Anna Semenyuk

The Golden Visa, or the Italian Investor Visa, allows non-EU citizens to obtain a residence permit by contributing €250,000 or more to the country’s economy. The Italy Investor Visa programme is suitable for people wishing to live in Italy or travel without visas in Europe. The residence permit card is valid for 2 years and can be renewed for another 3 years. After 5 years of residence status, Golden Visa investors can apply for permanent residence in Italy. After another 5 years, they become eligible for Italian citizenship.

Foreigners looking to obtain citizenship in Malta have several routes to choose from. Malta citizenship by naturalisation is the most popular and time-based pathway requiring 5 years of residence, stable ties, and proven integration in Malta. The alternative route is citizenship by merit. It relies on exceptional contributions linked to Malta and a discretionary assessment, not a fixed timeline.

Greece has issued almost 90,000 Golden Visa residence permits since the programme launched in 2013, including permits granted to investors and their family members, as well as renewals. The high uptake highlights its appeal as a practical, long-term solution for families seeking stability, mobility, and a secure base in the EU. With a single investment, applicants can extend residency rights to their spouse or partner, children under 21, and parents.

The Greece Golden Visa offers non-EU citizens a path to European residence by investment. It grants visa-free access to 29 countries, the right to rent out property, and eligibility for citizenship after 7 years. In this guide, you’ll learn why non-EU investors choose Greece, how the Golden Visa works, what documents are needed, and how to apply for residence.

The Greece Golden Visa is open to non-EU nationals who invest at least €250,000 into the country — usually through real estate, a bank deposit or an investment fund. How long it takes depends on the route you choose. If you go for a financial investment like a deposit or fund, the full process can take around 4 months. If you buy property, expect at least 6 months, sometimes more. In this guide, we break down the options and explain how to make the process as smooth and fast as possible.

Italy recognises multiple citizenship, so an Italian citizen does not usually lose Italian nationality only because they hold another citizenship. The route to Italian citizenship depends on the applicant's basis for applying. Naturalisation, marriage, descent, and service to the Italian state follow different rules. Citizenship by descent is now narrower than many older guides suggest. After Decree-Law 36/2025, converted by Law 74/2025, applicants born abroad who hold another citizenship are not treated as Italian automatically unless a statutory exception applies.

The Greece Golden Visa offers a residence permit in exchange for a minimum investment of €250,000 in the country’s economy. The permit is valid for 5 years, renewable indefinitely, and may lead to Greek citizenship after 7 years of residency. Greece appeals to investors with its resilient property market, the freedom of movement within the Schengen Area, and low cost of living in a region with a pleasant Mediterranean climate. Below are real-life stories of investors who have successfully obtained residence permits through the Golden Visa.

Malta offers citizenship by naturalisation to individuals who create a meaningful impact on the country. This approach emphasises innovation, entrepreneurship, research, culture, and philanthropy. Each request is reviewed individually by the Community Malta Agency, and eligibility depends on the substance of the applicant’s engagement with Malta rather than any fixed financial threshold. This guide explains how the process works, the areas of contribution that are typically considered, and practical insights into navigating the procedural and documentation requirements.

In 2025, the Malta Permanent Residence Programme underwent several changes — some favourable to investors, others more restrictive. For instance, the minimum participation cost was initially raised from €150,000 to €182,000, before being reduced to €169,000. Another amendment permitted investors to rent out their property, though only under specific conditions. This guide explores the current requirements, recent changes, benefits, and important considerations.

More than 17,000 British nationals now call Greece home — drawn by the relaxed lifestyle, sunshine, tax perks, and the ability to stay longer than 90 days in the Schengen Area. For UK citizens, one of the most straightforward ways to get long-term residency is through the Greece Golden Visa. This route offers a 5-year renewable residence permit, with no minimum stay requirement, and is most commonly tied to a real estate investment of €250,000 or more. In this guide, we take a closer look at how the Greece Golden Visa works post-Brexit, what the key requirements are, and what to keep in mind before making the move.

Turkish investors are increasingly turning to Greece’s Golden Visa, with applications from Türkiye rising by 46% between March 2024 and March 2025. In 2024 alone, 1356 Turkish nationals obtained Greek residency by investment, making Türkiye the second‑largest beneficiary country.  In this article, we explain why Greek residency is becoming a popular choice for Turkish nationals, how the Golden Visa works, what real estate options are available, and what benefits — including EU citizenship — applicants can expect.

Malta has become a sought-after destination for retirees worldwide, offering favourable tax treatment of foreign pension income and visa-free travel within the Schengen Area. Retirees are also drawn to Malta’s warm climate, laid-back lifestyle, and high-quality healthcare. To access the special tax regime and other benefits, retirees obtain residency through the Malta Retirement Programme.

More than 20,000 American expats are estimated to live permanently in Greece after moving from the United States. Foreigners are attracted to the South European country thanks to its year-round warm climate, relaxed lifestyle, and relatively low cost of living. There are multiple options for Americans to move to Greece, including the Golden Visa program.