Residency by Investment (RBI) has become an important part of global mobility planning for investors and internationally mobile families. Depending on the country, these programs can provide long-term residence, greater travel flexibility, access to new business markets, or a potential route toward permanent residence and citizenship.
But there is no single “best” Residency by Investment program.
Portugal may appeal to investors seeking a low-stay European route with long-term naturalization potential. Greece remains attractive for property-focused investors. Malta offers permanent residence with broad family inclusion, while the UAE provides long-term residence in a major international business hub.
Here are six notable options to consider in 2026.
Residency by Investment Programs at a Glance
Country | Investment / Financial Requirement | Residence Structure | Physical Presence | Best Suited For |
🇵🇹 Portugal | From €250,000 | ARI / Golden Visa | Low | Long-term European mobility |
🇬🇷 Greece | €250,000–€800,000 | Golden Visa | No minimum stay to maintain permit | Property-focused investors |
🇲🇹 Malta | Multi-component cost | Permanent Residence | No conventional annual stay requirement | Extended families |
🇭🇺 Hungary | From €250,000 | Guest Investor Residence | Flexible | Long-duration EU residence |
🇦🇪 UAE | From AED 2 million for property route | Golden Residence | Flexible | Entrepreneurs and global business families |
🇺🇸 United States | $800,000 in a TEA/infrastructure project | EB-5 immigrant route | US residence expected | Permanent US relocation |
Requirements, government fees and qualifying investments can change. Tax residence is also separate from immigration residence.
1. Portugal: Best for Low-Stay European Residency
Portugal’s Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI), widely known as the Golden Visa, remains one of Europe’s best-known investment residence programs.
Real estate no longer qualifies. Current options include a €500,000 investment in qualifying non-real-estate collective investment funds, €500,000 in qualifying research activities, business and job-creation routes, and certain cultural investments starting at €250,000.
One of Portugal’s main attractions is its relatively low physical-presence requirement. AIMA currently states a minimum stay of seven days in the first year and 14 days in subsequent periods. ARI holders may also eventually apply for permanent residence or Portuguese nationality, provided they satisfy the separate legal requirements.
Best suited for: Investors who want European residence while maintaining their primary lifestyle and business interests elsewhere, particularly those considering Portugal as part of a longer-term citizenship strategy.
2. Greece: Best for Property-Focused Investors
Greece stands apart from several European markets because real estate remains central to its Golden Visa framework.
The current system uses different investment thresholds depending on the location and type of property. The main tiers are €800,000 in designated high-demand areas, €400,000 in other areas, and €250,000 for specific qualifying cases, including certain property conversions and restoration projects.
For investors, the appeal is straightforward: the qualifying capital can be deployed into a tangible property asset rather than a fund or donation.
Another important advantage is that Golden Visa investors are not generally required to relocate permanently to Greece simply to maintain the residence permit.
Best suited for: Investors who prioritize real estate ownership, Schengen mobility and limited physical-presence requirements.
3. Malta: Best for Permanent Residence and Extended Families
Malta takes a different approach through the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP). Unlike many Golden Visas that begin with temporary renewable residence, the MPRP is structured as a permanent residence program for qualifying third-country nationals.
The current framework requires several components rather than one headline investment. These include a €60,000 non-refundable administration fee, €37,000 government contribution and €2,000 donation, together with either qualifying property rental of at least €14,000 per year or property purchase of at least €375,000. Additional fees apply to certain adult dependents.
The program is particularly relevant to larger families because qualifying dependent children, parents and grandparents may be included subject to the applicable conditions.
Applicants must also demonstrate the required financial resources and pass Malta’s due-diligence process.
Best suited for: Families seeking permanent European residence and broader multi-generational family eligibility.
4. Hungary: Best for Long-Term EU Residence Flexibility
Hungary returned to the investment migration market with its Guest Investor Program, providing another option for investors seeking a long-term foothold within the European Union and Schengen Area.
One qualifying route requires at least €250,000 in units of an eligible real estate investment fund. Another involves a €1 million qualifying donation to specified educational, scientific research or artistic activities.
The program is particularly notable for the long validity of the associated residence permit, making Hungary worth considering for investors who value residence flexibility rather than an immediate relocation strategy.
Best suited for: Investors seeking a long-duration European residence solution with an investment-fund option.
5. UAE: Best for Entrepreneurs and International Business Families
The UAE Golden Residence serves a somewhat different investor profile.
Rather than positioning itself primarily as a gateway to European mobility, the UAE combines long-term residence with access to Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s international business, financial, property and aviation ecosystems.
Real estate investors can qualify through property investments meeting the applicable threshold, commonly AED 2 million for the Golden Residence property route.
For entrepreneurs, executives and globally mobile families, the UAE’s attraction also includes its international connectivity and a tax environment that does not impose federal personal income tax on individuals.
However, investors should distinguish immigration residence from tax residence. Holding a UAE Golden Residence does not, by itself, determine an individual’s tax residence or eliminate tax obligations in another country.
Best suited for: Entrepreneurs, internationally mobile families and investors seeking a long-term Middle Eastern business and lifestyle base.
6. United States: Best for Families Planning Permanent Relocation
The United States’ EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program differs significantly from conventional Golden Visa programs.
EB-5 is an immigrant investment pathway designed to lead to lawful permanent residence rather than simply providing a renewable investor visa.
Qualifying investors generally invest $800,000 in a targeted employment area or qualifying infrastructure project, or $1.05 million outside the reduced-investment categories, while satisfying EB-5 job-creation and other requirements.
The program can include the investor’s spouse and qualifying unmarried children under 21.
Its strategic value is therefore very different from a low-stay European Golden Visa. EB-5 is most relevant to families who genuinely intend to build a long-term life in the United States.
It also carries an important tax consideration: becoming a US lawful permanent resident can create significant US tax and reporting obligations. Immigration and tax planning should therefore be evaluated together.
Best suited for: Families prioritizing permanent US residence, education, careers and long-term integration into the United States.
Final Thoughts
Residency by Investment should not be evaluated on investment threshold alone. Investors should also consider the type and liquidity of the qualifying asset, family eligibility, physical-presence rules, tax consequences, renewal requirements and whether the program supports their longer-term citizenship or relocation objectives.
A €250,000 route may not necessarily be “better” than a €500,000 or $800,000 program if the residence rights and long-term outcomes do not match the family’s goals.
For globally mobile investors, the most effective approach is therefore not simply to ask “Which Golden Visa is the cheapest?”, but rather:
“Which jurisdiction best fits where my family wants to live, invest and build its long-term future?”
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