Residency by Investment (RBI) programs—often called Golden Visas—allow foreign nationals to obtain residence rights in exchange for a qualifying investment. Options range from real estate and fund subscriptions to business creation and capital transfers. In 2026, Europe remains the most popular region, but countries in the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas also offer compelling opportunities.
Below is an updated overview of 27 leading programs, starting with a new, highly accessible European option: Lithuania.
01 / Lithuania – Business Investor Visa
Minimum Investment: €28,000 (single investor) / €14,000 per investor (shared)
Investment Options: Business creation or acquisition
Job Creation: 2 full‑time employees with combined gross monthly salary of €4,500
Minimum Stay: None
Processing Time: 3–6 months
Residency Validity: 1 year, renewable
Path to PR/Citizenship: PR after 5 years; citizenship after 10 years
Family Inclusion: Spouse and dependent children under 18
Permanent Residency Benefits:
-
Free education for family members (including higher education at public institutions)
-
Free state healthcare (comprehensive coverage under the national health system)
-
Right to invite family and siblings (once PR is obtained, you can sponsor the reunification of siblings and other close relatives)
Lithuania’s program is one of Europe’s most entrepreneur‑friendly routes. It requires active business involvement and job creation, but the capital threshold is significantly lower than traditional real‑estate based Golden Visas. Moreover, the benefits unlocked upon permanent residency—such as tuition‑free education and the ability to reunite with siblings—make it an excellent long‑term choice for families.
02 / Italy – Investor Visa
Minimum Investment: €250,000+
Options: Government bonds, startup investment, philanthropic donation, company shares
Stay: No minimum (but citizenship requires limited absences)
Processing: 2–3 months
PR/Citizenship: PR after 5 years; citizenship after 10 years
Family: Spouse, dependent children, parents via reunification
03 / Portugal – Golden Visa
Minimum Investment: €200,000+
Options: Investment funds, cultural/scientific donation, job creation
Stay: 7 days per year
Processing: 12–24 months
PR/Citizenship: PR or citizenship after 5 years
Family: Spouse, dependent children, dependent parents
04 / Brazil – Investor Visa
Minimum Investment: BRL 500,000 (~$98,000)
Options: Real estate, business
Stay: 14 days every 2 years or 30 days annually (depending on investment)
Processing: 3–6 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 4 years
Family: Spouse, dependent children, dependent parents
05 / Canada – Startup Visa (paused in 2026)
Minimum Investment: CAD $75,000+
Options: Startup, venture capital, angel funding
Stay: 730 days in 5 years
Processing: 2–3 years
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 3 years of PR
Family: Spouse and dependent children only
Note: Canada’s program is currently paused, with a new program expected.
06 / Greece – Golden Visa
Minimum Investment: €250,000+
Options: Real estate, public securities, business investment, bank deposit
Stay: None
Processing: 6–12 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 7 years
Family: Spouse, dependent children up to 21 (extendable), parents of both spouses
07 / Malta – Permanent Residence Program (MPRP)
Minimum Investment: €53,000 (rental route) / €414,000 (purchase route)
Options: Property + government contribution/donation
Stay: None (must maintain investment 5 years)
Processing: 6–12 months
PR/Citizenship: Immediate permanent residency; citizenship by naturalization later
Family: Spouse, dependent children, parents, grandparents
08 / Paraguay – Investor Visa
Minimum Investment: $70,000
Options: Investment
Stay: None (cannot be absent >3 consecutive years)
Processing: 1–3 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 3 years
Family: Spouse and minor children
09 / United Arab Emirates – Golden Visa
Minimum Investment: AED 2 million (~$550,000)
Options: Property, business, capital investment
Stay: None
Processing: 1–6 months
PR/Citizenship: 5–10 year renewable residency; no citizenship path
Family: Spouse, children (sons to 25, daughters unlimited), parents via sponsorship
10 / New Zealand – Active Investor Plus Visa
Minimum Investment: NZD $5 million (~$3 million)
Options: VC funds, startups, growth assets, bonds, property
Stay: 21 days over 3 years (Growth) / 105 days over 5 years (Balanced)
Processing: 3–6 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 5 years
Family: Spouse and dependent children up to 24
11 / Singapore – Global Investor Program (GIP)
Minimum Investment: SGD $10 million (~$7.9 million)
Options: Business, GIP‑approved funds, family office
Stay: 1 day per year
Processing: 9–12 months
PR/Citizenship: PR initially; citizenship after 2+ years of PR
Family: Spouse and unmarried children under 21
12 / Thailand – Elite Visa
Minimum Investment: ฿650,000 (~$17,700)
Options: Membership packages
Stay: None
Processing: 1–3 months
PR/Citizenship: No direct path
Family: Spouse and children (package‑dependent)
13 / United States – EB‑5 Visa
Minimum Investment: $800,000 (targeted employment areas) / $1,050,000 (standard)
Options: Job creation in regional centers or direct investment
Stay: None (2‑year conditional PR then permanent)
Processing: 2–5 years
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 5 years of PR
Family: Spouse and unmarried children under 21
14 / Cyprus – Golden Visa
Minimum Investment: €300,000+
Options: Real estate, business shares, collective investment organization
Stay: 1 day every 2 years
Processing: 3–4 months
PR/Citizenship: Permanent residency; citizenship after 7 years
Family: Spouse and dependent children up to 25 (parents no longer eligible)
15 / Panama – Qualified Investor Visa
Minimum Investment: $300,000
Options: Real estate, securities, bank deposit
Stay: Visit once every 2 years
Processing: 30 days
PR/Citizenship: Immediate permanent residency; citizenship after 5 years
Family: Spouse, dependent children, dependent parents
16 / Hungary – Golden Visa
Minimum Investment: €250,000
Options: Real estate investment funds, public trust donation
Stay: None
Processing: 2–4 months
PR/Citizenship: 10‑year renewable permit; citizenship after 8 years
Family: Spouse and dependent children
17 / Latvia – Golden Visa
Minimum Investment: €50,000
Options: Real estate, business, government bonds, bank deposit
Stay: Must visit once a year for renewal
Processing: 1–6 months
PR/Citizenship: PR after 5 years; citizenship after 10 years
Family: Spouse and children under 18 (older dependents case‑by‑case)
Latvia offers one of the lowest entry thresholds in Europe, with flexible investment types.
18 / Serbia – Residency by Investment
Minimum Investment: No fixed minimum (real estate) / €50,000 deposit for business route
Options: Real estate, company formation, business investment
Stay: No minimum (must maintain registered address)
Processing: 1–2 months
PR/Citizenship: PR after 3 years; citizenship after 6 years
Family: Spouse and minor dependent children
19 / Cayman Islands – Permanent Residence by Investment
Minimum Investment: CI $2 million (~$2.4 million)
Options: Developed residential real estate
Stay: 1 day per year
Processing: 3–6 months
PR/Citizenship: Permanent residency; citizenship after 5 years
Family: Spouse and dependent children
20 / Switzerland – Lump‑Sum Taxation Residency
Minimum Investment: CHF 434,700 (~$561,000) in annual tax
Options: Lump‑sum taxation agreement with canton
Stay: Varies by canton
Processing: 3–7 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 10 years
Family: Spouse and dependent children
21 / Andorra – Residency by Investment
Minimum Investment: €600,000 (€400,000 if investing in housing fund) + €50,000 deposit
Options: Real estate, bonds, financial assets
Stay: 90 days per year
Processing: 3–6 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 20 years
Family: Spouse, dependent children, some parents via reunification
22 / Anguilla – Residency by Investment
Minimum Investment: $150,000+
Options: Donation, real estate
Stay: 45 days per year
Processing: 3–6 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 5 years
Family: Spouse and dependent children (extra dependents require higher investment)
23 / Curaçao – Investor Permit
Minimum Investment: $280,000
Options: Real estate, business
Stay: 1 day per year
Processing: 3–6 months
PR/Citizenship: 3‑ or 5‑year permit; citizenship after 5 years
Family: Spouse and dependent children
24 / Mauritius – Residency by Investment
Minimum Investment: $375,000+
Options: Approved real estate, business investment, entrepreneurial venture
Stay: None
Processing: 2–6 months
PR/Citizenship: PR after 3 years; citizenship after 5 years
Family: Spouse, dependent children, parents
25 / Namibia – Residence by Investment
Minimum Investment: $365,000
Options: Property, business
Stay: None
Processing: 6–12 months
PR/Citizenship: PR after 10 years; citizenship after 20 years
Family: Spouse and minor children
26 / Costa Rica – Investor Visa
Minimum Investment: $150,000
Options: Real estate, shares, venture capital, reforestation, sustainable tourism
Stay: 1 day per year
Processing: 4–8 months
PR/Citizenship: PR after 3 years; citizenship after 7 years
Family: Spouse and children
27 / Argentina – Investor Visa
Minimum Investment: ARS 1.5 million (~$6,000)
Options: Business, real estate, investment
Stay: 183 days per year
Processing: 1–3 months
PR/Citizenship: Citizenship after 2 years
Family: Spouse and children
Comparison Snapshot
| Program | Min. Investment | Key Investment Type | Min. Stay | Time to Citizenship | Key PR Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithuania | €28,000 | Business + jobs | None | 10 years | Free education, free healthcare, family/sibling reunification |
| Portugal | €200,000 | Funds / donations | 7 days/year | 5 years | Standard EU social benefits |
| Greece | €250,000 | Real estate / funds | None | 7 years | Access to public healthcare and education |
| Malta | €53,000 (rental) | Property + contribution | None | ~7–10 years | Full residency rights, no automatic free education/healthcare for non‑EU |
| Latvia | €50,000 | Real estate / business / bonds | 1 visit/year | 10 years | EU resident benefits |
| Italy | €250,000 | Bonds / startup / donation | None | 10 years | Full social benefits after PR |
| UAE | $550,000 | Real estate / business | None | No citizenship | Tax benefits, world‑class infrastructure |
| USA | $800,000 | Job creation | None | 5 years (after PR) | Full access to education, work, healthcare (private) |
How to Choose the Right Program
When comparing RBI programs, consider:
-
Investment Budget & Type – Lithuania offers the lowest capital requirement for an active business model; Latvia and Greece have low real‑estate or fund entry points.
-
Physical Presence – If you cannot relocate, programs like Lithuania, Greece, Malta, and the UAE require no minimum stay.
-
Family Inclusion – Most programs include a spouse and minor children; some (e.g., Malta, Panama) also allow parents. Lithuania’s PR additionally permits sponsoring siblings.
-
Long‑Term Benefits – Lithuania’s PR unlocks free state education (including university) and free healthcare, making it exceptionally family‑friendly.
-
Path to Citizenship – For those seeking a second passport, Portugal (5 years) and Argentina (2 years) offer the shortest timelines; Lithuania and Latvia require 10 years.
-
Business vs. Passive Investment – Lithuania, Canada, and the US EB‑5 focus on job creation; real‑estate options in Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus are purely passive.
If Lithuania’s low‑cost business‑based residency program appeals to you—whether you’re an entrepreneur seeking an EU foothold or a family looking for long‑term stability with free education and healthcare—the experts at pathways.lt are here to help.
Book a free consultation with the pathways.lt team today to discuss your specific situation, understand the application process, and get a clear roadmap to Lithuanian residency.
👉 Contact pathways.lt now and take the first step toward your new life in Lithuania.
Disclaimer: This comparison is based on publicly available information as of 2026. Programs and requirements may change. Always consult with a qualified immigration professional and verify details with official government sources before making any investment decisions.
