Feb. 10, 2026, 4:03 a.m. ET
- Golden visas allow wealthy individuals to gain residency in another country through a significant financial investment.
- Greece has expanded its popular golden visa program to include investments in startups, not just real estate.
- While some countries like Greece are expanding their programs, others like Spain have ended theirs due to impacts on housing prices.
The demand for golden visas has gained steam in 2026, with Greece recently expanding its program with a new way for investors to gain citizenship.
At the start of the year, the European country added another pathway to its golden visa program by investing about $259,000 in startups listed on its national registry, Elevate Greece. The new option breaks away from the previous model of purchasing real estate alone, broadening the program beyond those just interested in buying property.
The country is one of the most popular among Americans looking to establish residency overseas, with no signs of slowing down in 2026. In Dec. 2025, the number of Americans granted Greek golden visas increased by 49% compared to the same month in 2024, according to Enness Global, a mortgage brokerage firm helping high-net-worth individuals purchase a second citizenship.
“For many Americans, Greece offers a compelling combination: relatively low entry thresholds for a developed European market, improving economic fundamentals, and lifestyle access within the E.U., all of which are increasingly hard to find elsewhere,” said Islay Robinson, CEO of Enness Global. At the same time, Greece can channel foreign investment into its economy instead of the housing market.
Though golden visas have been around for decades, they’ve skyrocketed in recent years as a way for high-net-worth individuals to “buy” residency in other countries. In an Oct. 2025 La Vida American Investor Survey of over 10,000 U.S.-based clients, 76.4% said they’re seeking a second residency or citizenship as a Plan B, mainly due to political reasons and rising healthcare costs, followed by the consideration of a potential future relocation.
Here’s what Americans should know about golden visas in 2026.
What are golden visas?
Golden visas – also called residency by investment schemes – essentially grant foreigners the ability to legally live, work, and study in another country when investing a significant amount in the local economy. Most often, it’s through purchasing real estate, government stocks, or a nonrefundable donation.
As the name implies, golden visas don’t come cheap. The minimum financial investment for lower-cost schemes in Malta, for example, starts at about $216,800 but can climb to the millions depending on the country.
While countries like Greece and New Zealand have opened more ways for people to obtain a golden visa, others have closed their schemes. In April 2025, Spain officially ended its golden visa program after residents claimed the high influx of foreigners was driving up housing prices.
What are the benefits of a golden visa?
Below are some of the benefits unique to golden visas.
- Better standard of living. Many people are interested in the quality of life outside the United States, like better healthcare systems, the weather, or work-life balance.
- Clear path to citizenship. Some programs offer a simple way to achieve citizenship. In Portugal, people can apply for citizenship after five years of legal residence.
- Increased mobility. Establishing eventual citizenship in a country that’s part of the E.U. makes it much easier to travel across member states for longer periods.
- You don’t need to live there full-time. Unlike a digital nomad visa, a golden visa doesn’t require a person to live in the country for long periods. For New Zealand’s golden visa scheme, people only need to be in the country for 21 days.
How can I get a golden visa?
“The first step is always to speak with a specialist adviser who understands high net worth and cross-border structuring,” said Robinson, adding that they can help figure out the best golden visa route based on your assets. Then, applicants gather and prepare their documents, and they often will undergo background checks by the country.
Approval can take as little as several months or up to a year for countries like Portugal.
Countries with golden visas 2026
- Greece: Greece provides five-year residency to the entire family with an investment starting at about $259,000 into real estate in select municipalities or a qualifying startup.
- Malta: Residency in this Mediterranean island nation is granted to the entire family with a minimum investment starting at about $216,806 and proof of over $595,621 in assets.
- New Zealand: Last year, New Zealand relaxed several of its golden visa requirements to attract more applicants. There are two financial investment amounts for its golden visa, with the cheapest being a minimum of about $3.02 million investment over three years in managed funds and direct business investments. Though costly, it allows indefinite residency.
- Portugal: As one of the most popular golden visa programs, Portugal offers residency to the entire family for five years with a fund investment ranging from about $259,000 to $595,621.