000 fund route.

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Golden Visa Minimum Investment By Country 2026: Official Requirements

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This comparison shows how each program’s minimum investment and eligible route differ, and why the route you choose matters as much as the headline number. For a deeper side-by-side analysis of Portugal and Greece specifically, see VIDA Capital’s guide on Golden Visa Investment Minimum 2026: Portugal vs Greece.

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Portugal

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Minimum investment: €500,000 through an eligible, regulated investment fund
Property ownership is no longer an eligible route for new applicants
Official source: AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo)
Program status: Open

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Greece

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Greece offers tiered real estate thresholds, so the minimum depends on location and project type.

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Minimum investment: €800,000 in prime zones (Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini)
€400,000 in other regions
€250,000 for commercial-to-residential conversions and listed-building restorations
Program status: Open

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UAE

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The UAE focuses on investors who place substantial capital in the local financial system, a company, or property.

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Minimum investment: AED 2,000,000 (approximately $545,000) deposited with an investment fund or UAE national bank, invested in a UAE company, or held as a financial share in a company
AED 2,000,000 in qualifying property also qualifies
Official source: ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security)
Program status: Open

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US EB-5

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The US EB-5 program sets different thresholds for investments in priority development areas versus standard regions.

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Minimum investment: $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (rural or high-unemployment)
$1,050,000 in a standard area
Official source: USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) administers the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, and the U.S. Department of State issues EB-5 visas via its monthly Visa Bulletin
Program status: Open

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Closed Programs

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Several once-popular European investor visas have now closed, which reduces the menu of options for new applicants.

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Discuss your options now that Spain, the UK, and Ireland have closed their programs.

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Headline Minimum Vs. True Cost: What You Actually Pay

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Those headline minimums tell only part of the story. The minimum investment is only one component of the total cost, and Portugal’s Golden Visa illustrates clearly how additional fees accumulate.

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For a detailed breakdown of Portugal’s minimum investment requirements, see VIDA Capital’s guide on Golden Visa Investment Minimums 2026: How Portugal Compares.

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Government Fees Per Family Member

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Initial submission fee: €618.60
Biometrics appointment and issuance of residency card: €6,179.40
Each renewal: €3,023.20
Citizenship application: €250

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Because these fees apply per person, a family of four faces a much higher government outlay than a single applicant, even though the qualifying investment amount stays the same.

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Legal Fees

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Legal representation is essential throughout the Portugal Golden Visa process. Fees vary by firm but typically range from €16,000 to €20,000, covering NIF registration, bank account setup, application preparation, AIMA submission, and renewals.

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Fund Subscription Fees

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Fund-level charges differ by manager. At the VIDA Fund, there is a subscription fee of 1% of the total amount invested, paid to the fund manager. Industry data shows that investors increasingly prefer to allocate the full €500,000 into a single fund, which makes fund selection and fee transparency especially important.

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Other countries apply similar layers of government and legal fees, but Portugal publishes its structure more clearly, so it often serves as the reference point for cost comparisons.

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Get a personalized cost breakdown for the Portugal Golden Visa.

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Which Golden Visa Programs Are Still Open In 2026?

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Program status changes frequently, so investors need up-to-date confirmation before committing capital. The following reflects the verified status of each program as of October 2026.

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Open Programs In 2026

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Portugal: The Golden Visa remains open and active. The fund investment route is the primary eligible option for new applicants. A 2025 constitutional court ruling upheld key program benefits, including family reunification, despite planned government changes.
Greece: Open, with tiered minimums by zone.
UAE: Open, with a 10-year renewable residency permit available to qualifying investors.
US EB-5: Open, with investment thresholds administered by USCIS.

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Closed Programs As Of 2026

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Spain: Formally closed on April 3, 2025, under Organic Law 1/2025. No replacement investor visa has been announced.
UK: The Tier 1 (Investor) visa closed to new applicants on February 17, 2022, citing security concerns.
Ireland: The Immigrant Investor Programme closed on February 15, 2023. No replacement has been announced as of mid-2026.

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Confirm whether your preferred program is still open before you invest.

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How Much Does A US EB-5 Investment Cost?

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The US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program functions as a US immigrant investor route that grants a conditional green card, which can become permanent after conditions are removed. It grants US permanent residency to qualifying foreign nationals rather than residency in a third country.

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The minimum investment thresholds are:

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The investment must be placed in a commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying US workers. Additional costs include legal fees, administrative fees, and regional center fees, which vary by project and intermediary.

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After receiving a conditional green card and satisfying the program’s conditions, EB-5 investors become eligible for US citizenship after five years of permanent residency.

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Compare Portugal’s Golden Visa with US EB-5 for your family’s goals.

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UAE Golden Visa Minimum Investment

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The UAE offers a 10-year renewable Golden Residency permit for qualifying investors. The minimum investment threshold is AED 2,000,000 (approximately $545,000), which you can meet in several ways.

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A deposit of at least AED 2,000,000 with an investment fund or a UAE national bank
Establishing a UAE company with capital of at least AED 2,000,000
Holding a financial share of at least AED 2,000,000 in a company
Owning qualifying UAE property with a combined value of at least AED 2,000,000

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The ICP requires that invested capital be fully owned by the applicant and not derived from a loan. The UAE Golden Residency grants long-term residency only rather than a citizenship pathway. Holders may sponsor family members, and they are exempt from the standard six-month outside-UAE rule that applies to regular residence visas.

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Speak with VIDA Capital about EU options if UAE residency alone is not enough.

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Portugal Golden Visa Minimum Investment And Path To EU Citizenship

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Portugal’s Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of €500,000 through an eligible investment fund. Among the programs still open in 2026, Portugal stands out as one of the only European options that offers a path to EU citizenship without relocation.

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The minimum physical presence requirement is just 14 days every two years. This structure makes the Portugal Golden Visa an effective Plan B for investors who want EU optionality without uprooting their lives. VIDA Capital has reported a 571% surge in American inquiries since January 2025, driven by demand for geographic diversification and a secure European foothold.

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The Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal only. Holders may travel visa-free within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once citizenship is obtained, the Portuguese passport grants full EU rights, including the ability to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in any EU country.

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Regarding citizenship timelines, Portugal’s Parliament approved a new framework in October 2025 that introduced longer residency requirements. The law has not yet entered into force and remains subject to final approval and potential legal review. According to legal analysis, the reform is expected to extend the residency requirement to 10 years for most nationalities, or 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens, once implemented. Those who have already submitted their citizenship application before the law’s publication are expected to remain under the previous framework.

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VIDA Capital advises investors through the entire Golden Visa process and connects them to the VIDA Fund, an asset-backed hospitality investment that qualifies for the program. The VIDA Fund acquires and revitalizes undervalued hospitality businesses in Portugal. Through an integrated owner-operator approach, it transforms them into premium, high-margin assets. Because the VIDA Fund’s investments are backed by tangible hospitality assets, they provide a layer of capital preservation that non-asset-backed investments cannot offer. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

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VIDA Capital works directly with every investor, so there are no commission-driven intermediaries between you and the fund. That direct relationship allows the firm to offer personalized concierge service and transparent fees. For a full breakdown of fund eligibility requirements, see VIDA Capital’s guide on Golden Visa Fund Investment Requirements: 2026 Guide.

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Start your Portugal Golden Visa plan with VIDA Capital.

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Golden Visa Timelines After 10 Years: Renewals And Citizenship

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Portugal structures its Golden Visa around an initial temporary residency period, followed by renewals and eventual eligibility for permanent residency and citizenship.

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Upon approval, investors receive a temporary residency permit valid for 2 years.
The permit is then renewed for two additional 2-year periods, maintaining the investment and residency requirements throughout the 5-year period. As the approval card issuance usually takes a year, investors will most likely only need a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period.
After 5 years, investors can apply for permanent residency.
Citizenship eligibility is subject to the October 2025 reform, which is expected to set 10 years for most nationalities and 7 years for CPLP and EU citizens once enacted. Those who submitted citizenship applications before the law’s publication are expected to remain under the previous 5-year framework.

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Other programs follow different long-term paths, so investors should compare the end goals, not just the entry cost.

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Greece: Requires 7 years of living in Greece and paying taxes to qualify for long-term residency. Greece does not offer a citizenship pathway through the Golden Visa alone.
Spain: No longer offers a Golden Visa program as of April 3, 2025.
UAE: Offers long-term residency only, with no pathway to UAE citizenship through the Golden Residency program.
US EB-5: Leads to a conditional green card, then permanent residency, and US citizenship eligibility after 5 years of permanent residency.

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For a step-by-step walkthrough of the Portugal Golden Visa application process, see VIDA Capital’s Portugal Golden Visa: Step-by-Step Application Guide.

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Get a step-by-step Portugal Golden Visa roadmap from VIDA Capital.

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Which Country Offers The Most Cost-Effective Golden Visa?

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Greece offers the lowest headline minimum at €250,000 for certain redevelopment projects. Greece also requires investors to live there for 7 years and pay taxes to qualify for long-term residency, which creates a significant lifestyle commitment for anyone who does not plan to relocate.

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Portugal’s €500,000 fund route carries a higher headline minimum. Its 14-day-every-two-years presence requirement and pathway to EU citizenship without relocation make it substantially more capital-efficient for investors whose primary goal is EU optionality, mobility, and family security.

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Portugal’s Golden Visa provides a pathway to citizenship without the need to relocate, through qualifying investments in regulated funds, a combination no other open European program currently matches at this price point. The cheapest option often fails to align with an investor’s real goals for mobility, security, and family inclusion.

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For a full checklist of what Portugal Golden Visa fund investors need to prepare, see VIDA Capital’s Portugal Golden Visa Checklist 2026: €500k Fund Investors.

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Review your Portugal Golden Visa readiness with VIDA Capital.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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What Is The Minimum Investment For A Portugal Golden Visa?

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The minimum investment is €500,000 through an eligible, regulated investment fund. Property ownership is no longer an eligible route for new applicants.

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Can I Get A Green Card Through Investing?

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The US EB-5 program requires investment in a commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs for US workers, so property ownership alone does not qualify. For Portugal, property ownership is no longer an eligible route for the Golden Visa.

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How Long Does The Portugal Golden Visa Process Take?

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The process usually spans 12 to 18 months from application submission to receiving the residency card. Working with a qualified immigration lawyer throughout the process is essential.

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Do I Need To Relocate To Portugal?

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The Golden Visa requires only 14 days of physical presence in Portugal every two years. This light requirement makes it one of the most flexible residency programs in Europe and a practical Plan B for investors who wish to maintain their primary lives elsewhere.

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What Are The Costs Beyond The €500,000 Investment?

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Additional costs include government fees charged per family member at submission, biometrics, each renewal, and citizenship application. Legal fees typically range from €16,000 to €20,000. Fund subscription fees vary by fund, and at the VIDA Fund, the subscription fee is 1% of the total amount invested.

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Is Portugal’s Golden Visa Still Active?

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As of 2026, the Portugal Golden Visa program remains open and active. The fund investment route is the eligible option for new applicants.

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Can I Include My Family?

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Yes. A spouse or partner, economically dependent children who are full-time students and unmarried, and parents or in-laws who are above 65 or financially dependent on the main applicant can all be included in the same application. Each family member is subject to their own government fees.

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What Happens After 5 Years?

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After 5 years of maintaining the investment and residency requirements, investors can apply for permanent residency. Citizenship timelines are expected to follow the October 2025 reform once enacted, with 10 years for most nationalities and 7 years for CPLP and EU citizens.

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Ask VIDA Capital your remaining Portugal Golden Visa questions.

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Conclusion: Choosing The Right Golden Visa Strategy

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Golden visa minimum investment thresholds vary significantly by country and route, from Greece’s €250,000 redevelopment option to the US EB-5 standard tier at $1,050,000. Government fees, legal costs, and program closures, including Spain, the UK, and Ireland, shape the real decision set for investors.

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Among the programs still open in 2026, Portugal’s €500,000 fund route offers a capital-efficient path to EU citizenship without relocation. With a minimum physical presence of just 14 days every two years, it functions as a genuine Plan B, securing EU residency and a pathway to a Portuguese passport while you maintain your existing life.

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VIDA Capital provides an asset-backed route into this program through the VIDA Fund, which acquires and revitalizes undervalued hospitality businesses in Portugal. With transparent fees, personalized concierge advisory, and a direct investor relationship, VIDA Capital reduces the complexity and opacity that characterize many golden visa advisory services. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

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Schedule a call with VIDA Capital to map your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.

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