There are several options for citizenship by investment or residency by investment around the world. Each program has its advantages and disadvantages, sometimes making it difficult to choose among them. There is no “one size fits all” solution. It ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.
As citizenship by investment schemes become more and more popular, new residency by investment programs emerge. This makes the market more competitive and increases the variety. In this article, we’re going to explain what a Golden Visa is and the top 20 countries offering this scheme.
What You Will Find in this Article
What is a Golden Visa?
A Golden Visa is a permit that allows individuals and their dependent family members to get residency in a country. Today, many European countries offer Golden Visa programs to individuals who are looking to get residency, and eventually even citizenship.
Although the required investment amounts vary, Golden Visa schemes are typically based on real estate acquisition, investment fund subscription, capital transfer, or donation. Once you decide on your investment type, you can start your application process as the main applicant.
Most Golden Visa programs allow family inclusion, which means that you’re able to include your immediate family members. Some countries also allow the inclusion of grandparents and parents-in-law.
What makes the Golden Visa so attractive is that it doesn’t require you to move to the country where you’re getting a Golden Visa. If you have business interests in your home country and are planning to get a Golden Visa just as a “Plan B”, note that you can keep your status only by visiting the country on a required frequency.
Golden Visa schemes might lead to citizenship depending on the country’s residency requirements. In some countries, it’s five years, such as Portugal. In some countries, you might be eligible only after several years of full-time residency.
Type: Residency by Investment
Minimum Investment Amount: €500,000
Application Process: 6+ months
Type: Residency by Investment
Minimum Investment Amount: €250,000
Application Process: 2-3 months
Type: Citizenship by Investment
Minimum Investment Amount: €690,000
Application Process: 6-8 months
Type: Residency by Investment
Minimum Investment Amount: €500,000
Application Process: 2-3 months
Type: Citizenship by Investment
Minimum Investment Amount: €400,000
Application Process: 3-4 months
Benefits of Golden Visas
There are various advantages of getting a golden visa, including;
- New business opportunities
- European citizenship eligibility
- Educational opportunities
- Residency rights
The benefits are explained further below based on each program’s unique features.
Golden Visa Program Requirements
Countries with a Golden Visa scheme have their own set of requirements. However, there are some basic requirements such as:
- Having a clean criminal record
- Proving that you’ll use your own funds to make the investment
- Keeping the investment for a certain period of time (time may vary depending on the country)
- Demonstrating that you’ve acquired your funds legally
Some countries might require you to show that you have a certain amount of net worth, separate from the amount you’re going to invest.
How to Get a Golden Visa
The first step in the Golden Visa application is to decide on your investment criteria. While real estate acquisition is the most popular route, the capital transfer is getting a lot of attention, too. Some Golden Visa schemes also include options such as fund investment, job creation, and donation.
Once you decide on your investment criteria, you can start your application. The processing time for a Golden Visa is two to nine months.
If you’re planning to make a Golden Visa application, it’s wise to speak to professionals before you commit any funds or make an investment.
Get in Contact
Golden Visa Application Process
The application process for each Golden Visa program differs. However, there are some steps that each program requires. We’ve prepared the below table to give you an understanding of the application process.
You speak to Golden Visa experts and lawyers to have a better understanding of the process.
Depending on your needs and criteria, you choose your investment type.
You prepare all the documents and submit them to your lawyer.
The authorities check your eligibility for the program.
After providing biometrics, you receive your first residence card.
Depending on the program, you apply for renewal after one to five years.
If your chosen program is a residency by investment scheme, you can be eligible for citizenship after a certain period of time.
Top 20 Countries Offering Golden Visa Programs
The application process for each Golden Visa program differs. However, there are some steps that each program requires.
You can explore the popular Golden Visa programs below:
1. Portugal Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: €200,000 (cultural donation in low-density areas)
- Residency: 5 years
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 5 years
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 8-12 Months
Portugal Golden Visa program, also known as Portugal Residency by Investment program, launched in 2012, is one of the most popular residency by investment programs in Europe. Provided that you’re not a European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland citizen, you can apply for the program through a qualifying investment in Portugal.
The qualifying investments for the Portugal Golden Visa:
- Portugal Golden Visa Fund option with a minimum fund investment of €500,000
- Creation of a minimum of 10 full-time jobs in a registered Portuguese company, €500,000
- An investment of €500,000 to R&D within Portugal
- A minimum donation of €250,000 to national heritage, arts, or culture
Benefits of Portugal Golden Visa
- You get the right to live and work in Portugal
- You can travel visa-free within the Schengen Area
- If you meet the requirements, you can be eligible to apply for European citizenship in 5 years counting down from your first residency application, regardless of approval
- You can add your family members to the program, thanks to family reunification
- You’re only required to stay in Portugal only seven days per year to keep your Golden Visa
- Portugal offers an affordable lifestyle compared to many European countries and the USList Item
- You get the opportunity to invest in an EU country with high potential
2. Greece Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: €250,000 (property investment)
- Residency: 5 years
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 7 years (requiring full-time residency)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 6-9 Months
Launched in July 2013, the Greek Golden Visa program grants a five-year residency visa through an investment in the country. If you’re above the age of 18, a non-EU citizen, and have a clean criminal record, you can apply for the program.
The qualifying investments for the Greek Golden Visa
- €250,000 investment in Greek real estate, as long as you convert commercial properties into residential use or restore registered buildings, no matter the location or size
- A minimum €400,000 by purchasing a property in Greece in rural areas or in less densely populated cities and islands, in case your investment is in a single property of at least 120 m2
- A minimum €800,000, by purchasing property in Athens, Thessaloniki, and islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants
Benefits of Greece Golden Visa
- You get the right to visa-free travel within all Schengen Area countries
- You get the right to live in Greece
- You can access public health services and the education system in Greece
- You’re required to make a low investment compared to the other golden visa programs in Europe
- You can add your spouse, children, parents, and parents-in-law
- You’re not required to stay in Greece to keep the Golden Visa
A five-year residency visa is granted, and it’s renewed every five years, as long as the property investment is sustained. Greek citizenship can only be granted after seven years of residency in the country. The application process for the Greece Golden Visa takes some time, and it depends on many reasons.
3. Italy Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: €250,000 (Start-Up investment)
- Residency: 2 years
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 10 years (requiring full-time residency)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 3-4 Months
The Italy Golden Visa program is also known as the “Investor Visa for Italy.” The Italian government first introduced its residency program in 2017 for the promotion of foreign direct investment. Non-EU nationals can apply for the Italy Golden Visa offers to obtain a residence visa through the required investment in Italy. The residence permit is granted for two years, and after renewal, the validity is three years.
The qualifying investments for Italy Golden Visa:
- Italian government bonds: €2 million investment
- Italian limited company: €500,000 investment
- Italian innovative startup: €250,000 investment
- Philanthropic initiative in Italy: €1 million donations
Benefits of Italy Golden Visa
- Eligibility of Italian citizenship after 10 years of residency
- Chance to benefit from a special tax regime
- Access to free travel within the Schengen Zone
- Opportunity to include your family in your application
- Right to work for you and your family in Italy
- The advantage of the Italian National public healthcare
4. Hungary Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: €250,000 (Fund investment)
- Residency: 10 years
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 8 years (requiring full-time residency)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 4-6 Months
You can apply for Hungary Golden Visa to get a long-term residency permit with a 10-year validity. Also called a Guest Investor Residence Permit, this program lets you upgrade your residency permit to permanent residency if you live in Hungary full-time for five years. Plus, you can also be eligible for citizenship after 8 years of legal residence.
The qualifying investments for the Hungarian Golden Visa
- Real Estate Investment Fund of €250,000
- Non-refundable Public Trust Donation of €1 million
Benefits of Hungary Golden Visa
- European residency is a fast option among other European residency programs.
- The life-long residency that you only need to renew every ten years.
- Travel freedom with visa-free access to the countries in the EU Schengen zone.
- The flexibility of having no residency requirement.
- Tax advantage with no tax obligation if you are not a resident.
5. Cyprus Golden Visa Program
- Minimum investment: €300,000 (Real estate investment)
- Residency: Permanent Residence
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 8 years (requiring full-time residency)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 4-6 Months
To benefit from the quickest and most assured path to European residency through Cyprus Golden Visa, applicants need to invest €300,000 in real estate along with proof of a source income of at least €50,000. Then, they can get their permanent residence within a few months. However, you can only include your application for your spouse and children. So, it does not permit you to include your grandparents, unlike other programs.
Once achieved, a passport from Cyprus allows its holder to work, travel, study, and live anywhere in the EU. The citizen can have visa-free access to countries like Germany, France, and the UK.
The available investment options are:
- €300,000 in a commercial or residential property
- €300,000 to the capital share of the Cypriot company
- €300,000 to the Cyprus Collective Investment Organization.
Benefits of Cyprus Golden Visa
- It gives permanent residency rights, rather than temporary residence.
- You can travel freely across the Schengen Area as a Cyprus Golden Visa holder.
- Cyprus does not impose heavy taxes on investors, making it one of the most tax-friendly countries in Europe.
6. Latvia Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: €50,000 (Business investment)
- Residency: 10 years
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 10 years (requiring full-time residency)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 1-3 Months
Compared to other Golden Visa programs in Europe, Latvia offers the cheapest minimum investment amount for residency. Although it is a residency-by-investment program, applicants can apply for citizenship after 10 years of legal residence in Latvia. At this point, it is important to note that to hold your Latvia Golden Visa, there are no minimum stay requirements. However, if your aim is to get citizenship, you must legally reside in Latvia for 10 years.
Accordingly, the program also offers the following investment routes for investors:
- Minimum €250,000 for a real estate purchase
- Minimum €50,000 investment in a Latvian company with fewer than 50 employees and an annual income of €10,000
- Minimum €100,000 for a Latvian company with more than 50 employees and an annual income of over €10,000
- €280,000 in a Latvian bank for a fixed term of five years
- €250,000 worth of Latvian government bonds
Benefits of Latvia Golden Visa
- It is the most affordable Golden Visa program in Europe.
- You can freely travel in the Schengen Area via the Latvia Golden Visa and can stay up to 90 days in 180 days.
7. Bulgaria Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: €512,000 (Fund Investment)
- Residency: Permanent residence
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 5 years (but requires revoking your other citizenship)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 8-9 months
Launched in 2023, Bulgarian Golden Visa offers permanent residency by investment in exchange for a €512,000 fund investment. The rules are simple: Invest one of the AIF or EFT funds, keep it for 5 years to keep your permanent residency status. Thus, you can visit the Schengen Area without any visa requirements. Plus, you can also get citizenship after 5 years, but you must be ready to revoke your citizenship.
8. Swiss Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: CHF 200,000 (lump sum tax)
- Residency: 1 year
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Available after 10-12 years (requiring full-time residency)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: up to 5 months
The Swiss Golden Visa was introduced in 2008 as a residency-by-investment program. Accordingly, you can apply through two options: Swiss residency by lump sum tax and the entrepreneurial investor scheme.
The Swiss tax arrangement requires individuals to pay an annual flat tax of CHF 200,000 to CHF 600,000. On the other hand, the Swiss Entrepreneurial Investor Scheme allows individuals to gain residency by starting a business or investing at least CHF 1 million in Switzerland, promoting job creation.
9. UAE Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: AED 2,000,000 (real estate investment)
- Residency: 5-10 years
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Only through exceptional merit
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 1 to 3 months
Compared to Golden Visa programs in the EU, the UAE Golden Visa aims to give residency rights to special talents for 5 to 10 years. This residency visa mostly focuses on attracting special talents, along with investors who bring capital to the UAE economy.
The process starts by getting an entry visa. Then you need to make a minimum AED 2 million real estate investment, along with submitting your application documents. The process generally takes around 3 months. After that, you can benefit from your long-term residency status for around 5-10 years.
10. Luxembourg Golden Visa
- Minimum investment: €500,000 (business investment)
- Residency: 3 years
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Yes, after 5 years(requiring full-time residency)
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 3-6 Months
Among the EU Golden Visa programs, Luxembourg stands out with its variety of investment options. The minimum investment amount starts from €500,000 for a business with a registered Luxembourg office. Additionally, you can also invest the same amount in an upcoming business, too, by creating 5-full full-time jobs.
On the other hand, you can also contribute €3 million to a management or investment structure. Similarly, you can prefer to make a €20 million deposit into a Luxembourg financial institution under the Luxembourg Golden Visa framework.
11. Malta Citizenship by Investment Program
- Minimum investment: €600,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 12 to 18 months
Malta’s Citizenship by Investment Program is a scheme aimed mainly at high-net-worth individuals. Also known as the Malta Individual Investor Programme (MIIP), the program requires a minimum contribution of €600,000 to the national development fund set up by the government. In addition, you’ll be required to invest €10,000 in government-approved financial instruments and commit to the purchase or rent of a property in Malta for five years.
The property value for purchased real estate needs to be a minimum of €700,000. After one year of residency, you can apply for Maltese citizenship and obtain a European passport. A Maltese citizen can live, study, and work anywhere in the EU.
Malta also has a separate residency program. The investment amount is much more affordable; however, note that it doesn’t lead to Maltese citizenship.
The qualifying investments for Malta Citizenship by Investment
- Property purchase in Malta that is to be held for a minimum of five years and worth a minimum of €700,000
- A residential lease agreement for 5 years, signed with a minimum annual value of €16,000
- Donation Requirement
- Contribution of €600,000 from the main applicant, with a requirement of 36 months of residence
- Contribution of €10,000 to an organization that has received Community Malta Agency approval
- Contribution of €750,000 from the main applicant, with a requirement of 12 months of residency
- Contribution of €10,000 to an organization that has received Community Malta Agency approval
12. St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program
- Minimum investment: €250,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 4-6 months
St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program, launched in 1984, is the first citizenship by investment program. The scheme accepts investments for real estate or donations. To benefit from the program, you’ll be required to make a minimum donation of $250,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF). Alternatively, you can make an investment of $400,000 in real estate in St Kitts and Nevis for citizenship. Once you invest in the program, you can get your passport in a maximum of six months.
The qualifying investments for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment
- $400,000 investment in a real estate development that has received government approval. The property will need to be held for a minimum of five years
- $800,000 investment in a real estate development that has received government approval. The property will need to be held for a minimum of seven years
- Donate $250,000 for a single principal applicant to the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF)
13. Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program
- Minimum investment: €230,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 6-9 months
The citizenship by investment program of Antigua and Barbuda provides an economic passport to investors. There are a few options you can choose to benefit from the program. You can choose to contribute $230,000 to the National Development Fund.
Another option is investing $1.5 million in establishing a business. Alternatively, you can invest $400,000 in a government-approved real estate project (which can be reduced to $200,000 for connected investors). Antigua and Barbuda citizenship grants visa-free travel to over 153 countries, including the Schengen area. Moreover, the country requires only five days of residence per year. You can get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship and a passport in around six months.
The qualifying investments for Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment
- $400,000 investment in a real estate development that has received government approval. The property will need to be held for a minimum of five years
- Donate $230,000 to the National Development Fund (NDF)
14. Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program
- Minimum investment: $200,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: Yes
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 6-9 months
Dominica citizenship is available through two options. The first is by making an economic contribution (donation) to the country under the government investor visa program. The second option, available since January 2015, is through real estate investment. With a minimum investment threshold of $200,000, the Dominican passport is among the cheapest. Once you make your application, you can expect to get your passport in three months.
Until 1993, it wasn’t possible to gain Dominican citizenship without residing in the country. This rule has been changed by the Dominican government. Through its changes, Dominica’s citizenship by investment program became not only the cheapest but also one of the most flexible options. Holders of Dominican passports can travel freely to around 144 countries, including the UK and the Schengen zone.
15. Türkiye Citizenship by Investment Program
- Minimum investment: €400,000 (real estate)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: No
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 3-9 months
To become a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye, there are several options investors might benefit from. You can make an investment of at least $400,000 in real estate. You can also invest in a company with a minimum capital of $500,000. Finally, you can deposit $500,000 in State investment instruments or state banks operating in Türkiye, provided that you keep the investment for three years. Creating jobs for at least 50 people is another option you can prefer to get Turkish citizenship by investment.
The process of Turkish citizenship by investment usually takes around three to six months.
The Qualifying Investments for Türkiye Citizenship by Investment
- Acquisition of a property with a minimum value of $400,000 and a three-year holding period
- Purchase of government bonds worth at least $500,000 and held for at least three years
- Establishment of a business that generates employment for at least 50 people
- A minimum $500,000 capital investment
- $500,000 deposit in banks operating in Turkey to be kept for a minimum of three years
- $500,000 investment in a real estate investment fund share or venture capital investment fund to be kept for a minimum of three years
16. United States Investor Visa
- Minimum investment: $800,000 (business investment)
- Residency: Permanent Residency
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: No
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: No
- Processing time: 20-26 months
Through investment in government-approved projects across the United States of America, investors can get the EB-5 visa. This visa gives permanent US residency. It also provides you with the right to access education, live, work, study, and retire in the USA. You can also get your initial investment back upon the completion of the project. The US government requires you to reside in the USA for at least half of each year.
As a program with a rather long processing period, you can expect to get your residency in 20-26 months.
The Qualifying Investments for the United States Immigrant Investor Program
- $1.05 million investment in a qualifying commercial enterprise
- $800,000 investment in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) with the promise of creating at least 10 full-time jobs for US citizens within 2 years
As a result of all the benefits and investment options, Golden Visa, residency by investment programs, offer many alternative ways of opportunities. Be it having access to free travel within European countries or the route to European citizenship, as long as the investor meets the requirements, there are promising advantages.
17. Grenada Citizenship by Investment
- Minimum investment: $235,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: No
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 9–12 months
As one of the E-2 Visa countries, Grenada offers a citizenship by investment program with a minimum contribution of $235,000. You can also make a real estate investment by investing at least $270,000. Additionally, the Grenada citizenship program requires a comprehensive due diligence process; therefore, expect that the processing times can last around 9-12 months.
Once you get your citizenship, you can travel freely in the Schengen Region, offering you flexibility. Also, you can be eligible to apply for America’s E-2 Visa and get yourself a USA residency by complying with the legal requirements.
18. St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
- Minimum investment: $240,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: No
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 12–15 months
Among the Caribbean Islands, St Lucia welcomes investors with its tax-friendly environment. The minimum investment requirement starts from $240,000 for the National Economic Fund Donation. You can also prefer to make a donation to the National Action Government Bonds of around $300,000. On the other hand, real estate investment is also available at $300,000.
Benefits of the St Lucia citizenship program include global mobility, low cost of living, and paying no income tax. The processing time for the program is around 12-15 months.
19. Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment
- Minimum investment: $130,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: No
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 20-26 months
Located in Oceania, Vanuatu’s citizenship program offers a second passport with fast processing, along with the cheapest donation amount ($130,000). However, lately, the program has lost its appeal due to accepting Russian applicants. Therefore, the EU has revoked Vanuatu from the visa-free Schengen countries list.
20. Nauru Citizenship by Investment
- Minimum investment: $105,000 (donation)
- Residency: Full-time
- Visa Free Travel to the Schengen Area: No
- Path to citizenship: Direct
- Family Inclusion: Yes
- Processing time: 3-4 months
Also known as The Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, Nauru’s citizenship program offers the lowest donation amount in Oceania, with a minimum contribution of $105,000. The program was launched in 2024, making it one of the newest programs in the CBI scheme. The estimated timeline for the program is around 3-4 months.
However, the Nauru passport does not have any visa-free access to the Schengen Area. You can only benefit from visa-free travel to Hong Kong (SAR China), Singapore, the UAE, and the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions on Golden Visa Countries
What country is best for Golden Visa?
Portugal is frequently cited as the “best” option for people looking to obtain residency through investment. More than 20,000 applicants received their Golden visas as of 2023. In Portugal, people have the option of buying a home or making capital transfer investments. Greece is another good option thanks to its low investment threshold, which is still €250,000 in 2024.
Who can get a Golden Visa?
The first requirement for EU Golden visas is that you are non-EU/non-EEA/non-Swiss. Apart from this, the minimum age is 18 for the main applicants. Being able to provide a clean criminal report and bringing the funds from abroad (not from the country of interest) are among other requirements.
Which country gives the fastest citizenship?
If you’re going to apply for citizenship by investment, Turkey can be a good option. The country usually grants citizenship in three to four months. Malta citizenship is also attainable in one year if you’re ready to make the qualifying investment.
Which country gives free citizenship?
Free citizenship is only possible through certain circumstances, such as by birth, ancestry, long-term residency or asylum seeking. For example, a US passport is given to children who are born within the country’s borders, even if the parents are non-US. Most countries also grant citizenship if you choose to live there for a minimum of five years.
What is the cost of a Golden Visa?
The cost of a Golden Visa depends on the program you choose. For example, in Portugal, the fund investment amount starts from €500,000.
What are other popular Golden Visa Programs?
Residency by investment applicants are also interested in the Malta permanent residence program, the Singapore global investor program, the UK innovator founder program, and other visa programs for a variety of reasons, such as work visas and student visas, as well as the Australia global talent independent program and the Canada start-up program.
In which country can I buy a house and get citizenship?
Golden Visa programs only offer residency by investment, not citizenship. On the other hand, you can buy a house and get citizenship through CBI programs. The most common countries include: Malta, Turkey, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia.
What is the cheapest passport to buy?
When we look at our list, we can say it is Nauru’s passport. However, it does not grant you visa-free access to the Schengen Area.
Can a golden visa lead to citizenship?
In some cases, your Golden Visa can lead to citizenship. One of the most comfortable ways to do this is to get your citizenship via the Portuguese Golden Visa, by staying only 7 days per year. On the other hand, countries like Italy, Greece, and Latvia require you to fully reside there.
