The Report · 2026

The Independent Golden Visa Report 2026

What the reviewed entry models show, how the programs score under a judgment-based rubric, and why adviser compensation belongs in the decision. Civita takes no commission from any program in the report.

Inputs reviewed July 2026The findingsCite this report

The publisher's compensation belongs beside the ranking.

Civita takes no commission from any program, developer, or fund. We are paid by clients, so choosing one route over another does not change what we earn. Scores remain judgment applied to evidence, and the rubric is published so readers can disagree with it.

The findings

Two findings the brochures leave out

Across our published single-applicant models, entry cash sits 0 to 43 percent above the advertised qualifying amount; family charges can widen the gap.

The True Cost Index →02

Much of the industry runs on program, developer or fund economics. That compensation can shape which routes receive attention, which is why the payer belongs in the decision record.

Who Actually Pays Your Golden Visa Advisor? →

The data

Advertised amount versus modeled entry cash

The headline is the investment threshold and nothing else. Add mandatory government fees, per-person due diligence and stated professional assumptions, and the entry requirement is higher. Figures use each program's stated currency and a single-applicant model. They do not predict a later investment value or net economic return.

Selected programs compared by advertised amount, modeled entry cash, premium and capital treatment
Program	Advertised	Entry cash (single)	Premium	Capital
Latvia	€50,000	€71,500	+43%	Invested capital; recovery not assumed
Dominica	$200,000	$222,000	+11%	Non-refundable payment
Italy	€250,000	€264,500	+6%	Invested capital; recovery not assumed
St Kitts & Nevis	$250,000	$275,000	+10%	Non-refundable payment
Greece	€250,000	€264,000	+6%	Invested capital; recovery not assumed
Malta (MPRP)	€375,000	€489,000	+30%	Invested capital; recovery not assumed
Portugal	€500,000	€524,262	+5%	Invested capital; recovery not assumed
USA (EB-5)	$800,000	$885,000	+11%	Invested capital; recovery not assumed

Source: the Civita entry-cash models, reviewed July 2026. Contributions are non-refundable. Asset-backed qualifying capital remains exposed to market, manager, liquidity, fee and tax risk; no exit at par is assumed. The entry figure depends on family size, route, transaction costs and case complexity.Explore the reviewed models →

The value leaders

Top five by overall index score

01🇭🇺Hungary80
02🇦🇪United Arab Emirates78
03🇮🇹Italy77
04🇬🇷Greece76
05🇬🇩Grenada76

Lowest overall scores

The bottom of this equal-weighted rubric

31🇪🇬Egypt51
30🇺🇸United States53
29🇲🇾Malaysia56

High-capital programs can score well on jurisdiction quality while losing points on cost and speed. This is an editorial score, not a universal answer for every client.

See the interactive Index, 31 currently included programs →

This report ranks programs in general. Your decision is specific.

The right program depends on your nationality, budget, family, tax position, and timeline. A Program-Fit Report turns this analysis into an orientation shortlist, with reviewed entry-cash assumptions, apparent fits, rule-outs and questions for licensed review. We take no commission on the answer.

Get your Program-Fit Report →How we get paid

Related research

Programs, routes, and comparisons currently covered

Cost and value

Compare the programs

Routes and how it works

By nationality

Browse all guides →

Methodology and citation

Built on reviewed evidence, free to cite

Entry-cash figures are drawn from official government fee schedules and program rules, plus disclosed professional assumptions, and reviewed July 2026. The rankings are the Civita Golden Visa Index, scored across passport, tax, value, speed and lifestyle. The equal-weighted score carries judgment but no placement weighting, because Civita earns nothing from any program in this report.

Cite this report

The Independent Golden Visa Report 2026, Civita, citizenships.io/golden-visa-report-2026. Free to cite and reference with a link. For the full methodology, data, or an interview, get in touch via the contact page.