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Path to EU Citizenship: Residency from €250,000

09/10/2026 Bulgaria 15 min read

A Path to EU Citizenship: European Residency Options from €250,000

June 12, 2025 · Residency by investment · 31 min read

Several European countries offer residency programs through real estate or investment fund routes, with entry thresholds starting from €250,000 (approximately US$280,000). Depending on each country’s rules and your medium- to long-term plans, these programs can be a first step toward long-term residence and, further along, a path to EU citizenship.

Amid global uncertainty and a growing focus on risk management, many investors now view residency by investment as a strategic way to protect their wealth, expand international mobility, and build a contingency plan for the next generation. Policy shifts, geopolitical risk, and demand for high-quality education and healthcare continue to drive families to diversify where they can legally reside.

Choosing the right program means weighing the legal framework, the realistic route to citizenship, policy stability, and how well your capital is preserved. IMM Group encourages investors to approach the information with care, insist on transparency, and follow a clear roadmap, so they can make the most of both the investment and their long-term residency rights.

Investing toward EU citizenship: a strategic move for long-term stability in Europe

With an investment starting from €250,000 in a European residency program, you and your family can secure long-term legal rights and an added layer of asset protection, along with other strategic benefits:

Schengen and international mobility: A residence permit from a Schengen member state allows visa-free short stays across the 29 Schengen countries, and EU citizenship adds visa-free access to many more countries worldwide. This is key to expanding your international mobility for personal, business, or educational purposes.
A stable legal environment and asset protection: European countries are highly regarded for transparent legal systems, independent judiciaries, and political and economic stability. Establishing legal residence in Europe can add a further layer of protection for your family’s assets and interests.
Access to high-quality education and healthcare: Public and private schools in Europe offer consistently high standards, reasonable costs, and globally recognized qualifications. Legal residence programs also often come with access to public healthcare, helping you build a comprehensive safety net for your family.
Expanded business and investment opportunities: A European base gives investors closer access to the EU single market, with potential tax, logistics, and cross-border investment advantages. This can be an important foundation for diversifying and expanding international business operations.

European residency by investment from €250,000: a pathway to EU citizenship

1. Greece Golden Visa – an accessible entry point with long-term benefits

With a real estate investment from €250,000, the Greece Golden Visa is currently one of the most cost-effective European residency by investment programs.

Low investment threshold: from €250,000 in real estate.
Processing time: approximately 12 months.
The property purchase can be completed remotely from your country of residence.
Once the certificate of application (the “blue paper”) is issued, you travel to Greece to provide biometrics and complete the residence permit application.
The right to live and study in Greece.
Visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen countries (stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
Access to healthcare and education on the same terms as local residents.
The residence permit is renewable every 5 years, with no minimum stay requirement.
No upper age limit; no education, interview, work experience, or language requirements, and no police clearance certificate required.

See full details of the Greece Golden Visa program

Pathway to EU citizenship:

Legal residence in Greece for at least 7 consecutive years.
A lawful source of income in Greece, demonstrating financial self-sufficiency.
Basic knowledge of Greek to meet the required language test.
Demonstrated integration into Greek society through factors such as: participation in community activities, knowledge of Greek history and culture, and stable business or employment activity locally.
A clean police clearance certificate from Greece and from your previous countries of residence.

See the full pathway to Greek citizenship

2. Portugal Golden Visa – a stable, sustainable option

With an investment from €500,000 through reputable investment funds structured to manage risk, the Portugal residency by investment program is a strategic choice that delivers long-term value for the whole family.

Investment amount: from €500,000 in an investment fund.
Your whole family can live, work, and study in Portugal.
Visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen countries (stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
Access to healthcare and education benefits on the same terms as local residents.
Risk-managed and legally compliant: an investment from €500,000 in a qualifying fund supervised by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), with no requirement to own real estate, in line with current Golden Visa rules.
Stable legal framework, transparent process: the program operates under Portuguese law and is closely supervised, ensuring stability and transparency.
Low minimum stay requirement: 14 days in each 2-year period.
No age limit for dependent children.
No upper age limit for the main applicant, no interview, and no education or management experience requirements.
Notably, same-sex spouses can be included in the main applicant’s application.

See full details of the Portugal Golden Visa program

Pathway to European citizenship:

Requirements for applying for Portuguese citizenship:

Held a Portuguese residence permit for at least 5 years.
Spent at least 14 days in Portugal in each 2-year period.
Basic Portuguese language proficiency – A2 certificate.
No criminal record in Portugal or elsewhere.

Maintaining residence or permanent residence status while the citizenship application is pending (if citizenship has not been granted within 1 year of applying, before the end of year 6 you will need to):

Renew the Golden Visa for a third time, for a 2-year period. The renewal follows the same conditions as the previous renewals: maintaining the investment and meeting the minimum stay requirement.
Or move to permanent residence, provided you have resided in Portugal for at least 2 months per year.

Featured investment funds:

Portugal Hospitality Ventures Fund (PHV): a flexible two-tier investment structure that complies with the new Golden Visa law. The PHV fund raises capital from investors and invests in shares and convertible bonds of the operating company (Op Co). The Op Co partners with the property-owning company (Prop Co) to develop and operate tourism and resort projects.

See the full pathway to Portuguese citizenship

3. Cyprus permanent residence by investment program

The Republic of Cyprus is an EU member state in the Eastern Mediterranean, notable for its strategic position between three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. With a stable economy, favorable tax policies, a safe living environment, and a legal system modeled on the UK’s, the Cyprus permanent residence program is becoming an increasingly attractive option for global investors.

A minimum investment of €300,000 through the following routes:

Purchase up to 2 new houses or apartments (which may be rented out)
Purchase commercial real estate
Invest equity capital in a company in Cyprus
Invest in Cyprus funds
Processing time: approximately 12 months.
Live, study, and do business freely in Cyprus.
High quality of life, well-developed infrastructure, and modern public healthcare meeting European standards, provided at no direct cost to citizens and permanent residents.
An education system based on UK standards.
A transparent business environment with clear rules. Corporate tax is 12.5%, among the lowest in Europe.
No minimum stay requirement: you only need to visit Cyprus once every 2 years.
No inheritance tax, and holding residence does not in itself make you taxable on worldwide income.
No upper age limit; no interview or language requirements.
Dual citizenship permitted.

See full details of the Cyprus Permanent Residence Permit program

Pathway to EU citizenship:

The applicant has held legal residence in the Republic of Cyprus for at least 8 years, including 12 months of continuous residence immediately before filing the naturalization application.
In the 7 years preceding that continuous residence period, the applicant must have at least 4 years of cumulative residence in Cyprus.
The total minimum residence period to qualify for citizenship is 1,825 days (equivalent to 5 years).
Continue to hold the original investment that underpins your permanent residence — real estate, investment fund units, or company shares — without interruption.
A clean police clearance certificate from the Republic of Cyprus and from every country where you have resided.

See the full pathway to Cypriot citizenship

4. Bulgaria permanent residence by investment program

Bulgaria occupies a strategic position in the Balkans, connecting Western Europe with Eastern European markets. The country has a stable, developed economy, low investment and living costs, and a transparent legal system, creating a favorable environment for investors and their families to grow and integrate.

Investment amount: €512,000 in a collective investment scheme, maintained for at least 5 years.
Permanent residence for the whole family.
Live, study, and work in Bulgaria without time limits.
Visa-free travel within the Schengen Area: short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen countries.
No continuous residence requirement for the first 5 years. After 5 years, you only need to visit any EU country once a year, and visit Bulgaria once every 6 years.
You may withdraw your capital after 5 years while retaining permanent residence status.
One of the lowest personal income tax rates in the EU (a flat 10%).
No interview, no language requirement, and no need to prove qualifications or business experience.

See full details of the Bulgaria permanent residence program

5. Hungary residency program (Guest Investor Program)

Hungary’s former permanent residence program (the Residency Bond Program) offered a government bond investment route from €300,000. However, that program officially closed in March 2017.

The program has now officially reopened under the new name Guest Investor Program, with 2 investment routes: investing in a fund or contributing to an educational institution (effective from July 1, 2024).

Investment amount:

Invest €250,000 in a registered real estate fund.
Or donate €1,000,000 to a higher education institution in Hungary.
Live, work, and study freely in Hungary for the whole family.
Visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen countries (stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
Access to healthcare and education benefits on par with local residents.
The initial residence permit is valid for up to 10 years, one of the longest terms in Europe.
It can be renewed for a further 10 years.
No upper age limit; no interview, education, or management experience requirements.
No minimum stay required to maintain the residence permit.

See full details of the Hungary Guest Investor Program

6. Latvia residency by investment program

Latvia is an increasingly attractive investment migration destination in Europe: an EU member, part of the Schengen Area, and a eurozone country. The Latvia residency by investment program is designed as a strategic tool to attract international capital and promote foreign direct investment (FDI) into priority sectors such as technology, life sciences, and small businesses.

Investors under this program receive a temporary residence permit (TRP) valid for up to 5 years, which must be registered annually, with no minimum stay requirement to maintain the permit.

Investment from €50,000 through the following options:

Share capital investment in a Latvian company (from €50,000; €100,000 or more for larger companies).
Real estate purchase (minimum €250,000, held for at least 5 years).
Purchase of zero-interest government bonds (€250,000, repaid after 5 years).
Deposit/subordinated capital with a Latvian bank (€280,000, held for at least 5 years).
Fast processing: approximately 30–90 days.
Freedom to live, study, and do business in Latvia.
High quality of life, EU-standard public healthcare, and free public education for children.
A transparent legal system and business environment with clear regulations.
No minimum stay requirement to maintain the TRP; you only need to visit Latvia periodically for the annual registration.
No inheritance tax, and holding residence does not in itself make you taxable on worldwide income.
No upper age limit; no interview or language requirements.
Dual citizenship permitted only for nationals of EU, EFTA, and NATO member states, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand.

See full details of the Latvia residency program

Pathway to EU citizenship

Applicants must hold legal residence in Latvia for at least 10 years to be eligible to apply for citizenship.
During this period, continue to hold the initial investment (real estate, business, fund, or bank deposit) without interruption to retain your residence rights.
A clean police clearance certificate from Latvia and from every country where you have previously resided.
Compliance with integration requirements, including Latvian language and culture.

Portugal D7 visa: a route to European residence without investment

Portugal is one of Europe’s most livable countries, with a stable political environment, modern infrastructure, and a reasonable cost of living. The Portugal D7 visa (passive income visa) is designed for applicants with stable passive income who wish to settle in Portugal long-term without investing or running a business.

Proof of stable passive income of at least:

Main applicant: €10,440 per year.
Each accompanying adult: €5,220 per year.
Each accompanying child: €3,132 per year.
No large financial investment required.
Low minimum stay requirement: 14 days in each 2-year period.
No upper age limit; no interview or education requirements.
The right to live, work, and study in Portugal.
Visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen countries (stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
Access to healthcare and education on the same terms as local residents.

See full details of the Portugal D7 visa program

IMM Group’s assessment and recommendations

As European residency programs face pressure from the EU to change, the Portugal Golden Visa continues to offer policy stability and a workable application process — a decisive factor for investors weighing a European residence route toward EU citizenship.

In IMM Group’s view, this is one of the few programs in Europe today that combines everything needed for an EU naturalization plan that is viable, legally grounded, and practical to execute, including:

A transparent, stable legal framework: investment in established qualifying investment funds structured to manage risk — the entire process is clearly set out in Portuguese law, and the funds are supervised by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM).
The qualifying period for citizenship counts from the date of application: not from the date the residence card is issued — a strategic difference that helps investors optimize time and cost and plan their long-term residence proactively.
A flexible minimum stay requirement (7 days per year): you can keep your global business running without changing where you actually live.
No donation required, no interview, no management experience requirement — well suited to individual investors and multigenerational families looking to integrate a second passport into a global wealth and residence strategy.

From the perspective of international wealth management and cross-border succession, holding Portuguese citizenship offers:

EU citizenship: allows your whole family to live, study, and work freely in any EU member state.
A strong passport: visa-free or simplified visa access to more than 180 destinations, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
A lasting advantage in global succession planning and asset protection: particularly for families expanding their personal and business interests internationally.

Acting while the Portugal Golden Visa still operates under its current terms may help investors reduce their exposure to policy changes, especially as the EU continues to tighten immigration rules. Based on the legal framework now in effect, a clear path to naturalization, and the program’s stability, IMM Group considers the Portugal Golden Visa a sound option for investors seeking European residence aligned with a medium-term goal of EU citizenship.

IMM Group: why choose a proven advisory firm?

The global investment migration market is constantly shifting and increasingly complex, and investors need an advisory partner who not only helps build a strong application but also gives their family peace of mind about the future. For European residency and citizenship programs and all of our global investment migration solutions, IMM Group stands apart as a strategic advisory partner, supporting you with experience and integrity.

As a pioneer with more than 21 years of hands-on experience in Vietnam, IMM Group does not act as a sales agent. We do more than advise — we design investment migration solutions built on:

Rigorous due diligence and risk management: Having successfully handled hundreds of applications, including complex cases, we conduct multi-layered project due diligence and protect investors’ interests rigorously, including during periods of market stress.
In-depth professional consulting and full transparency: Every IMM Group advisor and case manager holds an investment migration advisory certification from the Investment Migration Council (IMC). Our team analyzes benefits and risks in full, so you can make decisions based on complete and accurate information. We put our clients’ long-term interests first.
Integrity and commitment every step of the way: Guided by our philosophy, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group stays with you from the first step until you have settled in your new country. Integrity is our foundation, reflected in our readiness to stand up for clients’ interests and to proactively refund service fees when risks beyond the client’s control arise, as set out in the contract.
Giving back: Since 2025, IMM Group has operated as a nonprofit enterprise, committing at least 50% of its annual profits to the Be Better Fund. By choosing IMM Group, you join us in supporting meaningful initiatives and the social responsibility and human values we pursue.

If you are interested in European investment migration programs, you can contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help assess the prospects of your application. We are committed to keeping your personal data confidential and will use the information you provide solely to advise on your family’s application.

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