Portugal’s Golden Visa: The Top Choice in Europe for 2025
In recent years, the Golden Visa programs across Europe have offered a path to residency and eventual citizenship for non-EU investors. Among the top destinations have been Spain, Greece, Malta, Italy, and Portugal. However, 2025 has brought major changes to the landscape—putting Portugal firmly in the lead.
Spain: Program Terminated
As of April 3, 2025, Spain has officially shut down its Golden Visa program. The country previously allowed non-EU investors to gain residency through a minimum real estate investment of €500,000. With this option no longer available, Spain is off the table for those looking to gain EU residency through investment.
🇬🇷 Greece: High Costs, Long Waits
Effective August 31, 2024, Greece revised its Golden Visa rules with steeper investment requirements:
- In-demand areas (Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini): Minimum €800,000 investment.
- A €250,000 threshold is still possible, but only for niche opportunities, such as restoring historic buildings or converting commercial spaces into residential use—and the work must be completed before applying.
- Greece also requires a 7-year residency before you can apply for citizenship.
These limitations have made the Greek Golden Visa less appealing and more complicated.
🇮🇹 Italy: Low Entry, But Slow Path
Italy offers the lowest minimum investment in Europe at €250,000, generally directed toward startups and innovation-driven funds. However, the program has critical downsides:
- Real estate is not a qualifying investment.
- Investors must reside in Italy for 10 years before being eligible for citizenship.
Despite the low financial entry point, Italy’s program is better suited to long-term residents and less attractive to those seeking faster or more flexible paths to EU citizenship.
🇲🇹 Malta: High Cost and Complex Process
Malta’s program includes real estate, but through a multi-layered and indirect route. Key drawbacks include:
- A total investment starting around €690,000.
- An often lengthy approval timeline of up to 2 years.
- Considerable bureaucracy and regulatory complexity.
As a result, Malta’s program remains one of the most expensive and time-consuming options in Europe.
🇵🇹 Portugal: The Standout Golden Visa of 2025
Amid the tightening policies in other countries, Portugal now offers the most well-rounded and accessible Golden Visa in Europe. Here’s why:
- €500,000 investment in regulated private equity or venture capital funds—no need for real estate.
- Minimal stay requirement: just 7 days per year in Portugal.
- Faster processing times introduced in 2025.
- 🇪🇺 Path to EU citizenship in just 5 years—among the fastest in the EU.
Portugal’s Golden Visa provides an ideal blend of flexibility, affordability, and a clear route to citizenship, without the red tape seen elsewhere.
Conclusion: Portugal Leads the Way
With Spain out, Greece more expensive, Malta overly complex, and Italy slow to deliver citizenship, Portugal has emerged as the most attractive destination for Golden Visa investors in 2025.
If you’re seeking a strategic, efficient, and future-proof path to EU residency, Portugal’s Golden Visa is currently the best option in Europe.
For more details, please contact my team.
Phone number
+ 91 6301550340
+ 91 6380692148
Thank you.
