For families considering a second residency, education is becoming one of the most important factors in the final decision. Accordingly, Get Golden Visa’s data shows that inquiries involving children below school age increased 41% between late 2024 and 2026.
A GEMS Education survey in 2025 also found that one in three planned to move abroad within the next few years, and 32% cited education as a top priority before deciding to move. Similarly, a Harris Poll for International Citizens Insurance, released in February 2025, found that 20% of Americans considering a move abroad were drawn by high-quality, affordable schooling.
In other words, education is no longer a secondary benefit of a Golden Visa. For many families, it is reshaping which country they choose in the first place. In this guide, we compare six Golden Visa and residency by investment destinations with strong education options.
Best Golden Visa Countries for Education at a Glance
Country
Minimum Investment Route
Leading Universities
Education Advantage
Greece
€250,000 (conversion projects)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Established international schools in Athens
Portugal
€500,000 (investment fund)
University of Lisbon, University of Porto, University of Coimbra
Wide choice of British, American and IB schools in Lisbon and Porto
Italy
€250,000 (innovative startup)
University of Bologna, Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza University of Rome
Globally recognized universities and English-taught degrees
Malta
€375,000 property purchase or €14,000 annual rent
University of Malta
English is an official language, British-style system
Latvia
€50,000 (company share capital)
University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Rīga Stradiņš University
English-taught programs at a lower cost of living
Hungary
€250,000 (real estate fund)
Semmelweis University, Eötvös Loránd University
Strong medical schools
1. Greece: Academic Heritage With an Accessible Property Route
Greece combines one of Europe’s oldest academic traditions with its most accessible Golden Visa program. For families who want a European base without relocating immediately, it offers a practical balance.
Education in Greece
Greek public education is free for residents from primary school through university. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, founded in 1837, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki are the country’s largest institutions, and a growing number of programs are now taught in English.
For international families, Athens has a well-established private school scene. Schools offering the International Baccalaureate (IB), British, and American curricula are concentrated in the northern and southern suburbs, including areas popular with Golden Visa investors.
Greece’s higher education landscape is also changing. Regulatory changes introduced in 2024 opened the door for foreign universities to operate in Greece through partnership structures. Universities such as the Sorbonne and the University of Essex are accelerating their positioning efforts, with licensing processes for future operations being actively discussed.
The Greek Golden Visa Route
The Greece Golden Visa grants a renewable five-year residence permit through real estate investment. Thresholds depend on location and property type:
- €800,000 in high-demand areas such as Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini
- €400,000 in other regions
- €250,000 for commercial-to-residential conversions or the restoration of listed buildings
The permit covers your spouse, children under 21, and both sets of parents. There is no minimum stay requirement, so your children can begin school in Greece whenever your family is ready.
Greece also offers a planning advantage that many families overlook. Because the Greece Golden Visa program does not restrict the age of parents included in an application, families can make their child the main applicant and include themselves under the child’s application. This helps protect the child’s residency status beyond dependency age, when they would otherwise no longer qualify as a family member. For this reason, it has become a key factor in choosing Greece: among single-child families, Get Golden Visa has seen applications structured around long-term planning for the child increase by 35-40%.
2. Portugal: The Most Established Choice for International Families
Portugal has long been a favorite among relocating families, and its education options are a large part of that appeal. It combines historic public universities with one of Southern Europe’s widest selections of international schools.
Education in Portugal
The University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The University of Lisbon and the University of Porto are the country’s largest research universities, with strong programs in engineering, business and medicine.
Lisbon, Cascais and Porto host a broad mix of British, American, French, German and IB schools. The Algarve also has several English-language schools serving its international community. This choice means families can often keep their children in a familiar curriculum after moving.
The Portugal Golden Visa Route
The Portugal Golden Visa no longer accepts real estate investments, but several qualifying routes remain open:
- €500,000 subscription to a qualifying investment fund
- €500,000 in research and development activities
- €500,000 in an existing Portuguese company, creating at least five full-time jobs for three years
- €250,000 contribution to national heritage or artistic production, reduced to €200,000 in low-density areas
Dependent children can be included in the application. With a low physical-presence requirement, families can secure residency first and decide later when their children will start school in Portugal. Following recent nationality reforms, the path to citizenship now takes ten years.
3. Italy: World-Renowned Universities and a Startup-Based Route
Italy offers some of the most recognized names in European higher education. For families with children approaching university age, it can be one of the strongest choices on this list.
Education in Italy
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is widely regarded as the oldest university in the Western world. Today, Italy’s academic profile also includes Politecnico di Milano for engineering, architecture and design, Sapienza University of Rome, and Bocconi University for economics and business.
Many Italian universities now offer full degree programs in English, particularly at master’s level. Public university fees are also typically far lower than in the UK or US. For younger children, Milan, Rome and Florence have established international schools offering IB, British and American curricula.
The Italy Golden Visa Route
The Italy Investor Visa offers four investment options:
- €250,000 in an Italian innovative startup
- €500,000 in an Italian limited company
- €1 million philanthropic donation in areas such as education, culture or research
- €2 million in Italian government bonds
Your spouse and dependent children can join you through family reunification. Italy does not offer a real estate route, but investors can still purchase property separately.
For high-net-worth families, Italy’s flat tax regime may also be relevant. New residents can pay a fixed €300,000 per year on foreign income, with each family member added for €50,000.
4. Malta: English-Language Education With Permanent Residency
Malta stands out for one simple reason: English is an official language. For English-speaking families, this removes one of the biggest challenges of moving children into a new school system.
Education in Malta
Malta’s education system is modeled closely on the British system, with O-Level and A-Level-style qualifications (known locally as SEC and MATSEC) taught largely in English. State education is free, and church and independent schools add further choice for international families.
The University of Malta, whose roots date back to 1592, offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in English. Several international schools also offer British and IB curricula. Therefore, it becomes easier for students to transition later to universities in the UK, Europe, or North America.
The Malta Permanent Residence Program
Rather than a temporary residency permit, Malta Golden Visa offers direct permanent residency. The main requirements include:
- Purchasing a property worth at least €375,000, or renting one for at least €14,000 per year, held for five years
- A non-refundable administration fee of €60,000
- A government contribution of €37,000
- A €2,000 donation to a registered Maltese NGO
- Proof of €500,000 in capital, including €150,000 in financial assets
This brings the minimum total to around €169,000 through the rental option or €474,000 through property purchase, before professional fees.
5. Latvia: Affordable, English-Taught Education in the Baltics
Latvia is often overlooked, but it offers families a quality European education at a noticeably lower cost of living than Western Europe. Its residency framework, however, changed significantly in 2026.
Education in Latvia
Riga is the country’s education hub. The University of Latvia, Riga Technical University and Rīga Stradiņš University all offer degree programs in English. Rīga Stradiņš University is particularly popular with international students in medicine and health sciences.
For school-age children, Riga has several international schools offering IB and English-language curricula. Latvia’s EU membership also means that degrees earned there are recognized across the bloc.
The Latvia Golden Visa Route After the 2026 Reform
Latvia’s new Immigration Law took effect on September 15, 2026. The €250,000 real estate route and the €280,000 bank deposit route are no longer available for new applications. The remaining options for Latvia Investor Visa are:
- €50,000 in the share capital of a Latvian company with up to 50 employees and turnover of no more than €10 million, plus a €10,000 state fee. The company must pay at least €40,000 in annual taxes.
- €100,000 in a larger company, with at least €100,000 in annual tax contributions
- €150,000 through a state-established alternative investment fund, held for five years, plus a €10,000 state fee
The fund route is not yet operational, as the required state fund has not been created.
6. Hungary: Medical Excellence and a Direct Link to Higher Education
Hungary is the only country on this list where one of the Golden Visa routes is dedicated specifically to supporting universities. It is also one of Central Europe’s most popular destinations for international students.
Education in Hungary
Budapest’s Semmelweis University is one of Europe’s best-known medical schools, with full programs taught in English and German. Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics add strong options in sciences, humanities, and engineering.
Tuition and living costs are typically lower than in Western Europe, which helps explain why thousands of international students choose Hungary each year.
The Hungary Golden Visa Route
Hungary launched its Guest Investor Residence Permit on March 1, 2024. The real estate option was removed on January 15, 2025, leaving two routes:
- €250,000 investment in a qualifying real estate investment fund
- €1 million non-refundable donation to a public trust supporting Hungarian higher education, research, or the arts
The permit under the Hungary Golden Visa is valid for 10 years and renewable for a further 10. You can include your spouse and children under 18, and after 3 years of residence you may apply for permanent residency.
How to Choose the Right Golden Visa Country for Your Children’s Education
The best country depends less on rankings and more on your children’s age, language, and long-term plans. A few practical questions can help narrow the choice:
- Language: If your children study in English and you want the smoothest transition, Malta is the clearest fit. Portugal and Greece offer the widest choice of English-language private schools.
- Age: For families with university-age children, Italy’s historic universities and Hungary’s English-taught medical programs stand out. For younger children, international school availability matters more.
- Citizenship Path: If your main aim is citizenship, Portugal Golden Visa stands out for its minimum residency requirements. Other Golden Visa countries do not offer direct access to citizenship. They require full-time residency and other legal requirements.
- Budget: Latvia offers the lowest headline investment and cost of living, but its company route carries ongoing tax requirements.
- Timing: Programs are changing quickly. Latvia ended its property route in September 2026, Hungary removed real estate in 2025, and Greece has announced higher transfer taxes for 2027.
Get Golden Visa: Who We Are and How We Can Help You
Get Golden Visa is a bespoke global mobility advisory firm helping investors and families explore residency and citizenship options around the world since 2014.
If education is shaping your family’s next move, contact our team to discuss your priorities and explore the options that may be suitable for you.
Frequently Asked Questions on Golden Visa Countries with the Best Education
Can my children attend public schools with a Golden Visa?
In most of these countries, children holding legal residence can enroll in the public school system. However, lessons are usually taught in the local language. That’s why many families choose international schools, at least initially.
Do Golden Visa holders pay local university fees?
Fee policies vary by country and institution. Residence may help in some cases, but EU-citizen fee rates are not always available to non-EU residents. It is worth confirming with each university before applying.
Which country is best for English-speaking families?
Malta is the strongest option, as English is an official language and the school system follows the British model. Portugal, Italy, and Greece also offer a wide range of English-language international schools.
Can I include my children in my Golden Visa application?
All six countries allow you to include dependent children, although age limits differ. Greece covers children under 21, while Malta and Hungary include children under 18, with conditions for older dependents.
Get Golden Visa is an independent residency and citizenship advisory firm. We do not provide investment, financial, legal or tax advice. Information in this article is for informational purposes only.
