cheapest golden visa
Cheapest golden visa: the real 2026 ranking
The cheapest golden visa headline in Europe is Latvia at 50,000 euros through a company investment, but the lowest advertised number is not the same as the lowest real cost. Hungary, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, and Malta cluster between 150,000 and 500,000 euros depending on route, and every one of them adds government fees, legal work, renewals, and family costs on top. Rank programs by total cost for your family and goal, not by the marketing number.
What cheapest actually means
Golden visa marketing ranks programs by minimum investment, but the minimums buy different things. A 250,000 euro number can mean fund units in Hungary, cultural support in Portugal, a startup stake in Italy, or only special property categories in Greece. Some of that money is recoverable investment; some is spending you never see again.
The honest ranking method is total non-recoverable cost: government and application fees, legal support, renewals over the years you will hold the permit, family add-ons, and the opportunity cost or risk on the invested capital. On that measure the cheapest headline program is not always the cheapest outcome.
The low-headline routes in Europe
Latvia is the outlier: about 50,000 euros invested in the equity of a Latvian company that employs fewer than 50 people, plus a government fee, currently holds the lowest widely cited headline in the EU. Bank deposit and property routes in Latvia cost far more, and the company route brings real operating obligations.
Hungary reopened in 2024 with a 250,000 euro real estate fund route and no physical presence requirement. Malta's permanent residence programme can start around 150,000 euros in combined costs on the leasing route. Greece still advertises 250,000 euros, but since September 2024 that tier only applies to commercial-to-residential conversions and listed building restorations; standard property now needs 400,000 euros in most regions and 800,000 euros in Athens, Thessaloniki, and the busiest islands.
The mid-tier and what closed
Portugal removed real estate entirely: the common routes are now a 500,000 euro fund subscription or 250,000 euro cultural support, with a light seven-days-per-year presence expectation. Italy offers 250,000 euros into an innovative startup or 500,000 euros into a company. Cyprus permanent residence needs 300,000 euros plus VAT and proof of foreign income. Bulgaria sits around 512,000 euros through funds.
Treat closure risk as part of the price. Spain closed its golden visa in April 2025, Malta's citizenship route ended in 2025 after a European court ruling, and Portugal and Greece have both tightened terms repeatedly. A cheap route that closes or changes before you apply costs you the planning work you built on it.
Cheap outside Europe, and the UAE case
Outside the EU, the UAE golden visa prices in dirhams: the property route needs AED 2 million, roughly 545,000 US dollars, but the entrepreneur route can qualify with an approved project or incubator backing rather than a large passive investment. For founders already running a business, a UAE company setup plus the entrepreneur route can be the cheapest path to a ten-year residence in a zero-income-tax country.
Latin American and Asian residence programs can be cheaper still, but most are ordinary residence visas rather than golden visas, with real presence requirements. If your goal is a passport eventually, check the naturalisation rules before celebrating a cheap permit: the cheapest residence card with no path to your actual goal is not cheap.
Plus UAE Connect handles company formation that can support the UAE entrepreneur golden visa route. Ask for the visa-eligible package in writing.
How to run your own ranking
Shortlist three programs that fit your passport goal and family size. For each, ask an advisor for a line-item quote: investment, government fees per person, legal fees, renewal costs across five years, and exit assumptions for the invested capital. Then compare the non-recoverable totals side by side.
Expect the ranking to reorder. Families often find Latvia and Hungary totals converging once dependents and renewals are priced, and investors who value recoverable capital often prefer a 500,000 euro fund they expect back over 150,000 euros they never see again.
Common questions
What is the cheapest golden visa in Europe?
Latvia's company investment route, around 50,000 euros plus fees, has the lowest widely cited headline in the EU. Hungary at 250,000 euros through funds and Malta's permanent residence programme from roughly 150,000 euros in combined costs are the next tier. Totals change once fees, renewals, and family members are included.
Is the Greece golden visa still 250,000 euros?
Only for special categories such as commercial-to-residential conversions and listed building restorations. Standard residential property requires 400,000 euros in most regions and 800,000 euros in Athens, Thessaloniki, and high-demand islands since September 2024.
What is the cheapest golden visa that leads to citizenship?
It depends on naturalisation rules, not the visa price. Portugal has historically offered a comparatively short path with light presence requirements, which is why its 250,000 to 500,000 euro routes stay popular despite cheaper permits elsewhere. Verify current citizenship timelines before deciding.
Are there golden visas under 100,000 dollars?
Very few genuine ones. Latvia's company route is the main European example. Most sub-100k offers are ordinary residence visas, require active business operations, or come with conditions the marketing does not mention.
Is a cheap golden visa worth it if I never live there?
Sometimes. Programs like Hungary, Greece, and the UAE do not require meaningful physical presence, so they can work as insurance or travel bases. But if you never use the residence and it never leads to citizenship, question what the spend is actually buying.
Which golden visas closed recently?
Spain closed in April 2025, Malta's citizenship-by-investment route ended in 2025 after a European court ruling, Ireland closed in 2023, and Portugal removed its real estate option. Program access can change while you prepare, so verify against official sources before committing.
Official sources to verify
- ARI - Residency Permit for InvestorsPortuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Golden VisaHellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum
- Golden ResidencyFederal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
- Every Golden Visa Still Open in Europe in 2026IMI Daily (Investment Migration Insider)
Compare golden visa advisors
Ask for a route-specific quote that separates investment amount, government fees, legal work, fund or property costs, and renewal obligations.
We may earn a referral fee if you choose an advisor through this site. We still aim to show cost ranges, caveats, and official source links plainly.