The headline residence-by-investment routes — Portugal, Greece, the UAE, Malta and more — compared by investment, timeline and the lifestyle, schooling and mobility they unlock.
Cypriot permanent residence by investment. Cyprus is an EU member but not in Schengen, and its citizenship-by-investment programme was terminated on 1 November 2020.
Greece golden visa: €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Thira, €400,000 elsewhere, €250,000 only for conversions and listed buildings. Schengen access and a 7-year naturalisation route.
Hungary’s Guest Investor Programme: €250,000 into a registered real estate fund or a €1,000,000 university donation, for a 10-year permit extendable by another 10. Direct property purchase does not qualify.
Latvia abolished its property and bank investment routes on 15 September 2026. Only the company share-capital route remains, at €50,000 plus a €10,000 state fee, with a 2-year permit.
Malta Permanent Residence Programme: €60,000 administrative fee, €37,000 government contribution, €2,000 donation, and a qualifying property bought for €375,000 or leased for €14,000 a year, with one threshold for Malta and Gozo.
Mauritius Occupation Permit from USD 100,000 and property residence above USD 375,000. The separate USD 500,000 non-citizen property route gives no residence permit.
Five routes into Portuguese residence — the Golden Visa from €250,000, the D7 for passive income, the D8 for remote workers and the D2 for entrepreneurs. Schengen access, family included, permanent residence after five years.
UAE golden residence: a 10-year renewable permit from AED 2,000,000 in property. The UAE has no permanent residency, and citizenship is by nomination only — which is why it never affects an Indian passport.
