Europe · European Union · Updated 2026-07-20

EU golden visas in 2026: what’s still open and where the door has closed

A 2026 map of European residency-by-investment: which golden visas remain open, which have closed (Spain, Malta citizenship), and how EU policy is reshaping the field.

The European “golden visa” map has changed sharply. Some flagship programmes have closed, others have tightened, and EU institutions are pushing to phase the model out. Here is where things stand in 2026.

What has closed

• Spain ended its golden visa in April 2025, citing housing affordability. Existing holders keep their status, but no new applications are accepted.
• Malta’s investor-citizenship route was struck down by the EU’s top court in April 2025 (Malta still offers residency — see our Malta guide).
• Ireland and the Netherlands closed their routes earlier, and several others have narrowed sharply.

What remains

Residency-by-investment options still exist in a handful of EU countries — notably Portugal and Greece (covered in our dedicated guides), alongside a few others. But the direction of travel is toward higher thresholds, narrower routes (funds and business rather than real estate), and more scrutiny. Ongoing programme changes are tracked on IMI Daily's Europe desk. Some countries have moved to close or restrict their programmes for 2027.

The EU’s position

EU institutions increasingly treat investment-migration as a security and integrity concern. The Commission has signalled that simply operating a citizenship-by-investment programme can be grounds to review a country’s visa-free access to the Schengen area, and watchdog groups have welcomed the tougher line. The upcoming EES and ETIAS border systems (see our travel guide) add another screening layer.

What this means for applicants

Two takeaways. First, if an EU option matters to you, act on current rules and don’t assume a programme will still exist next year — windows have closed with little notice. Second, be realistic about the endgame: EU residency is achievable, but a fast EU passport by investment is no longer available, and citizenship now means a genuine, multi-year residency commitment.

Programme statuses change quickly and vary by country. Confirm the current position with the relevant national authority before applying.