Both programmes give a non EU investor residence in an EU and Schengen member state, but one is built on real estate tiers and the other on a mix of contribution, property and donation. This page sets out how they differ so you can match a route to your goal.
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 Greece Golden Visa is a real estate led residence permit with regional price tiers and gives a renewable residence permit, with citizenship reachable only later through ordinary naturalisation. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme grants permanent residence through a combination of a qualifying property, a government contribution, an administrative fee and a charitable donation, and it does not itself lead to a passport. Read both as residence programmes, with very different cost structures.
Greece sets real estate minimums by location. Reporting describes a tier of EUR 800,000 for high demand zones such as Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and larger islands, EUR 400,000 for most other regions, and EUR 250,000 for qualifying conversions and heritage restorations, with a minimum property size for the higher tiers. Malta is not a single number. An applicant rents qualifying accommodation from a stated minimum annual rent or buys qualifying property from a stated minimum value, then pays a non refundable government contribution, an administrative fee and a charitable donation. The Malta contribution differs depending on whether you rent or buy, so confirm the current figures with the Residency Malta Agency.
Greece issues a renewable residence permit tied to holding the qualifying property, with no general minimum stay requirement to keep the permit, though any later citizenship runs through ordinary naturalisation after a qualifying period of residence with a language requirement. Malta grants permanent residence once due diligence is complete, with the process commonly described as around six months or more, and the Residency Malta Agency checks compliance each year for the first five years. Treat all timeline figures as indicative and case dependent.
Both Greece and Malta are members of the European Union and the Schengen Area, so residence in either supports visa free short stay travel across the Schengen zone. The key difference is the citizenship horizon. Greek residence can, over a long period, support a naturalisation application and ultimately a Greek passport. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme is a residence track only and is separate from any Maltese citizenship process, so it should not be read as a passport route on its own.
Greece tends to suit an applicant who wants a property asset in a specific region and a renewable permit with light stay requirements, and who views citizenship as a long term possibility rather than the immediate goal. Malta tends to suit an applicant who wants secure permanent residence in a stable EU member and is comfortable with a contribution and donation model rather than buying a large asset. We do not name or rank firms anywhere. To compare independent, vetted advisors for your situation, use Get Matched below.
| Item | Greece Golden Visa | Malta Permanent Residence Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Renewable residence permit, citizenship only via later naturalisation | Permanent residence, not a citizenship route |
| Main cost driver | Real estate by tier: EUR 250,000, EUR 400,000 or EUR 800,000 by location | Qualifying property plus government contribution, admin fee and EUR 2,000 donation |
| Property model | Buy qualifying real estate and hold it | Rent from a minimum annual rent, or buy from a minimum value, held for five years |
| Stay requirement | No general minimum stay to keep the permit | Hold the qualifying property and pass annual compliance for five years |
| Authority | Ministry of Migration and Asylum | Residency Malta Agency |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Greece: Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Malta: Residency Malta Agency publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Greece gives a residence permit that can support naturalisation only after a long qualifying period, and the Malta Permanent Residence Programme is a residence track that is separate from citizenship. Confirm the current rules with each authority.
Reporting describes a EUR 250,000 tier for qualifying commercial to residential conversions and heritage restorations, with higher tiers of EUR 400,000 and EUR 800,000 by location. Verify the current tiers with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Yes. The Malta programme allows a qualifying rental from a stated minimum annual rent as an alternative to buying property, alongside the contribution, fee and donation. Confirm the current figures with the Residency Malta Agency.
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.
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