12 “Golden Visa” programs where you don’t need to live in the country (or you need a minimum number of days)

“Golden visas” were originally created for people who don’t want to relocate. The idea is straightforward: you invest capital in another country and receive a residence permit that you can keep without actually living there. In the end, your usual home, routine, and tax setup remain in place—while the residence card works like a “Plan B.”

However, not every program today follows the original logic. In recent years, some jurisdictions have introduced physical presence requirements—60, 90, and even 183 days per year. In April 2025, Spain fully closed its “golden visa,” and three replacement programs effectively require being in the country for about half a year. In Malaysia, the MM2H program now requires at least 60 days in the country each year.

That said, below are 12 programs that allow you to maintain status through passive financial investments, while time in the country stays at zero or close to it. Seven programs require no physical presence at all, and five involve fewer than 14 days per year.

Options with zero physical presence

1. Greece

Greece’s “golden visa” does not require anything from the applicant except maintaining the investment. Typically, one visit is enough for biometrics—after that, you usually don’t need to return in order to keep the permit active.

As part of the September 2024 reform, thresholds were adjusted by region. For Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with a population over 3,100, the threshold is €800,000. For all other regions, it is €400,000. At the same time, two exceptions remain that allow entry under the previous €250,000 threshold: purchasing commercial property intended for housing, and restoring properties listed in the monuments registry (available nationwide).

5-year approval with renewal options. Spouse, children, and also parents and parents-in-law are included. Schengen travel rights are activated immediately. There is a path to citizenship after 7 years of lawful residence, but naturalization requires real physical presence—so that part is not an obligation specifically tied to the Greek golden visa. If your goal is residence and Schengen access, not a Greek passport, you typically don’t need to return after the first visit.

From April 2025, short-term rental restrictions (e.g., Airbnb-style) were introduced for properties participating in the program: penalties of €50,000 and possible cancellation of the permit. As of November 2025, there was a queue of roughly 42,390 applications, and processing was accelerated during 2025.

2. Hungary

Guest Investor Residence Permit in Hungary launched in July 2024 and quickly became one of Europe’s most in-demand new options. There are no physical presence requirements for either obtaining or maintaining status.

After direct real estate investment was removed (in January 2025), there are two remaining routes: €250,000 via a government-accredited real estate fund (with at least 40% of the fund’s net assets invested in residential real estate in Hungary), or €1 million as a donation to a higher education institution.

The fund investment must be held for at least 5 years. The residence permit is issued for 10 years and renewed for another 10 years. Schengen rights are available immediately.

Tax obligations arise only if you become “effectively resident.” If you live in another country, Hungary typically does not tax foreign-source income. Once tax residency is established, a flat 15% rate applies.

Theoretically, citizenship through naturalization is possible after 8 years of continuous residence, but this requires physically being in Hungary and passing language and constitutional knowledge exams. For most golden visa holders, the real value is the residence permit itself.

3. Bulgaria

Bulgaria is the only “golden visa” option in Europe that provides immediate permanent residence. In most other programs, you first receive a temporary status and only later upgrade to permanent residence.

The investment threshold is €512,000 into an eligible fund. Physical presence is not required to maintain permanent resident status.

In January 2025, Bulgaria joined Schengen, and in January 2026 it adopted the euro—removing currency risks that previously made fund subscriptions more complex.

For tax residents, there is a flat 10% rate on income and corporate taxes—one of the lowest in the EU. Citizenship can be pursued after 5 years following permanent residence, subject to a A1 level in Bulgarian (which can realistically be achieved in under two months through distance learning). Children of Bulgarian citizens receive citizenship by descent regardless of age.

In practice, only two funds currently fully meet the requirements. Processing time is about 6–8 months from submission to receiving the permanent residence card.

4. Latvia

Latvia is one of Europe’s oldest and most accessible “golden visa” options (in operation since 2010). There are no physical presence requirements.

There are three investment routes: €50,000 into a company with up to 50 employees and under €10 million turnover; €250,000 into real estate plus a 5% state commission; or €250,000 into subordinated bank obligations.

The €50,000 business-investment route makes Latvia one of the cheapest entry options in Europe with a zero physical presence requirement.

The permit is issued for 5 years as temporary residence, with renewal. Schengen rights are included after approval. Permanent residence is available after 5 years. For citizenship, you need 10 years of continuous residence, knowledge of the Latvian language, and an exam on the constitution.

Latvia doesn’t generate the same volume of applicants as Greece or Portugal, but with a low threshold and no physical presence requirement, it remains a practical “Plan B” for noticeably less money.

5. Malta (MPRP)

Malta Permanent Residence Programme remains in place after an EU Court decision in April 2025 that overturned the CBI program (in the legal dispute over “citizenship by investment”). Under MPRP, there is no minimum residence period.

The scheme consists of several payments. Real estate purchases start at around €375,000 anywhere in the country, or you can choose a rental option—€14,000 per year. In addition: €60,000 in administrative fees (with €15,000 at application and €45,000 after approval), €37,000 as a contribution to the government (regardless of purchase or rental), and €2,000 as a donation to a non-profit organization.

Adult dependents (18+) pay €7,500 each. Spouses and minor children do not require additional payments.

In total, under the rental option, costs begin at roughly €150,000 and depend on family composition. The July 2025 update added a temporary annual resident card issued after the application and initial payment—this allows the family to move while due diligence for the permanent residence application is still in progress.

Malta stands out for including “four generations”: spouses, children, parents, grandparents, and sometimes even great-grandchildren. English is the official language. Schengen travel rights are included after approval. Citizenship follows the standard naturalization route: typically you need at least 4 years out of 6 of physical residence, so the passport track requires a change in lifestyle (unlike the MPRP itself).

6. Italy

Italy’s investment visa (Visto per Investitori) after the December 2020 reform provides zero physical presence requirements—holders are not subject to the general rule that most of the residence permit period must be spent in the country.

There are four investment routes: €250,000 into an Italian innovative startup; €500,000 into an Italian limited liability company; €500,000 into a charitable initiative; or €2 million into Italian government bonds. The most accessible entry is via the startup route.

Processing takes 3–4 months. Authorities do not require you to complete the investment before the visa decision: the capital is paid after approval, which reduces the risk of investing before you know the outcome.

The initial visa is valid for 2 years, then it is extended in 3-year periods.

If you become a tax resident of Italy, a fixed-tax regime for new residents is available. In the 2026 budget law, the annual lump-sum tax was increased to €300,000 on worldwide income from foreign sources (plus €50,000 for each family member) starting January 1, 2026. Those who established residency before that date keep the lower rates under the rules applicable at the time they moved. Citizenship requires 10 years of lawful residence.

7. UAE Golden Visa

UAE Golden Visa does not require physical presence. The 2022 reform removed the former rule that residents had to visit the country every six months.

The investor route is real estate purchase of at least AED 2 million (about $545,000). The visa is issued for 10 years with renewal for another 10. Entrepreneurs can follow a business-investment scheme starting at AED 500,000 linked to an accredited incubator.

Family coverage includes spouses, children, and parents. Processing takes less than a month, making it one of the fastest golden visa options in the world. In Dubai, 158,000 such visas were issued in 2023.

The path to citizenship in the UAE is not standardized: decisions are made by the rulers at their discretion, without published criteria. So the UAE works more like a long-term “nomad visa” than a full “Plan B” with guaranteed passport rights. If your goal is residency in a jurisdiction with zero income tax rates and no obligation to regularly visit, the UAE fits. If you need a passport, it doesn’t.

Options with almost zero presence

8. Portugal (about 7 days per year)

Portugal’s golden visa requires an average of 7 days of physical presence per year: in the first two-year period, you need 14 days, and then in each subsequent two-year extension you also need 14 days. That’s effectively about one week annually.

The real estate route was closed in October 2023. Currently available options include: subscriptions to investment funds from €500,000 (the main route), €250,000 in cultural/art projects, €500,000 in scientific research and business creation that creates at least 10 jobs.

The main value of the program is the route to citizenship. Permanent residence becomes available from year five. Citizenship could also be granted as early as after five years in the past, and that rule was still in effect as of March 2026.

In October 2025, parliament voted to extend naturalization timelines to 10 years for most non-EU citizens and those not belonging to the separate CPLP category. But in December 2025, the Constitutional Court struck down part of the provisions. On April 1, 2026, parliament approved an updated version of the bill. The text was then sent to the new President of Portugal, who may approve it, veto it, or request a constitutional review.

While the law has not formally taken effect yet, the five-year citizenship timeline remains. At the same time, investors filed a constitutional challenge in December 2025. Processing times hit records—39.6 months—and more than 20,000 applicants are waiting for appointments at AIMA. Despite the turbulence, Portugal remains the only program in Europe where almost zero presence is paired with a structured path to EU citizenship—whether it takes 5 or 10 years depends on the outcome of the legislative process.

9. Cyprus (1 visit every two years)

Cyprus requires one visit every two years to keep permanent residence active. Biometrics can be completed online, and physical presence is needed only once during the application process.

The minimum investment is €300,000 under one of four categories: new residential property (plus VAT), commercial property (new or used), shares in a Cyprus company with at least 5 employees, or units/shares in a collective investment fund approved by the Cyprus Investment Fund Association.

You also need proof of sufficient annual income from abroad of at least €50,000, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each dependent child.

Processing takes 2–3 months, one of the fastest in Europe. The permit grants permanent residence from day one. Cyprus is not yet in Schengen, but President Christodoulides has stated a target of joining in 2026.

Citizenship requires at least 7 years of physical residence, with at least 4 years out of the last 6 spent in Cyprus. The non-dom tax regime can exempt eligible residents from tax on dividends and interest for up to 17 years.

10. Singapore (GIP: 1 day per year)

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

In price and status, it sits at the top end of global rankings. The minimum investment threshold is S$10 million (about $7.5 million) into a new business structure or expansion of an existing business, into an approved GIP fund, or into a Singapore single family office with assets under management of at least S$200 million.

After two years of residency, you can apply for citizenship, but the decision is discretionary. Singapore does not allow dual citizenship, so the program may not suit those unwilling to give up their current passport. Processing usually takes around 6 months.

For investors who can place “eight-figure” amounts and accept the limitation on dual citizenship, Singapore offers one of the strongest passports in the world, a stable legal system, and Asia-Pacific connections—things European programs typically don’t offer.

11. Hong Kong (CIES: no mandatory presence for visa renewal)

In March 2024, Hong Kong restarted the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) to attract high-net-worth applicants. The total investment volume is HK$30 million (approximately $3.85 million).

Of this, HK$3 million is allocated to a government portfolio, and HK$27 million goes into permitted instruments: stocks, debt securities, collective investments, and—subject to restrictions—real estate. You also need to prove beneficial ownership of net assets of at least HK$30 million for the two years before applying.

The visa is renewed in two-year periods while keeping the investment. There is no separate physical presence requirement for renewal.

Permanent residence requires 7 years of continuous ordinary residence. If an investor holds the investment for 7 years but does not live in Hong Kong, they can renew the temporary status indefinitely, but they will not get permanent residence.

If you want Hong Kong as a financial platform and a temporary status is acceptable, CIES effectively functions like a zero-presence program. But if your goal is a passport, you’ll need real long-term residence.

Since the March 2024 restart, CIES has attracted more than 1,500 applications and over HK$21 billion in investments.

12. Brazil (VIPER: 14 days every two years, real estate route)

Brazil’s Permanent Residency Investor Visa (VIPER) offers two investment routes with different physical presence requirements.

For real estate, you need BRL 1 million (about $168,000), and for assets in northern or north-eastern regions—BRL 700,000 (roughly $117,000). The initial status is granted as temporary—up to 4 years with renewal possible. Permanent residence is applied for separately after the initial period ends.

Physical presence rules for this route are interpreted somewhat ambiguously. In recent IMI materials, you may find a requirement of 14 days in Brazil every two years for holders under the real estate route. Some industry sources suggest a benchmark of 30 days per year to convert to permanent residence. In practice, the exact numbers can depend on the stage of the process. In any case, one point matters most: if you are absent from Brazil for more than two consecutive years, any resident status is automatically cancelled.

The business route requires BRL 500,000 (about $96,000) and grants permanent residence immediately, but with stricter presence rules: you cannot be absent for more than 6 months in a row, and after three years a business review is conducted.

Brazil has signed the MERCOSUR Residence Agreement: citizens of member countries can live and work in nine South American states. Citizenship is available after 4 years of lawful residence and requires knowledge of Portuguese. A Brazilian passport provides visa-free access to about 169 destinations, including Schengen.

With a budget up to about $170,000, the real estate VIPER route is one of the most affordable “golden” options in the world—combining near-zero presence, a real path to citizenship, MERCOSUR rights, and a strong passport.

How to choose the right program

Your choice depends on what task the “golden visa” should solve.

If the priority is a European residence permit card and Schengen access at the lowest cost, some of the most effective options are Latvia (€50,000) and Hungary (€250,000). Both involve zero physical presence.

If you need a realistic path toward EU citizenship, Portugal remains the best fit: presence is about 7 days per year and historically the timelines have been shorter. In April 2026, parliament voted to extend naturalization to 10 years, but the law is not yet in force and may still face additional constitutional checks.

If your goal is permanent residence from day one, then Bulgaria (€512,000) and Malta MPRP (roughly from €150,000 via the rental route) deliver that. Bulgaria is the only “golden visa” in Europe that grants permanent residence immediately.

If zero taxes and no presence obligation are important, the UAE fits through investments from AED 2 million, but it does not offer a guaranteed path to citizenship.

With a budget in the “seven- to eight-figure” range, Singapore provides permanent residence, enables citizenship after two years, and offers one of the strongest passports in the world—on the condition of only one day of physical presence per year.

Important: any program on the list can change. Governments raise thresholds, close routes, and clarify conditions without long notice. Spain was open for more than a decade, but closed in April 2025. Portugal’s citizenship timelines may also be revised due to parliamentary decisions. That’s why the safest approach is to work with specialized professionals who can structure the application correctly and reduce risks while the rules haven’t changed again.

If you’re considering a golden visa as a way to stay flexible without a constant move, it’s crucial to check not only the investment thresholds, but also the current physical presence rules and how residency can be maintained. At Digital Nomad (digital-nomad.gr), we’ll help you compare options that truly keep requirements low and choose the best jurisdiction for your goals.

Explore Golden Visa options

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