Consisting of a mainland on the Balkan peninsula and thousands of islands spread throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas, Greece has become a major European business center and is re-garded as one of the world’s top holiday destinations.
Greece’s warm Mediterranean climate, world-renowned gastronomy, and cosmopolitan cities, coupled with the country’s exquisite beaches and authentic local traditions and hospitality, have led many upwardly mobile individuals to make this country their second home.
As a member state of the EU, Greece offers its residents and citizens a number of reassuring benefits including high levels of safety and security, excellent education opportunities, robust healthcare options, and a dependable rule of law.
While Portugal is shifting towards offering business-oriented services, a third of its economy remains in manufacturing. It is also the world’s largest supplier of cork and enjoys the benefits of a strong tourism industry. With little of its own hydrocarbon energy resources, Portugal is committed to creating renewable sources of energy such as hydro, wind, and solar power. Over 40% of the energy created in Portugal is from such resources, including the most efficient wind tower in the world.
A relatively small country of approximately 10.2 million people, Portugal boasts a rich history, a lively culture, exceptional cuisine, a mild climate, stunning beaches, and an idyllic countryside.
Golden Visa: Greece and Portugal Residency by Investment
A golden visa is residency obtained through investment. Greece and Portugal are the two programmes most often compared, and both have changed substantially in recent years. Anyone advising you from a fixed price list is advising you from an out-of-date one.
On the numbers. Investment thresholds, qualifying asset classes and residency requirements in both programmes have been revised repeatedly, and further change is expected. We deliberately do not publish a threshold table here, because a figure that is wrong by the time you read it is worse than no figure at all. We confirm the current position with the relevant authority at the point you are ready to act. Ask us and you get today’s number, not last year’s.
What a golden visa actually gives you
- Residency, not citizenship. These are different things. Citizenship, where available at all, comes later and under separate conditions.
- Schengen travel as a resident of the issuing country
- Family inclusion, typically spouse and dependent children, with the definition of dependency varying by programme
- Low physical presence requirements in most programmes, which is the main attraction for investors who do not intend to relocate
The questions that actually decide it
Comparing headline investment amounts is the least useful way to choose. These matter more:
- What qualifies as an investment now? Both programmes have restricted or removed asset classes that previously qualified, real estate in particular. What worked for someone two years ago may not be available to you.
- Where in the country? Greece applies different thresholds by area, so the same budget behaves very differently depending on location.
- What is the path to permanence? Renewal conditions and any route to long-term residency or citizenship differ, and that is usually what you actually care about.
- What are the tax consequences? Residency can trigger tax residency, which is a separate question from immigration status and frequently the more expensive one. Take tax advice in parallel, not afterwards.
- How exposed are you to further change? Both programmes have altered terms with limited notice. Ask what happens to your position if rules change mid-process.
The risks nobody selling these mentions
Golden visa programmes attract intermediaries whose interests are not aligned with yours. In practice, watch for:
- Property sold at inflated prices specifically because it clears an investment threshold
- Assurances about citizenship timelines that the programme does not actually guarantee
- Advisers paid commission by developers, which is not always disclosed
- Silence on tax residency, which is where the real cost often sits
- Reliance on rules already announced as changing
The investment is generally the largest financial decision in the process, and it is the part where independent advice matters most.
Golden visa or another route?
For many people a golden visa is not the best option, and we will tell you so. If you intend to live and work in the Nordics, a work permit, a self-employment permit or an investment route into Sweden may reach the same destination for a fraction of the capital. Golden visas suit people who want European residency without relocating. They suit people who are relocating rather less well.
Frequently asked questions
Does a golden visa give me EU citizenship?
No. It gives residency in the issuing country. Citizenship, where a route exists at all, has separate and considerably longer requirements.
How much do I need to invest?
Thresholds vary by programme, by asset class and, in Greece, by location, and they have changed repeatedly. We confirm the current figure with the relevant authority before you commit rather than quoting one here.
Can my family be included?
Generally yes, typically spouse and dependent children, though each programme defines dependency differently and the definitions have tightened.
Do I have to live there?
Most golden visa programmes have minimal physical presence requirements, which is their central appeal. Any route to permanent status or citizenship usually requires considerably more.
Will a golden visa make me tax resident?
Possibly, depending on your circumstances and how much time you spend there. Immigration status and tax residency are separate questions, and the tax one is frequently the more expensive to get wrong.
Talk to us before you commit capital
Sweden Relocators AB advises on residency and citizenship by investment programmes alongside our Nordic immigration practice. We are not selling you a property, which means we can tell you when the answer is that the programme does not suit you.
Call +46 72 327 62 76, message the same number on WhatsApp, or email info@swedenrelocators.se.
General information, not individual legal, tax or investment advice. Programme terms change frequently and must be confirmed at the time of application. Last reviewed 26 August 2026.