12 Golden Visa programmes that do not require physical residence in 2026

Golden Visas were created for those who do not wish to relocate. The entire value of this type of programme is based on a single premise: the investor puts capital into a foreign country and receives a residence permit without needing to live there. Daily life, current residence, and tax structures remain unchanged. The residence card sits in a wallet as a contingency plan.

Not every Golden Visa actually delivers that. Some programmes have added physical residence obligations over the years, requiring 60, 90, or even 183 days per year. Spain terminated its Golden Visa programme in April 2025, and the 3 alternatives all require staying in the country for half a year. Malaysia’s MM2H programme now requires 60 days per year.

The following 12 programmes still allow for the retention of residence permits through passive financial investment while requiring zero or almost zero time spent in the country. Seven programmes require no physical presence. Five programmes require fewer than 14 days per year.

No actual residence requirement

1. Greece

Greece Golden Visa There are no requirements other than maintaining the investment. Investors only need to visit once to provide biometrics, after which they do not need to return to maintain the permit.

The September 2024 reform introduced tiered pricing based on location. Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants now have an €800,000 threshold. All other areas require €400,000. Two exceptions retain the original €250,000 entry level: converting commercial property into residential and restoring heritage-listed buildings, both of which apply nationwide.

The 5-year renewable permit includes a spouse, children, and both sets of parents. Schengen area travel rights are effective immediately. Citizenship requires 7 years of legal residence, but the naturalisation path demands physical presence, which the Golden Visa itself does not. If the goal is only a residence permit and Schengen travel rights rather than a Greek passport, investors do not need to set foot in the country after their first visit.

Short-term rentals (Airbnb) are now prohibited for Golden Visa properties, with a €50,000 fine and permit revocation for violations. There were approximately 42,390 pending applications as of November 2025, although processing accelerated throughout 2025.

Read about Greece residency by investment services.

2. Hungary

The Hungary Guest Investor Residence Permit launched in July 2024 and quickly became one of Europe’s most popular new options. No physical presence is required to apply for or maintain the permit.

Two investment paths remain after the direct real estate option was abolished in January 2025: €250,000 in a government-approved real estate fund (with at least 40% of net asset value in Hungarian residential property), or a €1 million donation to a higher education institution. The fund investment must be held for a minimum of 5 years.

The permit is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for another 10. Schengen travel rights are effective immediately. Tax obligations only arise if one becomes a tax resident; permit holders living elsewhere owe nothing to Hungary on foreign income. If tax residency is established, Hungary applies a 15% flat tax rate.

3. Bulgaria

Bulgaria is the only European Golden Visa programme that grants permanent residency immediately. Every other programme begins with a temporary permit and upgrades after several years. Bulgaria skips that step.

The investment threshold is €512,000 in a qualifying fund. No physical presence is required to maintain permanent residency. Bulgaria joined the Schengen area in January 2025 and adopted the euro in January 2026, eliminating the currency risk that previously complicated fund registration.

A 10% flat income and corporate tax rate, the lowest in the EU, applies to those who become tax residents. Eligibility for citizenship begins 5 years after being granted permanent residency, accompanied by an A1-level Bulgarian language requirement – achievable after less than 2 months of remote study. Children of Bulgarian citizens receive citizenship by descent regardless of age.

Currently, only 2 fully compliant Golden Visa funds are operational. Processing time is 6 to 8 months from application submission to receiving the permanent residence card.

4. Latvia

Latvia offers one of Europe’s oldest and cheapest Golden Visas, operating since 2010. No physical presence is required.

Three investment paths: €50,000 in a company with fewer than 50 employees and a turnover of less than €10 million; €250,000 in real estate plus a 5% government fee; or €250,000 in subordinated bank debt. The €50,000 business investment path makes Latvia the cheapest Golden Visa entry point in Europe.

The permit is a 5-year temporary residence permit, which can be renewed. Schengen travel rights are effective upon approval. Permanent residency can be achieved after 5 years. Citizenship requires 10 years of continuous residence, proficiency in the Latvian language, and a constitutional knowledge test.

5. Malta MPRP

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) survived after the European Court of Justice ruling that abolished Malta’s CBI programme in April 2025. No minimum stay is required.

The MPRP combines several cost components. Purchasing property starts from €375,000 nationwide, or it can be rented for €14,000 per year. In addition to the property component: a €60,000 administrative fee (€15,000 upon application, €45,000 after approval), a €37,000 government contribution (regardless of purchase or rent), and a €2,000 donation to a non-profit organisation. Adult dependents (from 18 years old) cost an additional €7,500 each. Spouses and minor children incur no additional fees.

Total costs start from approximately €150,000 when renting, depending on family size. The July 2025 update introduced a 1-year temporary residence card issued upon application and initial payment, allowing families to move in while the permanent residence application is being assessed.

Malta stands out with regulations including a 4-generation family: spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and in some cases, great-grandparents. English is an official language. Schengen travel rights are effective upon approval.

Read about Malta residency by investment

6. Italy

The Italy Investor Visa does not require physical presence following the December 2020 reform. Four investment paths: €250,000 in an innovative Italian startup, €500,000 in an Italian limited liability company, €500,000 in a philanthropic initiative, or €2 million in Italian government bonds. The €250,000 startup path is the cheapest entry point.

Processing time is 3 to 4 months. The government does not require the investment to be completed until after visa approval. The initial visa is valid for 2 years and can be renewed in 3-year increments.

Investors who become Italian tax residents can access the flat-tax regime for new residents. The 2026 Budget Law raised the annual lump-sum tax to €300,000 on global foreign-sourced income (plus €50,000 per family member), effective from 1 January 2026. Citizenship requires 10 years of legal residence.

7. Golden Visa UAE

The UAE Golden Visa does not impose a physical presence requirement. The 2022 visa reform removed the previous regulation requiring residents to visit every 6 months.

The investor path requires purchasing property of at least 2 million AED (approximately US$545,000). The visa is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for another 10. Entrepreneurs may qualify with a 500,000 AED business investment linked to an accredited incubator.

Includes family: spouse, children, and parents. Processing time is under 1 month, making it one of the fastest Golden Visas globally. Dubai issued 158,000 Golden Visas in 2023 alone.

The UAE has no standard path leading to citizenship. Citizenship is granted at the discretion of the ruler, with no published criteria. If the goal is a residence permit in a territory with no income tax without any visitation obligations, the UAE fits the bill. If the goal is an eventual passport, the UAE is not a suitable choice.

Read more about UAE residency by investment services.

Almost no physical presence required

8. Portugal (7 days per year)

Portugal Golden Visa requires an average of 7 days of physical presence per year: 14 days in the first 2-year period, followed by 14 days in each subsequent 2-year renewal.

The real estate path ended in October 2023. The remaining paths: €500,000 in qualifying investment funds (the current mainstream path), €250,000 for cultural or artistic investment, €500,000 for scientific research, and establishing a business that creates at least 10 jobs.

The core appeal of the programme is the citizenship path. Permanent residency arrives in the 5th year. Citizenship is also available in the 5th year, and that rule remains in effect as of March 2026.

The Portuguese Parliament voted on 1 April 2026 to extend the naturalisation period to 10 years for most non-EU and non-CPLP citizens, but the law is not yet in effect and faces further scrutiny. In the meantime, the 5-year citizenship timeline remains in effect. Golden Visa investors filed a constitutional challenge in December 2025.

Processing times have reached a record 39.6 months. More than 20,000 applicants are still awaiting an appointment with AIMA. Despite these fluctuations, the programme remains the only European Golden Visa that combines almost no residency requirements with a structured path to EU citizenship.

Read more about Portugal residency by investment services.

9. Cyprus (one visit every 2 years)

Cyprus requires one visit every 2 years to maintain permanent residence status. Biometric appointments can be completed online, requiring only one physical visit during the application process.

The minimum investment is €300,000 in one of four qualifying categories: new residential property (plus VAT), commercial property (new or used), shares in a company registered in Cyprus with at least 5 employees, or units in a collective investment fund of the Cyprus Investment Funds Association. Applicants must also demonstrate an annual income of at least €50,000 from abroad, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each dependent child.

Processing time is 2 to 3 months, among the fastest in Europe. Permanent residence is granted from day one. Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Area, although President Christodoulides has set 2026 as the target for accession. Citizenship requires a minimum of 7 years of physical residence, with at least 4 of the last 6 years spent in Cyprus.

Read more about Cyprus residency by investment services.

10. Singapore GIP (1 day per year)

Singapore’s Global Investor Programme (GIP) grants immediate permanent residence and requires only 1 day of physical residence per year to maintain status.

The programme stands at the pinnacle of the global hierarchy in both prestige and cost. The minimum investment is 10 million SGD (approximately 7.5 million USD) in a new business entity or the expansion of an existing business, a GIP-approved fund, or a Singapore-based family office with at least 200 million SGD in assets under management.

After 2 years of residence, investors are eligible to apply for citizenship, although approval remains at discretion. Singapore does not allow dual citizenship. Processing time is typically 6 months.

Read more about Singapore residency by investment services.

11. Hong Kong CIES (no mandatory residency requirement to maintain visa)

Hong Kong relaunched its Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) in March 2024 to attract high-net-worth individuals. The programme requires a total investment of 30 million HKD (approximately 3.85 million USD).

Of the capital investment, 3 million HKD must be in a government-managed portfolio, while 27 million HKD must be in permissible investment assets: stocks, debt securities, collective investment schemes, and limited residential property. Applicants must prove beneficial ownership of net assets of at least 30 million HKD for the 2 years prior to application.

The visa can be renewed in 2-year increments as long as the investment is maintained. There is no specific physical residency requirement for visa renewal. Permanent residence requires 7 years of continuous ordinary residence.

Since its relaunch in March 2024, the CIES has attracted more than 1,500 applications and over 21 billion HKD in investment.

12. Brazil VIPER (14 days every 2 years, property route)

Brazil’s Investor Permanent Residence Visa (VIPER) offers two investment routes with different residency requirements.

The property route requires 1 million BRL (approximately 168,000 USD), reduced to 700,000 BRL (approximately 117,000 USD) for property in the North or Northeast regions of Brazil. The initial permit is temporary, valid for up to 4 years, and renewable. Permanent residence requires a formal application after the initial period.

Presence requirement: 14 days in Brazil every 2 years for visa holders under the property route. It is clear that absence from Brazil for more than 2 consecutive years leads to the automatic cancellation of all residency status.

The business investment route requires 500,000 BRL (approximately 96,000 USD) and grants immediate permanent residence, but with stricter residency requirements: no absence of more than 6 consecutive months, with a 3-year business review.

Brazil is a signatory to the Mercosur Residence Agreement, which allows citizens of any participating country to live and work across 9 South American nations. Citizenship can be obtained after 4 years of legal residence, requiring proficiency in Portuguese. A Brazilian passport provides visa-free access to approximately 169 countries, including the Schengen Area.

How to choose

The decision depends on the goals of the Golden Visa. If the priority is a European residence card and Schengen travel rights at the lowest cost, Latvia (€50,000) and Hungary (€250,000) are the most efficient options. Neither requires physical residence.

If a genuine path to EU citizenship is desired, Portugal remains the only programme that combines almost no residency requirements (7 days per year) with a historically short time to citizenship. Parliament voted on 01/04/2026 to extend the naturalisation period to 10 years, but the law is not yet in effect and is facing further review.

If permanent residence from day one is desired, Bulgaria (€512,000) and the Malta MPRP (approximately €150,000 via rental) both qualify, with Bulgaria being the only European Golden Visa that grants permanent residence immediately.

If a tax-free territory with no residency obligations is desired, the UAE meets both with 2 million AED, but there is no path to citizenship.

If the budget reaches 7 or 8 figures, Singapore offers permanent residence, a 2-year citizenship path, and one of the world’s strongest passports, all with only 1 day of annual residence.

Every programme on this list is subject to change. Governments amend terms, raise thresholds, and close programmes with limited notice. Spain’s Golden Visa was open for more than a decade before ending in April 2025. Portugal’s citizenship timeline could double depending on parliamentary action. Working with experts who specialise in the target territory remains the most reliable way to position a profile before the rules change.