Home / Golden Visa and Residency
A golden visa is a renewable residence permit, not a passport. It may allow the investor and family to live in the country and, for Schengen programmes, to travel within the Schengen area. Citizenship is never automatic: it exists only for some programmes, after years of lawful residence, physical presence, language and integration and good-character rules, and it may change. This 2026 Q4 Edition tracks 136 residency-by-investment programmes, of which 59 are active and ranked. If you want residence without relocating full-time, start with the Stay Requirement column, then request a private suitability review with Vito Magagnino.
Comparative research from official sources, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Golden-visa programmes change; this edition reflects sources checked 2026-10-16. Verify against the linked official source before acting.
MCP
The short answer
59 residency by investment programmes are active and ranked in the 2026 Q4 Edition of the Mirabello Investment Migration Index. Cyprus Permanent Residency ranks first with a composite score of 85.6 out of 100. A golden visa grants a renewable residence permit, not a passport.
Evidence: Mirabello Investment Migration Index · Official source: gov.cy · Open data: index.json · As of 2026-10-16
Shortcuts by goal
There is no universal best. These are established programmes Mirabello advises on, each shown against the goal it fits, with the qualifying figure, the date it was verified and a Mirabello confidence band. The full, objective ranking of every active programme is in the table below. A residence permit is not a passport, and none of this is a recommendation.
Schengen access at a low EU entry: Greece Golden Visa
Qualifying investment from €250,000, Real estate (EUR 250,000 to EUR 800,000 by zone and property type) or startup investment. Schengen movement while the permit is held.
An established route into the Schengen area at one of the lower published EU entry levels, with no minimum-stay requirement to maintain the permit.
View Greece Golden VisaIndicative, from official sources on the date shown. Suitability depends on your circumstances. Information, not advice.
EU residence with a published citizenship route: Portugal Golden Visa
Qualifying investment from €250,000, Arts and cultural-heritage support (fund, company/job creation and scientific research routes from EUR 500,000). Published naturalisation route.
One of the few golden visas with a published route toward citizenship after years of lawful residence. A published route is years-long, never guaranteed, and subject to change.
View Portugal Golden VisaIndicative, from official sources on the date shown. Suitability depends on your circumstances. Information, not advice.
Residence in a major EU economy: Italy Investor Visa
Qualifying investment from €250,000, Innovative startup investment.
Investor residence in a G7 economy, with flexible qualifying routes and no minimum-stay requirement to hold the permit.
View Italy Investor VisaIndicative, from official sources on the date shown. Suitability depends on your circumstances. Information, not advice.
Established EU permanent residence: Malta Permanent Residence (MPRP)
Qualifying investment from €99,000, Government contribution + admin fee + donation (excl. property).
A long-running EU permanent-residence programme, contribution and property based, with residence granted for life subject to compliance.
View Malta Permanent Residence (MPRP)Indicative, from official sources on the date shown. Suitability depends on your circumstances. Information, not advice.
Fast Gulf residence: UAE Golden Visa
Documented processing: 2-3 months. GCC regional access.
A renewable long-term residence in a no-personal-income-tax jurisdiction, with fast documented processing and regional mobility.
View UAE Golden VisaIndicative, from official sources on the date shown. Suitability depends on your circumstances. Information, not advice.
Programme status, at a glance
Golden-visa programmes change. This edition reflects official sources checked 2026-10-16. The vocabulary below is used consistently across the ranked table and the full status register.
See the full status register below for the closed and route-narrowed programmes, each with its official source and last-checked date.
The programmes, ranked
59 residency-by-investment programmes are ranked and active this 2026 Q4 Edition, in Mirabello Investment Migration Index order. A golden visa is a renewable residence permit, not a passport. Every figure is verified against official sources and provenance-tracked.
| Rank | Programme | Minimum qualifying route | Typical processing | Index score | Confidence | Stay requirement | Renewal cycle | Mobility | Tax relevance | Last verified | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇨🇾 Cyprus Permanent Residency | €300,000 New residential property (plus VAT), other real estate, Cyprus company shares or a Cyprus investment fund gov.cy · 2026-10-01 |
Approximately 2 months to examine a gov.cy · 2026-10-01 |
85.6 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 7-year cycle | EU (not Schengen) | Medium | 2026-10-01 | # |
| 2 | 🇪🇨 Ecuador Investor Residence Index | $48,200 Investment (real estate / CD / equity), ~US$48.2k gob.ec · 2026-06-04 |
~60 days gob.ec · 2026-06-04 |
85.5 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 3 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia MM2H Index | $150,000 Fixed-deposit long-stay pass (Silver tier; SEZ route from ~USD 65k) imi.gov.my · 2026-06-04 |
Approximately 2-3 months after complete imi.gov.my · 2026-06-04 |
84.8 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-10-11 | # |
| 4 | 🇲🇹 Malta Global Residence Programme (GRP) | €220,000 a qualifying home bought or rented in Malta or Gozo mtca.gov.mt · 2026-10-01 |
3-6 months mtca.gov.mt · 2026-10-01 |
83.7 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Schengen | Medium | 2026-10-11 | # |
| 5 | 🇲🇹 Malta Permanent Residence (MPRP) | €99,000 Government contribution + admin fee + donation (excl. property) residencymalta.gov.mt · 2026-10-01 |
No fixed official timeframe residencymalta.gov.mt · 2026-10-01 |
83.5 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Schengen | Medium | 2026-10-01 | # |
| 6 | 🇬🇷 Greece Golden Visa | €250,000 Real estate (EUR 250,000 to EUR 800,000 by zone and property type) or startup investment migration.gov.gr · 2026-09-28 |
3-9 months in practice, end to end migration.gov.gr · 2026-09-28 |
82.8 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 7-year cycle | Schengen | Medium | 2026-09-28 | # |
| 7 | 🇧🇷 Brazil Residence by Investment Index | BRL 700,000 Real estate (R$700k North/NE; R$1m elsewhere) portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br · 2026-06-04 |
Not published | 82.8 / 100 | High | Light presence | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 8 | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Residence by Investment | $200,000 Investment → fast-track permanent residence migracion.gob.do · 2026-10-09 |
45 working days migracion.gob.do · 2026-10-09 |
82.8 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 2-year cycle | Domestic | Low | 2026-10-10 | # |
| 9 | 🇰🇭 Cambodia My Second Home (CM2H) Index | $50,000 10-year long-stay (fee / real estate / deposit) immigration.gov.kh · 2026-06-04 |
4-6 months, Mirabello practice/market immigration.gov.kh · 2026-06-04 |
82.8 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 10 | 🇵🇪 Peru Investor Residence Index | $130,000 Business investment (PEN 500k) + 5 local jobs gob.pe · 2026-06-04 |
Approx gob.pe · 2026-06-04 |
82.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 11 | 🇲🇽 Mexico Permanent Residency by Economic Solvency | MXN 5,378,663.50 Proof of funds for direct permanent residency (retirees and pensioners), NOT an investment: an average monthly savings or investment balance of 45,850 days of UMA over the last 12 months (45,850 x MXN 117.31 = MXN 5,378,663.50 at the 2026 UMA), or, as the alternative, pension income free of liens above 1,140 days of UMA a month over the last 6 months (MXN 133,733.40 a month). Each family member adds 220 UMA (MXN 25,808.20). DOF Lineamientos of 25 July 2025 (Trámite 7 III.a) and INEGI UMA 2026, verified 2026-09-24 dof.gob.mx · 2026-10-09 |
5 to 7 weeks gob.mx · 2026-09-24 |
82.4 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 2-year cycle | Domestic | Medium | 2026-10-09 | # |
| 12 | 🇭🇳 Honduras Investor Residence Index | $50,000 Business investment + refundable US$5k Central Bank deposit tsc.gob.hn · 2026-09-19 |
Not published tsc.gob.hn · 2026-06-04 |
82 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-09-19 | # |
| 13 | 🇦🇱 Albania Residence by Investment Index | €100,000 Business/bonds (€100k; 1:5 local-employee) or real estate €300k e-albania.al · 2026-06-04 |
Up to 12 weeks from the date of e-albania.al · 2026-06-04 |
81.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 14 | 🇯🇵 Japan Business Manager Visa Index | ¥30,000,000 Business management (JPY 30,000,000 capital + employee + JLPT N2) isa.go.jp · 2026-06-04 |
Standard processing isa.go.jp · 2026-06-04 |
81.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 15 | 🇬🇹 Guatemala Investor Residence Index | $100,000 Company participation and/or purchase of movable or immovable property igm.gob.gt · 2026-09-22 |
Approximately 2-6 months from complete igm.gob.gt · 2026-09-22 |
80.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-09-22 | # |
| 16 | 🇷🇸 Serbia Residence Index | €50,000 Investor category: EUR 50,000 held at a SERBIAN-registered bank for the first permit, plus at least EUR 5,000 paid into the company's share capital to extend. The founder/self-employment and property grounds prescribe NO sum. welcometoserbia.gov.rs · 2026-06-04 |
Single permit decided within 15 days of welcometoserbia.gov.rs · 2026-06-04 |
80.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 17 | 🇦🇮 Anguilla Residence by Investment Index | $150,000 Capital Development Fund (US$150k) or real estate (US$750k) selectanguilla.com · 2026-06-04 |
Approximately 3 months to approval selectanguilla.com · 2026-06-04 |
80.6 / 100 | High | Light presence | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 18 | 🇬🇪 Georgia Residence by Investment | $150,000 Real estate (US$150k) or US$300k investment (5-yr) sda.gov.ge · 2026-06-04 |
Not published | 80 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 19 | 🇸🇮 Slovenia Business Residence Index | €50,000 Company (d.o.o. + ~€50k fixed-asset investment) spot.gov.si · 2026-06-04 |
Not published | 79.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Schengen | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 20 | 🇬🇬 Guernsey Investor Residence Index | £200,000 Entrepreneur £200k / Investor £750k + Open Market housing gov.gg · 2026-06-04 |
Adviser/market guides: Open Market gov.gg · 2026-06-04 |
79 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 21 | 🇮🇹 Italy Investor Visa | €250,000 Innovative startup investment investorvisa.mise.gov.it · 2026-06-04 |
Approximately 3-6 months end to end investorvisa.mise.gov.it · 2026-06-04 |
78.7 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 10-year cycle | Schengen | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 22 | 🇵🇦 Panama Qualified Investor Residency | $300,000 Real estate, first sale USD 300k (resale USD 500k) migracion.gob.pa · 2026-10-09 |
30 to 90 days in practice migracion.gob.pa · 2026-09-26 |
78.6 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-10-09 | # |
| 23 | 🇨🇴 Colombia Migrant Investor Visa Index | $191,930 Visa M Inversionista, real estate of at least 350 SMMLV (Colombian monthly minimum wages), about COP 612.8m / US$191,930 at the 2026 SMMLV of COP 1,750,905. The foreign-direct-investment route requires MORE than 650 SMMLV (about US$356,440). Thresholds are set in SMMLV and re-price every 1 January. The separate Visa M Socio o Propietario (company shareholding, 100 SMMLV, about US$54,840) is NOT the investor visa, it was previously published here in its place. cancilleria.gov.co · 2026-06-04 |
Decision within up to 30 calendar days cancilleria.gov.co · 2026-06-04 |
78.1 / 100 | High | Verify | 1-year cycle | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 24 | 🇲🇺 Mauritius Residency | $375,000 Real-estate investment edbmauritius.org · 2026-09-19 |
2-6 months edbmauritius.org · 2026-09-19 |
76.5 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-09-19 | # |
| 25 | 🇱🇻 Latvia Golden Visa Index | €60,000 Share capital of a Latvian company (€50,000 for a small company; €100,000 for a larger one) PLUS a compulsory €10,000 state-budget payment, €60,000 all-in at the lower tier. Permit up to 2 years; PMLP decides within 4 months. pmlp.gov.lv · 2026-09-14 |
Statutory decision within 30 days pmlp.gov.lv · 2026-09-14 |
76 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 5-year cycle | Schengen | Medium | 2026-09-18 | # |
| 26 | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria Investor Permanent Residence Index | €512,000 FSC-licensed fund investment (5-yr → PR) mvr.bg · 2026-06-04 |
Approximately 3-7 months mvr.bg · 2026-06-04 |
75.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | EU (not Schengen) | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 27 | 🇪🇪 Estonia Business Residence | €65,000 Company investment (~€65k) or Startup Visa politsei.ee · 2026-09-19 |
Decision within 90 days politsei.ee · 2026-09-19 |
74.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Schengen | Medium | 2026-09-19 | # |
| 28 | 🇲🇸 Montserrat Economic Residence Index | XCD 400,000 Economic residence (EC$400k deposit/RE/bonds + net worth) gov.ms · 2026-06-04 |
Not published | 74.2 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 29 | 🇭🇷 Croatia Business Residence Index | €26,545 Company (capital + ~3 local hires) mup.gov.hr · 2026-06-04 |
Typically several weeks to a few months mup.gov.hr · 2026-06-04 |
74.2 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Schengen | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 30 | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica Investor Residency Index | $150,000 Real estate / business / securities, USD 150,000 under Ley 9996 art. 8 (USD 100,000 forestry under the general Reglamento). ⚠ Ley 9996's five-year term LAPSED on 14 July 2026 and no gazette instrument or DGME notice confirms whether USD 150,000 survives or the Reglamento's USD 200,000 revives, treat as unconfirmed and check with DGME before advising. migracion.go.cr · 2026-06-04 |
Approximately 6-12 months migracion.go.cr · 2026-06-04 |
74.1 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 31 | 🇨🇼 Curaçao Investor Residence Index | $279,000 Tiered investment from XCG 500,000 (about USD 279,000 at the fixed 1.79 peg) up to XCG 1.5 million immigrationcur.org · 2026-06-04 |
Decision within 4 months of submission immigrationcur.org · 2026-06-04 |
74.1 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 32 | 🇵🇹 Portugal Golden Visa | €250,000 Arts and cultural-heritage support (fund, company/job creation and scientific research routes from EUR 500,000) aima.gov.pt · 2026-09-28 |
12-18 months in practice aima.gov.pt · 2026-09-28 |
72.5 / 100 | High | Light presence | 2-year cycle | Schengen | Medium | 2026-09-28 | # |
| 33 | 🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos Permanent Residence Index | $300,000 Real estate (US$300k lesser islands / US$1m Providenciales) gov.tc · 2026-09-19 |
Not published | 72.4 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-09-19 | # |
| 34 | 🇦🇪 UAE Golden Visa | AED 2,000,000 Real-estate investment u.ae · 2026-10-01 |
2-3 months u.ae · 2026-10-01 |
71.6 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Regional (Gulf) | Low | 2026-10-02 | # |
| 35 | 🇰🇷 South Korea Investment Immigration Index | KRW 1,000,000,000 Real-estate investment immigration in a designated tourism/leisure zone (F-2 → F-5 after 5 years): KRW 1,000,000,000. The USD figure is an indicative conversion of that KRW statute. ifez.go.kr · 2026-06-04 |
Approximately 3-4 months from complete ifez.go.kr · 2026-06-04 |
71.6 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 36 | 🇫🇯 Fiji Investor Residence Index | FJD 250,000 Investor permit (7-year): FJD 250,000 of capital invested AND MAINTAINED in a Fijian business, statutory, reg 41(3) Immigration Regulations 2007. The 3-year investor permit prescribes no sum at all. ecoi.net · 2026-09-19 |
Unofficial/Mirabello practice estimate: immigration.gov.fj · 2026-06-04 |
71.5 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-09-19 | # |
| 37 | 🇿🇦 South Africa Business Visa Index | ZAR 5,000,000 Active business (ZAR 5m + 60% local staff; DTIC-waivable) dha.gov.za · 2026-06-05 |
No single official time dha.gov.za · 2026-06-05 |
71.5 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-05 | # |
| 38 | 🇲🇪 Montenegro Residence by Investment Index | €150,000 Real-estate residence (tax-assessed value) gov.me · 2026-09-22 |
~40 days gov.me · 2026-09-22 |
71.1 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-10-11 | # |
| 40 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg Investor Residence Index | €500,000 Company investment (real estate excluded) guichet.public.lu · 2026-10-01 |
Not published | 69.2 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Schengen | Medium | 2026-10-01 | # |
| 41 | 🇨🇱 Chile Investor Residence Index | $500,000 Productive investment (InvestChile-sponsored) serviciomigraciones.cl · 2026-06-04 |
Official pages do not publish a fixed serviciomigraciones.cl · 2026-06-04 |
68.2 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 42 | 🇺🇸 USA EB-5 Investor Visa | $800,000 EB-5 Targeted Employment Area investment uscis.gov · 2026-10-13 |
Varies by category, country of birth uscis.gov · 2026-10-13 |
65.9 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-10-13 | # |
| 43 | 🇧🇸 Bahamas Residency by Investment Index | $1,000,000 Real-estate permanent residency immigration.gov.bs · 2026-06-04 |
Mirabello practice/market estimate: immigration.gov.bs · 2026-06-04 |
65.8 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 44 | 🇳🇿 New Zealand Active Investor Plus | NZD 5,000,000 Active investment (Growth category) immigration.govt.nz · 2026-09-18 |
4 months to approval in principle immigration.govt.nz · 2026-09-18 |
65 / 100 | High | Light presence | 3-year cycle | Domestic | Medium | 2026-09-18 | # |
| 45 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Premium Residency | SAR 800,000 Premium Residency, permanent (one-off payment); annual option SAR 100,000 per year pr.gov.sa · 2026-10-01 |
60-90 business days for review pr.gov.sa · 2026-10-01 |
63.9 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Regional (Gulf) | Low | 2026-10-01 | # |
| 46 | 🇶🇦 Qatar Residence by Investment Index | QAR 730,000 Property (QAR 730,000 residence; QAR 3,650,000 adds permanent-residency privileges) moi.gov.qa · 2026-06-04 |
Typically 1-3 months end-to-end moi.gov.qa · 2026-06-04 |
63.6 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Regional (Gulf) | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 47 | 🇵🇭 Philippines SRRV | $15,000 Refundable time deposit, SRRV Classic, age 50+ with a lifetime pension of at least US$800/month. Age 40 to 49 is US$25,000 (pensioner) or US$50,000 (non-pensioner); 50+ without a pension is US$30,000. Covers the principal plus two dependants (US$15,000 each beyond). With PRA approval, the deposit may be converted into a condominium purchase or a long-term lease for personal use, subject to current PRA conditions. The PRA also charges a processing fee on the principal application. A lower-deposit SRRV Courtesy category exists, but it is restricted to former Filipino citizens and specific groups such as retired diplomats, officers of international organisations recognised by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, retired military service members from countries with recognised bilateral relations with the Philippines, and recognised high achievers including philanthropists; it is not an open route. pra.gov.ph · 2026-09-26 |
30 to 45 working days end to end from pra.gov.ph · 2026-09-26 |
63 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Verify | 2026-09-26 | # |
| 48 | 🇻🇳 Vietnam Investor Visa Index | $115,500 ĐT3, capital contribution of VND 3,000,000,000 to under VND 50bn ("vốn góp giá trị từ 03 tỷ đồng đến dưới 50 tỷ đồng", Luật 51/2019/QH14 Điều 8): visa up to 3 years and a temporary residence card up to 3 years. The statutory figure is VND 3bn; the USD amount is an indicative conversion at VND 25,964/USD (18 Sep 2026) and moves with FX. Higher tiers: ĐT2 from VND 50bn (about USD 1.9m, card up to 5 years), ĐT1 from VND 100bn (card up to 10 years). ĐT4, under VND 3bn, gets a visa of up to 1 year and NO residence card. immigration.gov.vn · 2026-06-04 |
Not published | 61.5 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 49 | 🇧🇭 Bahrain Golden Residency Index | BHD 130,000 Property investment (BHD 130,000, stated by NPRA as USD 345,000) goldenresidency.gov.bh · 2026-10-07 |
5 working days for property owners goldenresidency.gov.bh · 2026-06-04 |
61 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Regional (Gulf) | Low | 2026-10-07 | # |
| 50 | 🇨🇿 Czechia Residence for Investment | CZK 75,000,000 Long-term residence for investment (~CZK 75m + ~20 jobs) ipc.gov.cz · 2026-06-04 |
Not published | 60.4 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Schengen | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 51 | 🇴🇲 Oman Golden Visa | OMR 200,000 Investment of OMR 200,000 (real estate, company, bonds, listed shares, fixed deposit or employment creation) omanresidence.gov.om · 2026-06-23 |
3-6 weeks in practice omanresidence.gov.om · 2026-06-23 |
58.9 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 15-year cycle | Regional (Gulf) | Low | 2026-07-01 | # |
| 52 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia Golden Visa | $350,000 Government bonds, listed shares or mutual funds (5-yr) evisa.imigrasi.go.id · 2026-09-26 |
5 working days after the visa fee evisa.imigrasi.go.id · 2026-09-26 |
58.5 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-09-26 | # |
| 53 | 🇦🇩 Andorra Passive Residence | €400,000 Housing Fund (€400k) or €1m Andorran assets govern.ad · 2026-09-26 |
Up to 2 months: the Government of govern.ad · 2026-09-26 |
57.7 / 100 | High | Light presence | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-10-11 | # |
| 55 | 🇸🇬 Singapore Global Investor Programme | SGD 10,000,000 Business investment (Option A, SGD 10m) edb.gov.sg · 2026-06-04 |
Approximately 12 months for a GIP edb.gov.sg · 2026-06-04 |
55.5 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | 5-year cycle | Domestic | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 56 | 🇳🇬 Nigeria Investor Visa Index | $250,000 Investor residence (N3A-N3E tiers) immigration.gov.ng · 2026-06-04 |
, NIS pages state the visa is valid 90 immigration.gov.ng · 2026-06-04 |
52.1 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 57 | 🇷🇼 Rwanda Residence by Investment Index | $250,000 RDB investor permit (PR via ~$500k property / ~$1m project) migration.gov.rw · 2026-06-04 |
Not published | 48.7 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-06-04 | # |
| 58 | 🇹🇼 Taiwan Investment Residence | TWD 15,000,000 Investment (NT$15m) + 5 jobs, or NT$30m government bonds immigration.gov.tw · 2026-09-26 |
No end-to-end timeline is published by immigration.gov.tw · 2026-09-26 |
44 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-09-26 | # |
| 59 | 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands Residence by Investment | KYD 1,000,000 Real estate (25-yr R41 CI$1m; permanent R42 CI$2m) my.egov.ky · 2026-09-22 |
R41: approximately 4 months my.egov.ky · 2026-09-22 |
42.7 / 100 | High | Light presence | 25-year cycle | Domestic | Low | 2026-10-11 | # |
| 60 | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Golden Paradise Residence Visa | $200,000 Minimum deposit in a Golden Paradise Foreign Currency Account (10-yr visa) immigration.gov.lk · 2026-09-26 |
no official processing time published immigration.gov.lk · 2026-09-26 |
41.4 / 100 | High | No minimum stay | Verify | Domestic | Medium | 2026-09-26 | # |
| 61 | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong CIES | HKD 30,000,000 Capital investment (HKD 30m total: HKD 27m permissible assets + HKD 3m CIES Investment Portfolio) newcies.gov.hk · 2026-06-04 |
No single official end-to-end figure is newcies.gov.hk · 2026-06-04 |
38.4 / 100 | High | Verify | Verify | Domestic | Low | 2026-06-04 | # |
Stay requirement is the minimum physical presence to maintain the permit, from official data where published, otherwise shown as Verify. Renewal cycle is the documented permit cadence where stated. Mobility flags Schengen movement, EU membership, Gulf regional access or domestic residence. Tax relevance is a light indicator only, not tax advice, and holding a residence permit does not by itself make you tax-resident. Confidence bands are Mirabello's, from source tier and corroboration.
Residence without relocating
The defining question for a golden visa is how much time you must actually spend in the country to keep the permit. Programmes are grouped below by physical-presence burden, from published official data. Where a figure is not officially published, the entry reads Verify. Each stay figure should be confirmed against the linked official source.
No physical-presence requirement documented to maintain the permit. Suited to a life that stays where it is.
A small number of documented days to maintain the permit. Compatible with a mostly non-resident life.
No prominent physical-presence minimum is officially published. Confirm the current requirement before relying on it.
Stay requirements and renewal rules change and are enforced differently in practice. Treat this grouping as a starting point and confirm against each programme's official source, or discuss it in a private review.
The full record
A factual register of golden-visa programmes that have closed to new applicants or narrowed their routes, each with its official source and last-checked date, alongside programmes tracked for reference. This is a record, not a forecast.
| Status | Programme | Position | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed to new applicants | 🇪🇸 Spain golden visa | Ended for new applicants on 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025, which repealed residence visas and permits for investors, including the real-estate route. Existing holders may have transitional or renewal rights. | La Moncloa (Government of Spain) | 2026-07-05 |
| Closed to new applicants | 🇬🇧 UK Tier 1 (Investor) visa | Closed to new applicants on 17 February 2022. The official page states new Tier 1 (Investor) applications are no longer accepted. Existing holders may have transitional or renewal rights. | gov.uk | 2026-07-05 |
| Closed to new applicants | 🇮🇪 Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) | Closed to new applications from close of business on 15 February 2023. Existing approved projects and applications on hand at closure were unaffected. | gov.ie | 2026-07-05 |
| Closed to new applicants | 🇳🇱 Netherlands investor residence scheme | The admission scheme for foreign investors was abolished on 17 April 2024. A previously obtained permit could still be extended under the prior requirements. | ind.nl | 2026-07-05 |
| Open, route narrowed | 🇵🇹 Portugal golden visa, real-estate route | The real-estate investment route was removed in October 2023 under Law 56/2023 (Mais Habitacao). The programme continues via qualifying funds and other routes, so it remains open with a narrowed set of options. | Diario da Republica, Law 56/2023 | 2026-07-05 |
| Reference | 🇺🇸 USA E-2 Treaty Investor Visa | Tracked for reference, Substantial at-risk investment in a US business (no statutory minimum). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-13 |
| Reference | 🇲🇹 Malta Nomad Residence Permit | Tracked for reference, Digital-nomad residence (income-based, no investment). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-03-20 |
| Reference | 🇲🇹 Malta Retirement Programme | Tracked for reference, Special tax status for pensioners: a pension received in Malta and making up at least 75% of chargeable income, a qualifying home leased from EUR 9,600 a year or bought from EUR 275,000, flat 15% tax with a EUR 7,500 minimum (S.L. 123.134). Proof of pension income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇫🇷 France Long-Stay Visitor Visa and Visitor Residence Card | Tracked for reference, Resources at least equal to the annual net SMIC (EUR 1,477.93 net a month for a single person), health insurance and a sworn statement of no work in France (CESEDA art. L426-20; Service-Public F302). Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇦🇲 Armenia Residency | Tracked for reference, Residence through business activity (no fixed amount published). See the Index entry. | mfa.am | 2026-10-03 |
| Reference | 🇨🇾 Cyprus Category F Permanent Residence | Tracked for reference, Permanent residence for non-EU nationals with a secure annual income from abroad of at least EUR 9,568, plus EUR 4,613 per dependant, and no employment in Cyprus. See the Index entry. | gov.cy | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇺🇸 USA O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa | Tracked for reference, Extraordinary-ability talent visa (no investment). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-13 |
| Reference | 🇺🇸 USA EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card | Tracked for reference, Self-petitioned green card for extraordinary ability (no investment, no job offer). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-13 |
| Reference | 🇺🇸 USA EB-2 National Interest Waiver Green Card | Tracked for reference, Self-petitioned green card with the job-offer requirement waived in the national interest (no investment). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-13 |
| Reference | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Pensioner Residence | Tracked for reference, Foreign pension of at least US$1,500 a month plus US$250 per dependant (Ley 171-07). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-09 |
| Reference | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Rentier Residence | Tracked for reference, Permanent foreign-source income of at least US$2,000 a month for at least 5 years, plus US$250 per dependant (Ley 171-07). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-09 |
| Reference | 🇵🇾 Paraguay Residence for Pensioners | Tracked for reference, Temporary residence of up to 2 years with no financial test (Ley 6984/2022 art. 46), then permanent residence on proof of solvency in the jubilados o pensionados category (Res. DNM 407/2026); no pension minimum is stated. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇺🇸 USA L-1A Intracompany Executive/Manager Visa | Tracked for reference, Transfer of an executive or manager from a related company abroad (no investment threshold). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-13 |
| Reference | 🇧🇷 Brazil VITEM XIV Retiree Visa | Tracked for reference, Retirement income or death pension of at least US$2,000 a month, transferred monthly to Brazil. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-08 |
| Reference | 🇬🇷 Greece Financially Independent Person Residence Permit | Tracked for reference, Stable income at the level set by Joint Ministerial Decision (the figure is not yet confirmed: it has not yet been read on the official gazette site) from a foreign pension or other own means, health insurance and no work in Greece (Law 5038/2023 art. 163 para 8; Joint Ministerial Decision oik. 225679/2024). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇦🇷 Argentina Rentista Residence | Tracked for reference, Rent from own assets of at least five times the Salario Mínimo Vital y Móvil, with the funds for the period requested entering Argentina through BCRA-authorised institutions (Ley 25.871 art. 23 inc. b; Disposición DNM 1732/2023). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇺🇾 Uruguay Residence | Tracked for reference, Residence by income/solvency (no fixed minimum); tax-residency via investment thresholds. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-08 |
| Reference | 🇮🇪 Ireland Stamp 0 Permission for Retirees and Persons of Independent Means | Tracked for reference, Individual income of EUR 50,000 a year plus access to a lump sum, private medical insurance and no access to State benefits; discretionary temporary permission (Immigration Act 2004 s.4; ISD retirement policy). Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇲🇺 Mauritius Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens | Tracked for reference, Age 50+: transfer of US$2,000 within 60 days of permit issue, then at least US$24,000 a year (or US$2,000 a month) to Mauritius (EDB Act First Schedule Part III). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇵🇹 Portugal D7 Passive-Income Visa | Tracked for reference, Residence visa for retirees and people living from passive income: means of at least the national minimum wage (EUR 920 a month in 2026), plus 50% for each further adult and 30% for each child, available in Portugal for 12 months (Portaria 1563/2007 arts. 2 and 5). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇮🇹 Italy Elective Residence Visa | Tracked for reference, Stable non-employment income at the minimum set by the Interior Ministry (the current figure is not yet officially confirmed) (pensions, annuities, property or other income), a dwelling in Italy and no work (Interministerial Decree 850/2011, Annex A point 13; DPR 394/1999 art. 11(1)(c-quater)). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇯🇪 Jersey High-Value Residency | Tracked for reference, No investment: £250,000 minimum ANNUAL tax contribution + qualifying home. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-09-22 |
| Reference | 🇲🇨 Monaco Residence | Tracked for reference, Residence by means (proof of sufficient means held in Monaco; no amount is published; not a fixed investment). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇵🇦 Panama Pensionado Residence | Tracked for reference, Lifetime pension of at least B/. 1,000 a month (plus B/. 250 per dependant; B/. 750 with Panamanian property over B/. 100,000). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-10 |
| Reference | 🇵🇦 Panama Rentista Retirado Residence | Tracked for reference, Monthly income of B/. 850 exclusively from interest on a 5-year fixed-term deposit at Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-10 |
| Reference | 🇬🇹 Guatemala Pensioner and Rentier Residence | Tracked for reference, Permanent foreign-source pension or rent income of at least US$1,250 a month plus US$300 per dependant (Reglamento de Residencias Guatemaltecas, Acuerdo IGM-016-2025 art. 33). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica Pensionado and Rentista Residence | Tracked for reference, Lifetime foreign pension of at least US$1,000 a month (pensionado, Ley 8764 art. 81) or stable income of at least US$2,500 a month proved for two years (rentista, art. 82). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇹🇭 Thailand LTR Visa, Wealthy Pensioner | Tracked for reference, Age 50+: pension or passive income of at least US$80,000 a year, or US$40,000 to under US$80,000 with a US$250,000 Thai investment (BOI Por.3/2568). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Residence Permit, Independent Means | Tracked for reference, Residence Permit under Immigration Regulations reg 24(3), Condition A: a home owned, rented or available, no gainful occupation, and ability to maintain self and dependants; no published income figure. Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇰🇪 Kenya Class K Permit (Ordinary Residents) | Tracked for reference, Age 35+: assured annual income of at least US$24,000 from a pension, annuity or foreign income remitted to Kenya, from sources other than employment or business (Citizenship and Immigration Regulations 2012, reg. 19 and Seventh Schedule, Class K). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇹🇷 Turkey Short-Term Residence Permit (Tourism Purpose) | Tracked for reference, Short-term residence permit on the tourism-purpose ground (Law 6458 art. 31(1)(e); Regulation art. 28(10)) with proof of means equal to one net monthly minimum wage (TRY 28,075.50 in 2026); Turkey has no dedicated retiree permit. Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇵🇪 Peru Rentista Residence | Tracked for reference, Retirement pension or permanent income of at least US$1,000 net a month (DL 1350 art. 29; Reglamento DS 007-2017-IN arts. 92 and 92-A). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇹🇭 Thailand Non-Immigrant O-A and O-X Retirement Visas | Tracked for reference, Age 50 or over: THB 65,000 a month of income, THB 800,000 in the bank, or a combination totalling THB 800,000 for the one-year O-A, or THB 3,000,000 in a Thai bank for the O-X (5 + 5 years, 14 listed nationalities) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa rules). Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇳🇦 Namibia Permanent Residence for Retirees (s. 26, no dedicated retirement permit) | Tracked for reference, No dedicated retirement permit: retirees apply for discretionary permanent residence under s. 26 of the Immigration Control Act 7 of 1993, decided by the Immigration Selection Board on 'sufficient means' with no amount published. No capital or property is required (High Court, 5 December 2024). Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇰🇭 Cambodia ER Retirement Visa (Extension of Stay) | Tracked for reference, Extension of stay on an E-class visa for retirees, generally aged 55 or over, with proof of retirement and of sufficient funds; no amount is stated (MFAIC guidance, Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Berlin). Proof of retirement and funds, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇭🇳 Honduras Pensioner and Rentier Residence | Tracked for reference, Pension from abroad of at least US$1,500 a month (pensionado) or income of at least US$2,500 a month (rentista), received through a Honduran financial institution (Ley de Migración y Extranjería arts. 23 and 24). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇨🇱 Chile Residence for Retirees and Rentistas | Tracked for reference, Retirement pension, or regular income from real estate or financial assets, enough to cover basic needs in Chile; no fixed amount is published (Ley 21.325 art. 70 num. 12; Decreto Supremo 177 of 2022 arts. 53 to 59). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria Pensioner Residence Permit | Tracked for reference, Prolonged residence permit for a person entitled to a pension, issued for up to one year at a time (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act art. 24(1) item 10); no fixed income figure is stated. Proof of a pension, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇹🇳 Tunisia Residence Card for Retired Foreigners | Tracked for reference, Residence card for retired foreigners on an attestation of the regular transfer of a pension or other income; no amount, validity or legal reference is stated on the government portal sheet (idaraty.tn). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇸🇲 San Marino Atypical Residence for Pensioners | Tracked for reference, Gross income of at least EUR 120,000 a year and EUR 300,000 of the applicant's own movable assets held in San Marino banks, with a 6% flat substitute tax on pension income for ten years (Law 118/2010 art. 16-quater; Law 64/2025 art. 2). Proof of income and assets, not a payment to the State. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇲🇦 Morocco Visitor Card for Retirees (no dedicated retirement visa) | Tracked for reference, No dedicated retirement visa: retirees are understood to use the visitor registration card (Law 02-03 art. 13), which asks for proof of own resources with no amount or income type stated. Foreign pensions transferred in dirhams get a 70% then 40% abatement and an 80% reduction of the tax due (CGI arts. 60 and 76). Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇪🇸 Spain Non-Lucrative Residence | Tracked for reference, Periodic income of 400% of the IPREM (the 2026 euro amounts are not yet officially confirmed) or funds for the whole period of the authorisation, health insurance and no work in Spain (Real Decreto 1155/2024 arts. 61 to 64). Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇧🇿 Belize Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) Programme | Tracked for reference, Retirement income from outside Belize of at least US$2,000 a month (US$24,000 a year) for people aged 40 or over, deposited in a Belize bank (Retired Persons (Incentives) Act, Cap. 62, ss.3 and 4, as amended by Act No. 13 of 2023). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇧🇧 Barbados Immigrant Status for Retirement | Tracked for reference, Permission to become an immigrant for a person who desires to reside in retirement and has sufficient means of support (Immigration Act, Cap. 190, s.6(1)(d)); no income figure is published. Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇦🇼 Aruba Pensioner and Rentier Residence | Tracked for reference, Guaranteed pension or annuity of at least Afl. 50,000 a year, or Afl. 100,000 for a rentier (rental income, or a bank balance or investments), from an eligible country (Landsverordening toelating en uitzetting art. 7; Handbook Toelating 2023 section 1.1.4). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇿🇦 South Africa Retired Person Visa | Tracked for reference, Pension, irrevocable annuity, retirement account or assets realising at least the prescribed monthly amount (official sources differ on the current figure) (Immigration Act 13 of 2002 ss20 and 27(e); Government Notice 451 of 3 June 2014). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇦🇪 UAE Retirement Residence Visa | Tracked for reference, Age 55+ or 15 years of service: fixed annual income of AED 240,000, or property of AED 1 million, or a deposit of AED 1 million (Cabinet Resolution 65/2022 art 52). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-08 |
| Reference | 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein Residence | Tracked for reference, No formal investment scheme, quota/lottery or discretionary residence. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-06-05 |
| Reference | 🇨🇴 Colombia M-Pensionado Visa | Tracked for reference, Lifetime pension of at least 3 monthly minimum wages (COP 5,252,715 a month in 2026). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-08 |
| Reference | 🇳🇿 New Zealand Retirement Visas (Temporary Retirement Visitor, Parent Retirement Resident) | Tracked for reference, Age 66+ Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa: NZD 750,000 invested in New Zealand for 2 years, NZD 500,000 for the stay and income of at least NZD 60,000 a year; Parent Retirement Resident Visa: NZD 1,000,000 invested for 4 years, NZD 500,000 settlement funds, the same income and an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident (Immigration New Zealand visa pages). Capital locked in New Zealand, not an income-only route. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇱🇻 Latvia Pensioner Residence Permit | Tracked for reference, Temporary residence permit of up to 2 years for a person who has reached Latvian pension age, has sufficient regular income and comes from a visa-waiver country (Immigration Law Section 27(1) item 34, in force from 15 Sep 2026). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇮🇩 Indonesia Elderly Second Home Visa (E33E, 5 years) | Tracked for reference, Age 55 or over: income or allowance of at least US$3,000 a month plus US$50,000 held in an own-name account at a state-owned bank, no sponsor (Permenkumham 22/2023 Arts. 33(2)(j)(4) and 62, as amended by 11/2024). Proof of means, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇮🇩 Indonesia Elderly Second Home Visa (E33F, 1 year) | Tracked for reference, Income or allowance of at least US$3,000 a month and an Indonesian sponsor, no deposit (Permenkumham 22/2023 Arts. 33(2)(j)(4) and 61, as amended by 11/2024). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇫🇯 Fiji Residence Permit on Assured Income | Tracked for reference, Age 45 or over, retired or living on a pension, assets or income outside Fiji, with no work in Fiji; the Ministry of Immigration issues six months first and the balance of up to three years on a remittance of FJD 100,000 and/or a property purchase (Immigration Regulations 2007 regs 48 to 50). Proof of means with a remittance or property condition, not a business investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇪🇨 Ecuador Pensioner and Rentier Residence (Jubilado and Rentista) | Tracked for reference, Foreign retirement pension (Jubilado) or lawful income (Rentista) of at least three times the unified basic salary, USD 1,446 a month in 2026, plus USD 250 a month for each person covered (Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana art. 60 nums. 2 and 3; Reglamento arts. 63 and 65). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇨🇼 Curaçao Penshonado Retiree Residence | Tracked for reference, Age 50 or over: a retired or rentier residence permit plus the penshonado tax election, which requires a home in Curaçao worth at least NAf 450,000 (about US$251,400) used as the holder's own (Landsverordening op de inkomstenbelasting 1943 arts. 23B to 23E; Landsverordening toelating en uitzetting). Needs a qualifying home, so not income proof alone. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇦🇱 Albania Pensioner Residence Permit | Tracked for reference, Residence permit for pensioners with an annual pension income at the threshold of Council of Ministers Decision 858/2021 (its wording varies, so the figure is not yet officially confirmed) (Law 79/2021 On Foreigners art. 85; Council of Ministers Decision 858/2021, whose wording on the threshold varies). Proof of a pension, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇺🇸 USA E-1 Treaty Trader Visa | Tracked for reference, Substantial trade, more than 50% between the US and the treaty country (no investment threshold). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-13 |
| Reference | 🇨🇭 Switzerland (Lump-Sum Taxation) | Tracked for reference, Residence by lump-sum (expenditure-based) taxation. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇧🇸 Bahamas Annual Permit to Reside | Tracked for reference, Annual Permit to Reside under Immigration Act s.30(1)(a): residence only, no gainful occupation, ability to maintain self and dependants. Hold: the Immigration Department publishes no retiree or independent-means category and no income threshold (page read 11 October 2026). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu Self-Funded Residence Visa | Tracked for reference, Income certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu of at least VUV 250,000 a month (VUV 500,000 with a spouse or de facto partner), plus a refundable immigration bond (Immigration Act No. 17 of 2010 s.30; Regulation 15 form). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇦🇹 Austria Financially-Independent Residence | Tracked for reference, Quota residence by passive income (no fixed investment). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-09-18 |
| Reference | 🇬🇮 Gibraltar Category 2 Residence | Tracked for reference, HNWI tax-status residence (£2m net worth + capped tax; £5,000 application fee). See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
| Reference | 🇧🇭 Bahrain Golden Residency for Retirees | Tracked for reference, Retirement pension of at least BHD 4,000 a month, or BHD 2,000 a month after 15 years of work in Bahrain (Decision of the Minister of Interior No. 20 of 2022, art. 1). Proof of income, not an investment. See the Index entry. | Index entry | 2026-10-11 |
Closed programmes generally do not affect existing holders, who may have transitional or renewal rights, but the exact position is programme-specific. Confirm against the linked official source before acting.
One clarification
Holding a residence permit does not, by itself, make you tax-resident in that country. Tax residence follows each country's own day-count and personal-ties rules, which are separate from the immigration permit. Some countries operate special regimes for new residents, and these change: treat any figure as needing confirmation and verify against the linked official source. The Tax relevance column in the ranked table is a light indicator only.
Find your shortlist
Four choices narrow the ranked programmes to an indicative route. This is a starting point for a conversation, not a recommendation.
Indicative starting point: 🇨🇾 Cyprus Permanent Residency
€300,000, New residential property (plus VAT), other real estate, Cyprus company shares or a Cyprus investment fund · Index composite 85.6 / 100 · verified 2026-10-01
Indicative only, from the ranked dataset. A golden visa is a renewable residence permit, not a passport, and citizenship, where a route exists, comes only after years of lawful residence. Confirm any figure against the linked official source.
How this is ranked
Each programme is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions, combined into a weighted composite. Where a dimension has no verified data it is excluded and the remaining weights are re-normalized (see data_completeness). Index weights: cost 22% · mobility 22% · speed 16% · path 15% · stability 13% · family 7% · tax 5%. Full method on the Mirabello Investment Migration Index.
Dataset: the Mirabello Investment Migration Index, 2026 Q4 Edition, machine-readable at /index.json and /mirabello-index.csv.
The process
Model the full cost on each programme page's calculator.
Questions
No. A golden visa is a renewable residence permit, not a passport. It can allow the investor and family to live in the country and, for Schengen programmes, to travel within the Schengen area. Citizenship is never automatic.
This 2026 Q4 Edition tracks 59 ranked, active residency-by-investment programmes. Spain, the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands have closed their investor routes to new applicants, and Portugal removed its real-estate route while the programme continues via funds. See the status register for each official source.
23 of the ranked programmes document no minimum physical-presence requirement to maintain the permit, including Cyprus Permanent Residency. Stay rules change and are enforced differently in practice, so confirm against the official source.
Among the ranked programmes, the Schengen-area movers are Malta Global Residence Programme (GRP), Malta Permanent Residence (MPRP), Greece Golden Visa, Slovenia Business Residence, Italy Investor Visa, Latvia Golden Visa. A residence permit allows visa-free movement within the Schengen area; it is not a right to settle in another Schengen country.
Some programmes publish a route to citizenship after years of lawful residence, subject to physical presence, language, integration and good-character rules. Among the ranked programmes, Cyprus Permanent Residency carries one of the clearest published routes. A published route is years-long and never guaranteed, and the rules can change.
Not by itself. Tax residence follows each country’s own day-count and personal-ties rules, separate from the immigration permit. Take tax positions only with a qualified adviser and verify current rules against official sources.
A confidential, no-obligation conversation with Vito Magagnino and the Mirabello team, in your language.
Book a free consultation WhatsApp usMirabello Consultancy provides comparative research and advisory services. This page is information, not legal, tax or immigration advice, and there is no universal best programme. A golden visa is a renewable residence permit, not a passport. Figures are indicative and change; verify against the linked official source before acting.