EU Golden Visa Cost Comparison 2024 (Cheapest Golden Visa Options up to 500K)
Looking for the cheapest EU Golden Visa options in 2024? Below, we look at your Top 10 best Golden Visa options priced between €50K and €500K…
| GOLDEN VISA COST | COUNTRY PROGRAM | INVESTMENT TYPE | PROS & CONS | ALSO CONSIDER… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €50,000 (investment) + €10,000 (government donation) | Latvia Golden Visa Program | Capitalization of established small company (legal suppliers can assist with target company research). You can view the official program page for the Latvian Golden Visa by Company Investment option here. | PROS: Temporary residency status valid for 5 years (but residency card has to be renewed annually – takes around 7 days). Low minimum stay requirement (i.e. the 7 days required to renew your residency card.) Residency can be renewed indefinitely as long as investment is maintained. An excellent option if EU visa-free travel is your primary objective.
CONS: Citizenship By Naturalization takes 10 years of residency (with PR step after 5 years), and is highly unlikely due to local language requirement (Latvian is exceedingly difficult). Also, effective settlement is required to naturalize (no absences of longer than 6 months per year during residency phase). And if the company you’re investing in pays even €500 less than the minimum required amount in taxes, your residency renewal will likely not be granted. |
€150K+ Maltese Golden Visa By Property Rental
€200K Portuguese Cultural Golden Visa €250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
| €150,000 | Malta Golden Visa Program, formally known as the Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP). You can view the official program page for the Malta Golden Visa program here. | Malta Golden Visa By Property Rental: From €150,000 (Southern Malta or Gozo), or from €160,000 elsewhere in the country:
€58,000 Government donation; €2,000 Approved NGO donation; €40,000 Administration fee; 5-year property rental agreement (€10,000+ x 5): €50,000+ Total: €150,000+ |
PROS: Exceptionally affordable Golden Visa option that includes primary lifestyle cost (property rental). Get Maltese (EU) PERMANENT residency status straight off the bat. You only have to visit once every 5 years to renew your residency card. Malta can be an exceedingly tax-efficient place for foreign residents.
CONS: Malta is an island – as a longer term living location, it can feel quite small and restrictive. While you can apply for citizen through naturalization after 5 years, you’ll have to learn the Maltese language first. |
€50,000 Latvian Golden Visa
€200K Portuguese Cultural Golden Visa €250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
| €250,000 (Real Estate Fund) +
€30,000 (Professional service fee per family) Additional service fee per adult dependent: €10,000 Minimum capital outlay: €280,000 (excludes property transfer costs, government processing and sundries). |
Hungary Residency By Investment program (a.k.a the Hungarian Golden Visa program) | Invest €250,000 in a qualifying Hungarian Real Estate Fund, buy a property worth €500,000, or make a non-refundable Hungarian Public Trust donation of €1 million. | PROS: The cheapest property based Golden Visa option in Europe (fund based investment). The fastest EU Golden Visa application process (just 6-8 weeks).
No minimum in-country presence requirements (0 days per year). Residency applications are approved and Hungarian ID cards are issued before any capital has to be committed. Immediate family reunification procedure – you can all move there from the get-go (unlike as in Portugal, for example). All nations – including Russians, Iranians and Belarusians – can apply. A 10-year residency validity, renewable for an additional 10 years (even if you liquidate your investment after 5 years). CONS: New program, so some initial teething issues or delays may occur. To invest in actual real estate, rather than in an RE fund, you’ll have to invest a minimum of €500,000. |
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| €200,000 | Portugal Cultural Production Golden Visa (Artistic Support Investment – Low Density Areas) | Fund the production of a Portuguese feature film that is pre-sold to distribution outlets and get a Cultural Golden Visa under Order no. 2360/2017, of 20 March.
Principal guaranteed. |
PROS: Cheapest Portuguese Golden Visa option – only €200k in low-density areas (otherwise €250K). Tax exempt investment. No maintenance or registration fees. Only GV option featuring a 15-day government pre-approval step (no funds committed prior to pre-approval).
Only Golden Visa application submitted by a designated public entity. Fastest processing time of all Golden Visas (6-7 months). Possibility of early return of capital (subject to an early exit penalty). Capital guarantee backed by notarized deed. Note: This option is offered subject to client slot availability in rurally based film production projects. CONS: Relatively new program, so some teething issues could be expected. |
€250K Hungarian Golden Visa
€250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
| €200,000 | Portugal Cultural Heritage Preservation Golden Visa (Donation – Low Density Areas) | Make a non-refundable donation towards the restoration and maintenance of Portugal’s national cultural heritage in a low-density area (NUTS III definition), under Order no. 2360/2017, of 20 March. | PROS: Cheapest Portuguese Golden Visa option – donation of only €200k in low-density areas (otherwise €250K). No maintenance or registration fees. Only GV stream featuring a 15-day government pre-approval step (no funds committed prior to pre-approval). Only Golden Visa application submitted by a designated public entity. Fastest processing time of all Golden Visas (6-7 months).
CONS: Donation, hence entire principal is forfeited. |
€250K Hungarian Golden Visa
Portugal Cultural Production Golden Visa (Artistic Support Investment – Low Density Areas) |
| €250,000 | Portugal Cultural Production Golden Visa (Artistic Support Investment – Outside Low Density Areas) | Invest in the production of a Portuguese feature film that is pre-sold to distribution outlets and get a Cultural Golden Visa under Order no. 2360/2017, of 20 March.
Principal guaranteed. |
PROS: Second cheapest Portuguese Golden Visa option. Tax exempt investment. No maintenance or registration fees. Only GV option featuring a 15-day government pre-approval step (no funds committed prior to pre-approval). Only Golden Visa application submitted by a designated public entity. Fastest processing time of all Golden Visas (6-7 months). Possibility of early return of capital (subject to an early exit penalty). Capital guarantee backed by notarized deed. Only 1 visit required.
CONS: Relatively new program, so some teething issues could be expected. Imminent closure of the Golden Visa program creates uncertainty regarding whether current applicants will still be able to qualify – even though indications are that the Cultural track may be retained (at least for a certain period of time)… |
€200K Portugal Cultural Production Visa option (if available at the time)
€175K Portuguese HQA Visa (if you’re planning on launching a startup, or expanding an existing overseas business in Portugal, etc). |
| €250,000 | Portugal Cultural Heritage Preservation Golden Visa (Donation – Outside Low Density Areas) | Make a non-refundable donation towards the restoration and maintenance of Portugal’s national cultural heritage outside of a low-density area (NUTS III definition), under Order no. 2360/2017, of 20 March. | PROS: No maintenance or registration fees. Only GV stream featuring a 15-day government pre-approval step (no funds committed prior to pre-approval). Only Golden Visa application submitted by a designated public entity. Fastest processing time of all Golden Visas (6-7 months). Film productions received an exemption from general pandemic confinement regulations, so filming was allowed to continue during much of the pandemic.
CONS: Donation, hence entire principal is forfeited. Imminent closure of the Golden Visa program creates uncertainty regarding whether current applicants will still be able to qualify – even though indications are that the Cultural track may be retained (at least for a certain period of time)… |
€250K Hungarian Golden Visa
Portugal Cultural Production Golden Visa (Artistic Support Investment – Low Density Areas) |
| €250,000 | Italy Golden Visa Program (Tech Startup Investment Option) | Invest a minimum of €250,000 in an innovative Italian startup to obtain the Italian Golden Visa. | PROS: A fast application process – as little as 3 months. Visa is approved and 2-year residency is issued prior to you having to commit your capital to the startup business. One of the only EU Golden Visa programs without any minimum in-country presence requirements. Investment options can be tailored to lead the eventual acquisition of a real estate asset. Take advantage of Italy’s €100K Flat Tax Regime for HNWIs.
CONS: The Italian Golden Visa is fairly new, so relatively few applicants have been approved to date, and none have naturalized yet. Startup investments typically carry a significantly higher degree of risk than, say, real estate investments. |
€50,000 Latvian Golden Visa
€200K Portuguese Cultural Golden Visa €250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
| €250,000 | Greece Golden Visa Program (Real Estate Option) | Acquire either land, residential or commercial property to the value of €250,000+ or €500,000+, depending on its location, and obtain a Greek Golden Visa.
You can check out the official program page for the Greek Golden Visa here. |
PROS: Acquire residential or commercial property, either priced at €250,000+ or €500,000 or more. Greece’s property market is not nearly as overheated as Portugal’s market. You can therefore expect to get more bang for your buck here.
CONS: Greece’s public finances and banking sector aren’t exactly confidence inspiring. It’s faster to naturalize in Portugal (5 years vs 7 years), and unless you speak Greek fairly fluently, you’ll not be able to qualify. |
€50,000 Latvian Golden Visa
€200K Portuguese Cultural Golden Visa €250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
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€175K Portuguese HQA Visa
€200K Portuguese Cultural Golden Visa €250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
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| €500,000 | Spain Golden Visa (Standard Real Estate Option) | Acquire and hold any Spanish property worth €500K for a minimum of 5 Years+ (or until PR or Citizenship) | PROS: It’s Spain.
CONS: The capital requirement for the Spanish RE option is substantially higher than that of Greece and Cyprus. Unless you’re from a former Spanish territory, you will have to be legally resident in the country for 10 years before you can naturalize. Spanish taxation is heavy. |
€250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
| €500,000
(€350,000 effective capital outlay) |
Spain Golden Visa (Proprietary Commercial Real Estate Option) | Acquire and hold a proprietary Spanish commercial property worth €500K for a minimum of 10 years+ (or until PR or Citizenship), and receive 10 years’ ROI @ 3% p.a. up-front.PROS: A lower effective capital requirement, with full 10-year ROI delivered up-front. | PROS: Acquire and hold a proprietary Spanish commercial property worth €500K for a minimum of 10Years+ (or until PR or Citizenship), and receive 10 years’ ROI @ 3% p.a. up-front.PROS: A lower effective capital requirement, with full 10-year ROI delivered up-front.
CONS: A longer minimum hold period. |
€250K Greek Golden Visa (prime residential locations in Greece are eligible). |
| €300,000 | Cyprus Golden Visa | Acquire and hold any Cypriot new residential or any commercial property worth €300K+, OR; Make a €300K+ Share Capital or Cyprus Fund Investment and obtain Cypriot Permanent Residency status from the get-go. | PROS: Immediate European Permanent Residency at a mid-level pricing point. Fast, reliable process.
CONS: No Schengen visa-free travel privileges until you become a Cypriot citizen. Parents are no longer eligible dependents. |
€250K Greek Golden Visa |
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Golden Visas priced from only €50,000 in Latvia, €250,000 in Hungary and €200,000 in Portugal. Contact us now to learn more.
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