9 “Golden Visa” and Investment Residence Programs Where You Can Include an Extended Family

In many golden visa reviews, the comparison is built only around the investment amount. But that approach doesn’t answer the question that matters most for families: what happens to your close relatives if you apply not just as an individual, but together with your spouse, children, and elderly parents?

Family-inclusion rules under Residence by Investment (RBI) programs vary dramatically. Some countries allow only a spouse and minor children. Others let you include parents, grandparents, adult children—and even certain relatives from a wider circle in a single application. Depending on the program, the difference can mean tens of thousands of dollars in separate applications—or, on the other hand, the possibility for the whole family to obtain resident status without breaking it into multiple files.

Below are 9 programs that allow you to apply with an extended family—parents, grandparents, and other relatives. The ordering reflects how many generations can be included, plus two practical factors: the cost per dependent and how smooth life is for the family after relocation.

1. Malta Permanent Residence Programme (Malta)

Malta’s MPRP is designed for up to four generations in a single application. In terms of the depth of family inclusion among European RBI options, it’s hard to find a comparable program.

Dependents include: spouse/partner, children (including unmarried/unpartnered adults up to age 29 if financial dependency is proven), parents, and grandparents. In certain cases, great-grandparents may also be considered. In IMI materials, Malta is highlighted as one of the strongest choices for multi-generational families.

A spouse and minor children do not require additional government-fee payments. Each adult dependent (from age 18) is charged at €7,500. After the July 2025 reform, the fee structure was rebuilt—reducing the adult dependent rate from €10,000.

Investment requirement: property purchase for €375,000 (anywhere in the country) or a minimum yearly lease of €14,000. On top of that, there are mandatory payments: an administrative fee of €60,000 (part due at filing, part after approval), a government contribution of €37,000 regardless of buying or renting, and a €2,000 donation to an NGO fund. A detailed breakdown is available on IMI’s MPRP program page.

Asset requirements: either €500,000 in total assets (with at least €150,000 liquid), or €650,000 in total assets with a reduced liquidity threshold of €75,000.

A practical feature: after submitting the application and paying the first portion of the fee, you receive a temporary residence card. It’s extended for 1 year and allows the family to move to Malta, enroll children in school, and travel across the Schengen area while due diligence is conducted for the permanent-status application. The usual processing time for the permanent card is 6–12 months.

Education: English is one of Malta’s official languages, so the language barrier is generally lower than in many other European options. State schools are available to residents (free), and church schools operate using a voluntary-contribution model. International schools follow British/American systems and the IB curriculum; tuition typically falls roughly in the €5,000–€14,500 range per year. On the island, Verdala International School offers a full IB pathway from early years through graduation.

Malta requires private medical insurance covering the country. The public system is free for those who contribute through local employment/social security, but most MPRP holders without on-island work will need private coverage. Private healthcare is widely available, wait times are usually short, and many specialists speak English.

Citizenship: you need 4 years of physical residence in Malta within the last 6 years, including 12 consecutive months immediately before applying. An English or Maltese language test is required. For families ready to relocate for real, this is one of the clearer naturalization routes within the EU.

One more key point: there is no minimum stay period set to keep permanent resident status—Schengen travel rights are activated immediately after approval.

2. Sierra Leone GO-FOR-GOLD (Sierra Leone)

In IMI reviews, GO-FOR-GOLD is often described as the program with the widest rules for including dependents among investment migration options. This becomes especially relevant if you need to “cover” a large family under one package.

The base option includes: spouse, children up to 18, parents, and grandparents—at $10,000 per person. After a six-month pilot, a category called “Special Dependants” appeared, allowing further expansion: multiple spouses, siblings under 30 and their spouses, plus adult children—at $20,000 per person.

There is also a separate “+1 Business Partner” route: you can include an unrelated business partner for $30,000. However, the business partner cannot add their own dependents to the main case. Structurally, this is an unusual format—there are virtually no close analogs in RBI/CBI practice.

On the IMI GO-FOR-GOLD program page, IMI lists the main applicant’s costs as $65,000 plus 1 kilogram of gold stored in the Central Bank’s vaults for 5 years. Due diligence is paid separately: $5,000 for applications up to 5 people and $10,000 for 6–10 people. There is also a fast-track citizenship option: $140,000 “turnkey”, with a passport in 60–90 days.

An important clarification: IMI notes that, as of publication (October 2025 details), the expansion rules were not independently verified through official government sources in Sierra Leone. The program operates under a “Citizenship by Exception” logic (through “exception” provisions). Before filing, you should confirm the current rules with the program’s Master Agent.

Sierra Leone is part of ECOWAS: citizens receive visa-free travel and certain immigration privileges across 15 West African countries. As of January 2026, the country is classified among those subject to a full suspension of entry to the US under current restrictions.

Compared with the European options on this list, Sierra Leone’s “value” isn’t in EU-level education/healthcare infrastructure. Its strength is that you can build a very large family package while keeping the entry cost relatively low. For a “Plan B” focused on maximum family coverage, it can be a strong niche solution.

3. Portugal Golden Visa (Portugal)

Portugal’s golden visa has long been popular with families. Since 2012, more than 12,700 residence permits have been issued to main applicants, and together with them, over 20,000 family dependents. Under the rules, you can include up to three generations in a single package.

Dependents: spouse/partner, children up to 18; also children up to 25 if they are not married and either study full-time or are financially dependent on the applicant; and parents or parents-in-law from age 65. Parents aged 55–64 may be included with proof of financial dependency. IMI’s Portugal Golden Visa guide provides full details.

No additional investment is required for dependents: one shared investment “basket” is used—subscription to a qualifying fund for €500,000 for the whole family. This path became dominant after real-estate was removed as an option in October 2023 (the More Housing reform / Law 56/2023). Alternatives include €250,000 for cultural/art projects or €500,000 for scientific research.

However, there’s a major nuance: government fees are calculated per person. The permit costs roughly €6,050 for each individual (main applicant and each dependent), plus about €605 for application analysis. Renewals are approximately €3,023 per person plus a similar analysis fee. Over a 5-year cycle (initial + 2 renewals), a family of four typically budgets around €25,000–€35,000 in government fees alone (excluding lawyers). This is one of the highest per-dependent fee levels in Europe.

Physical presence: Portugal is among the most flexible—7 days in the first year and 14 days in any subsequent 2-year period. This suits families who want EU status as a “safety net” without moving fully right away.

Citizenship route has changed. Initially, eligibility after the residence permit was based on 5 years from the program start date, but in October 2025 parliament voted to extend timelines to 10 years for most non-EU citizens and non-CPLP nationals. In December 2025, the Constitutional Court partially overturned provisions of the bill; the president vetoed the decree. As a result, on 1 April 2026 parliament approved the updated citizenship law (Decree 17/XVII). Therefore, 10 years for most golden visa holders is now confirmed. For CPLP citizens (e.g., Brazil), it’s 7 years. Some applicants are also expected to go through AIMA procedures.

Portugal ranks highly in global peace rankings (7th place in the 2025 Global Peace Index). The national healthcare system, Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), provides access to treatment under residence rules. In Lisbon and Porto, international schools follow IB, British, and American programs. University tuition for EU residents after citizenship is significantly lower than in the US or the UK.

For families with children approaching university age, the ability to include adult children up to 25 matters. Combined with the right to live, work, and study across any EU country, one application can effectively “spread” the family across the whole bloc.

4. Greece Golden Visa (Greece)

Greece covers three generations, and it stands out with one principle that separates it from every other option on this list: parents and parents-in-law can be dependents with no age limit and without the need to prove financial dependency.

In other European countries, age thresholds and/or proof of dependency are often mandatory. In Portugal it starts at 65 (or 55 with proof of dependency), in Hungary at 65, and in Cyprus parents were removed from the dependent category altogether (a change in May 2023). Greece has no such restriction: if you have parents, they can qualify.

Children can be included up to age 21, and if they continue studying up to 24. Investments are not tied to family size: the main applicant pays €2,000 in government fees for filing, while dependents pay €150 per person plus €16 for the biometric card. For example, for a family of six (two parents, two children, two grandparents), total government fees are roughly €2,750—noticeably less than in Portugal.

The investment structure is a zonal system introduced in September 2024. Options include: €800,000 for Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with populations over 3,100 people (for a single property, minimum 120 sq. m). €400,000 for other regions under the same space requirements. €250,000 for commercial properties intended for residential development and for restorations of heritage-list properties, with no minimum area requirement.

There are also non-property routes: €500,000 in Greek government bonds (minimum 3 years), €500,000 in a fixed-term bank deposit, or €800,000 in shares and corporate bonds.

There is no minimum stay period to maintain status. Details are on IMI’s Greece Golden Visa page.

Healthcare: Greece has both public and private sectors. Residents may use public healthcare (if insured), and private care is available and typically priced moderately by European standards.

International schools in Athens and Thessaloniki run British, American, French, and German programs. Often, they are cheaper than similar options in Lisbon or Malta. Overall, Greece offers one of the most affordable living standards in Western Europe, and that affordability compounds over the family’s years of residence.

Citizenship can be pursued after 7 years of tax residency plus a Greek language exam. That’s longer than Malta (4 years of physical residence), but in the context of the new Portuguese rules (10 years for most), it may be more realistic. If the family’s goal is less about a passport and more about mobility and security, Greece often becomes the most budget-friendly option in terms of “status cost per person.”

The backlog for applications as of November 2025 was estimated at about 42,390 pending cases. In January 2026, Greece proposed changes to speed up renewals, correct previously issued permits retroactively, and reduce the queue.

A ban on short-term rentals (Airbnb-style) has also been introduced for properties under the program. Violations can lead to a €50,000 fine and possible permit withdrawal.

5. Hungary Guest Investor Residence Permit (Hungary)

Hungary’s program launched in July 2024 and quickly became one of the most popular new options in Europe. It supports three generations: spouse/partner, children under 18 (or up to 26 if financially dependent, studying, and not married), plus parents from age 65.

Investment routes: €250,000 into a government-accredited real estate fund or €1 million as a donation to a higher education institution. The direct real-estate option of €500,000 was removed in January 2025 due to housing price risk concerns.

The residence permit is issued for 10 years with the possibility of extending for another 10. To keep status, physical presence is not required. Schengen travel rights are activated immediately. Another key advantage: investors receive pre-approval before capital is injected, reducing financial risk during document preparation. Hungary differs here from programs where you must invest first and then wait for a decision.

For families, this pre-approval structure is especially helpful: you know the application is accepted before the money is committed to the deal.

Processing times are 2–3 months, among the fastest in Europe. In IMI selections, Hungary is one of two European programs (along with Cyprus) where processing is typically under 6 months.

Taxes: Hungary has a flat personal income tax rate of 15% and a corporate tax rate of 9%. For families planning a real move, this can be a plus, though living costs in Budapest have risen in recent years.

The citizenship route in Hungary is the most “difficult” in this list: naturalization requires 8 years of continuous residence, a Hungarian language and cultural knowledge exam, and proof of financial self-sufficiency. So Hungary works well as a mobility tool rather than a “quick passport” option.

In Budapest, international schools offer IB, British, and American models. Healthcare includes both public and private options, and many clinics provide services in English.

6. Russia Golden Visa (Russia)

Russia’s investment residence program allows you to include up to five generations in one application—globally, this is the maximum “coverage depth.” Family members include spouse/partner, children (including adopted children), children’s spouses, parents (including adoptive parents), parents’ spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren.

The program started in January 2023 and provides permanent residence. Investment thresholds start from 15 million rubles (about $170,000) for socially significant projects; thresholds are higher for investments in companies and real estate. Processing time is about 6 months.

In December 2025, Russia removed the requirement for physical presence for 6 months. Now status holders can maintain permanent residence without mandatory trips to the country.

Adult applicants (men 18–65, women 18–63) take exams in Russian language, history, and law. For family members in similar age ranges, a test is also required, though IMI reports this requirement may be postponed. The removal of the language exam for investors was discussed, but no changes were in place at the time of publication.

Citizenship becomes possible after 5 years of legal residence.

In practice, the program attracted few applicants: the number of applications fell from 24 in 2023 to 14 in 2024, and in early 2025 there were only 2 applications, despite the government’s original goal of 300–400 per year. Geopolitics limits interest from most Western investors.

For families from countries where relations with Russia are neutral or positive, the coverage depth (five generations) and a relatively low investment threshold can compete on “family fit” even with Sierra Leone. But for families from countries where alignment with Western sanctions is a critical factor, the challenges will go far beyond immigration.

7. Italy Investor Visa (Italy)

Italy offers an Investor Visa (often called the “Dolce Visa”), where family members join via a family reunification mechanism. Dependents include: spouse/partner, children under 18, adult children with permanent disability, and dependent parents. Parents over 65 qualify without proof of dependency. Parents under 65 qualify if they do not have other children in the country of residence who could support them.

There are four investment routes: €250,000 into an innovative Italian startup, €500,000 into an Italian company, €2 million into Italian government bonds, or €1 million as a charitable donation. For family members, no additional investment is required.

To keep the visa, physical presence is not required. The initial permit lasts 2 years and is extended for another 3. In December 2020, reforms confirmed the “no presence” model for investors: investors holding the investor visa are exempt from the general residence rule.

However, there’s a procedural friction point: family members do not receive documents via an expedited channel like the main applicant. They must apply through the standard family reunification procedure, which can take up to 6 months. A bill (DDL S. 2498) proposes synchronizing timelines, but it hasn’t been adopted yet.

Citizenship requires 10 years of legal residence in Italy with physical presence of at least 183 days per year—the longest naturalization timeline in this list.

For 2026, a flat tax regime will be introduced for new residents: €300,000 per year on worldwide income from foreign sources plus €50,000 for each family member. This replaced the previous threshold of €200,000 starting 1 January 2026.

Education and healthcare: in Rome, Milan, and Florence, international schools follow IB, British, and American programs. Healthcare is provided through the SSN—available to registered residents and those contributing via required payments; private healthcare is widely accessible.

8. Mauritius Permanent Residency Program (Mauritius)

In Mauritius, you can obtain permanent resident status immediately: the investor places a minimum $375,000 into specified real-estate projects. The family package includes spouse/partner, unmarried children, and parents. Important: dependents cannot take up employment in Mauritius.

Government fees: $1,735 for the main applicant and $1,160 for each dependent. The permit is valid for 20 years and is extended as long as the investment is maintained.

Citizenship can be pursued after 7 years of continuous residence, or after 5 years for citizens of Commonwealth countries. There’s also a fast track: if the investor increases the investment to $500,000, eligibility for naturalization appears after 2 years, provided there is physical presence in Mauritius for two consecutive years without absences. English is an official language, and there are no restrictions on dual citizenship.

Mauritius is a tropical island archipelago in the Indian Ocean. GDP per capita is around $30,000 (PPP), so the country is considered one of the wealthiest in Africa. A Mauritian passport provides visa-free travel to the Schengen area, the UK, and over 140 destinations worldwide.

Healthcare: there is a free public system and a growing private sector. International schools use British and French programs. In terms of cost of living, Mauritius is often more affordable than European alternatives, but the island’s limited geography restricts the range of schools and cultural options for families with teenagers and adult children.

For families from Commonwealth countries, the combination of immediate PR + including parents + a shorter path to citizenship makes Mauritius one of the fastest routes to a passport with real mobility value.

9. Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) (Malaysia)

Malaysia’s MM2H program supports including parents and parents-in-law over age 60—a rare option among Asian programs. Children can qualify up to age 34 as long as they are not married and not employed in Malaysia. This is the highest child age threshold among the programs in this list.

MM2H works in three deposit “tiers”: Silver — RM500,000 (about $105,000), Gold — RM1 million (about $210,000), and Platinum — RM5 million (about $1.05 million). After one year, up to 50% of the deposit can be withdrawn to buy property or pay medical expenses.

Physical presence: 60 days per year. For applicants under 50, the presence requirement may be met through a spouse or dependent rather than necessarily by the main applicant personally.

In 2025, 3,172 applications were approved, and the total economic impact was estimated at approximately $983 million driven by deposits and real-estate transactions. The largest share of applicants were Chinese citizens.

Key limitation: in October 2024, revised rules removed the route to permanent residency under the Platinum level. Instead, a renewable permit status valid for 20 years was introduced. Also, MM2H does not provide a structured path to citizenship. Naturalization is possible under Malaysia’s standard immigration rules—typically via 12+ years of residence. Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship.

Education and healthcare: in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru, international schools follow British, Australian, and IB programs, and costs are often lower than in comparable European options. Healthcare has both strong public and private sectors, and medical tourism is well developed.

Bottom line for families: if you need affordable long-term residency in Southeast Asia with generous age limits for children and the ability to include parents, MM2H can be a good fit. But if the goal is to get citizenship “at the end of the journey,” Malaysia is not the best choice within the MM2H framework.

If you’re considering an RBI “golden visa” or investment residence for your family, it’s crucial to look beyond the investment amount and focus on who can be included in the same application. At Digital Nomad, we help you compare Residence by Investment programs, understand eligibility rules for spouses, children, and elderly relatives, and choose a strategy that keeps your family’s process as seamless as possible. Learn more at https://digital-nomad.gr/en/goldenvisa.

Our Telegram channel about various types of Greek residence permits, digital nomad programs, and the Greek Golden Visa: @digitalnomadgr