While the US president Donald Trump creates new choices for the rich who want to move to the USAthe Europe It moves in the opposite direction, as the Bloomberg agency notes. Europe withdraws the so -called “golden visa” programs, as they did not deliver the expected benefits and in some cases had the opposite effect. This is especially true for Portugal, where one of Europe’s most popular programs resulted in foreigners buying real estate at the expense of the locals.

In most cases, the threshold for acquiring a residence permit in Europe was much lower than the cost of Trump Gold Card’s $ 1 million – as part of a broader change in US immigration policy, which includes the imposition of $ 100,000 on companies to hire university workers from abroad.

Bloomberg agency presented the gold visa programs in Europe:

Greece

Investors from countries outside the European Union can obtain a golden visa in Greece by purchasing real estate worth 800,000 euros in Athens, Thessaloniki or in islands with a population of over 3,100.

In other parts of the country, the value of the housing is at least 400,000 euros. Alternatively, an investment of 250,000 euros can be made to a commercial property used as a residence.

In all cases, properties cannot be used for short -term leases and must have an area greater than 120 square meters.

Other options for obtaining a residence permit include investments of various amounts in Greek government bonds, newly established technology businesses or renovation of historical buildings.

Citizens from China and Turkey are the two top groups that have received gold visas in Greece, while demand from the United Kingdom has grown after Brexit. Applications from Israel have increased in the midst of the prolonged conflict in Gaza, and demand has increased by the US, according to official data, the international agency said.

The residence permit is issued for five years and may be renewed indefinitely, provided that the investment is maintained. Investors receiving the visa are not obliged to reside in Greece.

Portugal

The country has put an end to the possibility of acquiring a residence permit through a real estate purchase in 2023, in an attempt to reduce real estate prices. However, there is still an alternative.

In order to boost Portugal’s capital base, applicants must invest at least 500,000 euros in an approved investment or business capital. To qualify, entities must have more than 60% of their resources in domestic assets, including bonds, shares or local projects, such as photovoltaics.

If you choose to donate to a non -profit organization, the amount is reduced to 250,000 euros, or even to 200,000 euros if the organization benefits an area with a low population. The program has become popular in the US, Brazil and China.

Wealthy foreigners must only spend a week a year in Portugal in the first year and 14 days each next two years to be entitled to a rapid residence permit. This had some strange implications, such as increasing the value of avocados and contributing to the rise of the stock market. A museum of classic cars in a small village also raised money to improve its collection.

United Kingdom

A special visa for foreigners investing significant sums in Britain has been discussed as part of Prime Minister Kir Starmer’s plans to mitigate the financial blow from recent tax increases and broader work permits.

According to a previous report by Bloomberg, the investor visa is possible for people who wish to fund sectors that are considered to be of strategic importance, such as artificial intelligence, pure energy and bio -sciences.

While the British government is skeptical of the revival of problems associated with previous gold visa programs, a visa investor could signal that the United Kingdom is charting a different course from the EU, which is trying to limit the immigration incentives.

Separately, the United Kingdom is considering plans to exemption from some visa fees for leading international talents, according to a Financial Times report.

Hungary

The country closed the original gold visa program in 2017 due to corruption concerns, but reinstated a new program last year. The resume was aimed at attracting wealthy foreigners, while facing some of the criticism of the previous program. He also sought to channel investment to the local economy without overheating the housing market.

Applicants can now qualify in two ways. One option is to invest at least 250,000 euros in an approved real estate investment fund. These investments must be maintained for five years and the Fund is required to invest at least 40% of its net assets in Hungarian properties.

The second option includes a donation of EUR 1 million to a higher education institution operating under the management of a common interest institution.

The license is granted for up to 10 years and can be renewed once for another decade, making it one of the long -term residence options in Europe.

It is important to note that Hungary has abolished the previous capacity to purchase a € 500,000 property at the beginning of the year, which means that investors can no longer qualify by buying real estate.

Italy

At the end of 2017, Italy introduced a special visa aimed at attracting foreign investors. In return for a strategic investment, the program provides citizens outside the EU renewable two -year residence permit.

Investments taken into account for visa are at least 2m euros in Italian government bonds, € 500,000 to an Italian company or 250,000 euros in an innovative Italian newly established company. Alternatively, applicants can also make a charity donation of at least € 1 million in areas of public interest.

The Visa Investor in Italy – which has been suspended for the citizens of Russia and Belarus – is aimed only at natural persons, but beneficiaries can apply for a residence permit for their spouses, children and their parents.

By the end of 2021, 64 applications had been submitted from 20 different nationalities and 50 people were accepted for a total investment of 40m euros. The Giorgia Melon government has not provided further information about the program.

Spain

The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez finished the “Golden Visa” program for foreign real estate buyers last year in an attempt to increase the number of affordable houses available to the locals.

The program, which issued residence permits to citizens outside the EU who invests at least 500,000 euros in a home in Spain, attracted thousands. Investors mainly came from China, Russia, the US and the United Kingdom.

Like other similar programs, it began after the 2008 financial crisis, when Spain was in great need of capital, but it became a political burden for Sanchez, as the economy is growing and the Spaniards have difficulty buying homes.

Ireland

With a flourishing economy, Ireland ended the “Golden Visa” program in February 2023, after a review of its “suitability”. The program was introduced by the Irish government in 2012 for non -EU nationals with a personal property of at least 2m euros, and applications came mainly from wealthy Chinese.

The government continued to process the applications it received until the deadline of February 15, approved 535 visas in 2024, 97% of which involved Chinese nationals. In the first six months of 2025, Ireland approved 208 applications, including 185 Chinese and 11 US nationals.

The country’s justice ministry said the processing of residual applications submitted until the deadline is expected to take several years.

Netherlands

The program to attract foreign investors, which offers a € 1.25m investment residence permit, was interrupted in April last year due to lack of interest.

According to the website of the Dutch Migration Service, less than 10 licenses have been issued in recent years. Even after relaxing the rules, the Netherlands did not accept further applications.

Northern Macedonia

The country has an investment citizenship program, which allows foreigners to gain citizenship if they invest in Northern Macedonia, which is a candidate for EU accession. The amount ranges from 200,000 euros to a government -approved fund up to 400,000 euros in a new business installation of at least 10 businesses and a new business installation of 10,000 businesses. hospitality.