Europe is not a single market for residency or citizenship. Each country runs its own rules, and several have changed sharply in recent years. This page gives a neutral overview so you can see the landscape before you choose.
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.
European programmes fall into two broad groups. Residency by investment routes grant a residence permit in return for a qualifying investment, and may open a path to citizenship after a number of years of lawful residence. Citizenship routes are far rarer and more heavily scrutinised.
Minimum stay, qualifying investment and the route to a passport differ widely by country, so a programme that suits one applicant can be wrong for another.
As of June 2026, residency by investment routes are commonly associated with Greece, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus, among others. Greece overhauled its route in September 2024 with zone based pricing, indicatively from €250,000 to €800,000 depending on location and project type.
Portugal kept its route open after removing property purchase as a qualifying option in October 2023, with remaining channels such as funds and other approved investments. Confirm the current qualifying options and any citizenship timeline with the Portuguese authority, as the residence to citizenship period has been the subject of reform.
Spain closed its investor residency to new applicants in April 2025. Malta continues to offer a residency route, while its separate investor citizenship route has been contested following a 2025 ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, so confirm its current status directly with the Maltese authority.
Because rules move quickly, the most reliable step is to read each country's official source and confirm the position on the day you apply.
Start from your goal rather than the headline price. Decide whether you want residence only or a path to a passport, how much time you can spend in the country, and how the investment fits your wider plans. Then confirm the live rules with the official authority for that country, and use Get Matched to compare independent advisers.
No. Each country sets its own residency and citizenship rules. A residence permit in one country does not by itself grant citizenship or the right to live permanently in another.
Spain closed its investor residency to new applicants in April 2025, Portugal removed property purchase as a qualifying route in October 2023, and Greece moved to zone based pricing in September 2024. Confirm the current position with each national authority.
Sometimes, after a set number of years of lawful residence and other conditions such as language and ties. The period and conditions vary by country, so confirm the current rule before you plan.
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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