2026 Edition
Citizenship and Golden Visa Cost Index 2026
Data as of 26 September 2026
What does it really cost to buy a second citizenship or a golden visa in 2026? This index prices 14 programmes for a single applicant, a couple and a family of four using the cheapest route in each. Every figure comes from our published guides and matches our cost calculator.
Key findings
Finding 1
Cheapest citizenship for a family of four
Vanuatu at US$180,000 (Development Support Programme), about US$180,000.
Finding 2
Cheapest EU residency for a family of four
Malta Permanent Residence Programme at €110,000 (Lease in the South of Malta or Gozo), about US$124,700.
Finding 3
Most expensive for a family of four
Portugal golden visa at €528,785.20 (Investment fund (€500,000)), about US$599,300.
Finding 4
Biggest gap between single and family cost
Dominica: a family of four pays about US$56,500 more than a single applicant (US$210,000 against US$266,500).
Finding 5
Refundable against non-refundable
7 of 14 programmes are cheapest through a non-refundable payment; 7 are cheapest through a recoverable investment. The lowest-cost recoverable option for a family of four is Hungary at about US$283,300.
The 2026 cost table
Ranked by family of four cost. Family of four means a couple with two children under 12. US$ and € columns are approximate conversions at fixed rates.
| Programme | Route used | Single | Couple | Family of four | Currency | Family of four, approx. US$ | Family of four, approx. € | Refundable | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme | Lease in the South of Malta or Gozo | €110,000 | €110,000 | €110,000 | EUR | US$124,700 | €110,000 | No | Guide |
| Vanuatu | Development Support Programme | US$130,000 | US$150,000 | US$180,000 | USD | US$180,000 | €158,800 | No | Guide |
| Grenada | National Transformation Fund donation | US$244,000 | US$253,000 | US$257,000 | USD | US$257,000 | €226,800 | No | Guide |
| St Lucia | National Transformation Fund donation | US$250,500 | US$257,000 | US$260,000 | USD | US$260,000 | €229,400 | No | Guide |
| Antigua and Barbuda | National Development Fund donation | US$248,800 | US$264,100 | US$264,700 | USD | US$264,700 | €233,600 | No | Guide |
| Dominica | Economic Diversification Fund donation | US$210,000 | US$265,500 | US$266,500 | USD | US$266,500 | €235,100 | No | Guide |
| St Kitts and Nevis | Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) | US$260,250 | US$268,000 | US$268,500 | USD | US$268,500 | €236,900 | No | Guide |
| Hungary | Real estate fund (€250,000) | €250,000 | €250,000 | €250,000 | EUR | US$283,300 | €250,000 | Recoverable investment | Guide |
| Greece golden visa | Conversion or restoration (€250,000) | €252,016 | €252,182 | €252,214 | EUR | US$285,800 | €252,200 | Recoverable investment | Guide |
| Latvia | Real estate (€250,000) | €262,500 | €262,500 | €262,500 | EUR | US$297,500 | €262,500 | Recoverable investment | Guide |
| Cyprus permanent residency | Qualifying investment (€300,000) | €300,570 | €300,640 | €300,780 | EUR | US$340,900 | €300,800 | Recoverable investment | Guide |
| Turkey | Real estate | US$400,000 | US$400,000 | US$400,000 | USD | US$400,000 | €352,900 | Recoverable investment | Guide |
| UAE golden visa | Property (AED 2 million) | AED 2,005,850 | AED 2,005,850 | AED 2,005,850 | AED | US$534,900 | €472,000 | Recoverable investment | Guide |
| Portugal golden visa | Investment fund (€500,000) | €507,946.30 | €514,892.60 | €528,785.20 | EUR | US$599,300 | €528,800 | Recoverable investment | Guide |
Charts
Family of four, approximate US$. Red bars are non-refundable payments; dark navy bars are recoverable investments.
Methodology
For each programme we take the route that is cheapest for a single applicant and price three households with the same calculation used by our cost calculator. The family of four is a main applicant, a spouse and two children under 12. Lease routes, such as Malta, include only the first year of rent.
Included: the minimum investment or donation, government fees, due diligence, processing and other fixed fees stated in our guides.
Excluded: professional, legal and agent fees; property taxes and transaction costs unless a guide gives a fixed figure; fees our guides do not state; and currency movements. US$ and € equivalents use fixed approximate rates.
Date: data as of 26 September 2026. Costs change, confirm with a licensed adviser before you commit any money.
What is changing in 2027: several programmes are under review. See our citizenship and golden visa outlook for 2027 for what to watch.
Sources (our guides):
Use this data
Cite this data
Sovereign Residence Citizenship and Golden Visa Cost Index 2026, sovereignresidence.com/citizenship-cost-index
Work out your own figure
Add your own family to see an itemised estimate, or ask a licensed adviser for an exact quote.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Cost Index measure?
It compares the minimum known cost of 14 citizenship and residence by investment programmes for three households: a single applicant, a couple and a family of four with two children under 12. Each figure adds the investment or donation to the fixed government, due diligence and processing fees stated in our guides.
Which route is used for each programme?
The cheapest route for a single applicant, which the table names for each programme. Other routes can cost more but may be recoverable, so compare them in the cost calculator.
Why are the US dollar and euro figures approximate?
Programmes charge in US dollars, euros or UAE dirhams. We convert them with fixed rates so they can be ranked, and real exchange rates move every day. Always budget in the currency the programme charges.
Are professional fees included?
No. Legal, agent and advisory fees vary by firm and by case, so they are excluded. Property taxes and transaction costs are also excluded unless a guide states a fixed figure.
Does the index match the cost calculator?
Yes. The index uses the same data and the same calculation as our cost calculator, so choosing the same programme, route and family in the calculator gives the same total.
Can I use this data in my own work?
Yes, with a citation. Credit the Sovereign Residence Citizenship and Golden Visa Cost Index 2026 and link to this page. You can download the table as a CSV file and the main chart as an image.