These two are no longer a like for like choice. Greece offers an open residency route. Malta's direct citizenship by investment scheme was ended after a European Court of Justice ruling in 2025.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Greece and Malta sit at opposite ends of the investment migration ladder. Greece grants residency, not a passport, in exchange for a qualifying investment. Malta previously granted citizenship directly, but that route has ended.
On 29 April 2025 the European Court of Justice ruled that Malta's direct citizenship by investment scheme was contrary to European Union law. As a result there is no longer a European Union passport available purely through investment. Greece remains a route to residency that can lead to citizenship over time through naturalisation.
Greece sets its real estate threshold by location. Reported tiers are EUR 800,000 in the highest demand areas such as the Athens and Thessaloniki metropolitan zones and several popular islands, and EUR 400,000 in other regions. A lower EUR 250,000 option applies to specific cases such as restoring heritage buildings or converting commercial buildings to residential use. Confirm the current thresholds and the qualifying property conditions with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum before acting.
Malta no longer offers a current investment price for citizenship because the direct route has ended. Any figure from the period when the scheme operated is no longer a route you can buy. Malta has signalled a shift toward a merit based citizenship framework rather than direct investment.
Greece issues a residence permit valid for five years, renewable while the investment is held, and reports no minimum stay requirement. Citizenship is a separate and much longer process through naturalisation, with its own residence, language and integration conditions.
Malta gives no current timeline for citizenship by investment because that route is closed.
Both countries are European Union members, so the eventual prize in each case is European Union free movement. The crucial difference is how you get there. Greece offers residency now and citizenship only later through naturalisation. Malta's fast direct route to an EU passport for investors has been removed, so the quick citizenship outcome that once set Malta apart is no longer available.
Greece may suit an investor who wants European residency with a low stay requirement and is content to pursue citizenship slowly through naturalisation. Malta no longer suits an investor seeking citizenship by investment, because that route has ended. If your goal was a fast EU passport, the honest position is that no European Union programme now offers it, and a vetted independent advisor can help you reset your plan around routes that are actually open.
| Item | Greece Golden Visa | Malta Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Open residency route | Direct citizenship by investment ended after 2025 EU court ruling |
| Outcome | Residency, citizenship only later by naturalisation | Direct citizenship route no longer available |
| Indicative minimum | EUR 800,000 or EUR 400,000 by area, EUR 250,000 special cases. Confirm with the Ministry | Not applicable, route ended |
| Minimum stay | Reported as none for the residency. Confirm with the Ministry | Not applicable |
| Official authority | Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Greece | Community Malta Agency, Government of Malta |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Greece publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. The European Court of Justice ruled on 29 April 2025 that Malta's direct citizenship by investment scheme breached European Union law, and Malta has been required to end it. There is currently no European Union member state offering citizenship purely by investment.
No. The Greece route grants residency, not citizenship. Citizenship is a separate and much longer process through naturalisation, with its own residence, language and integration conditions set in Greek law.
Reported tiers are EUR 800,000 in the highest demand areas and EUR 400,000 in other regions, with a EUR 250,000 option for specific cases such as heritage restoration or commercial to residential conversion. Confirm the current figures with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
We introduce you to vetted, independent advisors, in confidence and at no obligation. Your topic is noted for you below.
Independent and paid by the people we help, never by a government and never by a firm.
One short email when a programme rule changes, with the official source named so you can verify it. No hype, unsubscribe anytime.
Related programmes and comparisons, each dated and sourced to the official authority.