The golden visa map of Europe looks very different than it did two years ago. If you have been putting off a residency-by-investment application, it is worth checking what is actually still on the table before you commit to anything.
Spain: closed
Spain shut its golden visa for good. New investor applications are no longer accepted, ending a route that had been driven mostly by property purchases. The government pointed at housing pressure in Madrid and Barcelona, and decided the programme was doing more harm than good. If you already hold a Spanish investor permit, you keep it, but that door is now shut.
Greece: open, but pricier
Greece is still in the game, just not at the old prices. The entry level of €250,000 only applies in quieter regions. In Athens, Thessaloniki and the popular islands you are looking at €800,000 in property. It remains one of the more accessible programmes in Europe, with five-year renewable permits, but budget realistically.
Portugal: funds only
Portugal closed its real estate route, so no more buying an apartment in Lisbon for a permit. What remains: investments in regulated funds, cultural contributions and job-creating companies. The upside is still there, a relatively short path to citizenship and few days per year you need to actually be in the country.
Who is left
Italy quietly continues its investor visa (€250,000 in a startup, €2 million in government bonds). Malta’s citizenship-by-investment scheme was struck down by the EU Court of Justice, though its residency routes survive. Outside the EU, the UAE golden visa and Caribbean programmes are picking up people who would once have gone to Spain.
The pattern is clear: Europe is making these programmes smaller and more expensive, not killing them all. If one of these routes fits your plans, get advice early. Rules that stood in March can change by the summer.
Once you are in, keep the small things running
A permit gets you the right to stay. It does not set up your daily life. The bank account, the insurance, the phone plan, the TV. Many newcomers spend weeks on paperwork and then discover they cannot watch the news or football from home without a satellite dish. That part is easier to fix: with IPTV for expats, the channels from your home country come over the internet to any screen.
Not sure if it is the right route for you? Read our guide to the best IPTV for expats, or see how much data you will need for streaming in how much data does IPTV use.
Follow the news from your country, live
Missing the evening news, the morning shows or the big match back home? With an IPTV subscription the channels from your country come straight to your screen, wherever you live.
See the full worldwide line-up on our Channels & Coverage page, then start a free 24-hour test and check your own channels in minutes.