Residency by investment (golden visa) grants a renewable residence permit, not a passport, and citizenship is never automatic. This brief ranks the active European residency-by-investment routes by the Mirabello Investment Migration Index composite, with the official source and verification date on every figure.
2026 Q3 Edition, updated 2026-07-05Ranked by the Mirabello Investment Migration IndexEvery figure carries its official source and verification date
Processing time: not publishedProvisional, verify against the official source
Visa-free access: 182 destinationsProvisional, verify against the official source
Path: Naturalisation generally after 10 years' total residence including 5 continuous years immediately before application, with B1-level Slovenian language, lawful income, and clean record; renunciation of prior citizenship is generally required.Source: gov.si, verified 2026-06-04 (confidence 92)
Minimum investment: EUR 220,000, Tax-residence by property (purchase EUR 220k-275k or lease)Provisional, verify against the official source
Processing time: 3-6 months monthsProvisional, verify against the official source
Visa-free access: 184 destinationsProvisional, verify against the official source
Path: Possible after meeting standard naturalisation requirements (typically 5+ years continuous residence).Provisional, verify against the official source
Processing time: Approximately 3-7 months from application to permanent-residence card in hand (industry comparison sources: 3-6 months; New Balkans Law Office: 5-7 months) monthsSource: mvr.bg, verified 2026-06-04 (confidence 92)
Visa-free access: 177 destinationsProvisional, verify against the official source
Path: Discretionary naturalisation commonly cited at 5 years of permanent residence, subject to a Bulgarian language exam (sources vary A1/A2), Citizenship Council review and presidential decree. Renunciation of prior citizenship may be required for some applicants.Source: mvr.bg, verified 2026-06-04 (confidence 92)
Processing time: 6-12 months (as of December 2025, post-LN 146 reforms) monthsProvisional, verify against the official source
Visa-free access: 184 destinationsProvisional, verify against the official source
Path: Maltese citizenship by naturalisation possible after 5 years of continuous residence (under Maltese Citizenship Act). Requires demonstrating ties to Malta, language proficiency, and good character.Provisional, verify against the official source
Visa-free access: 184 destinationsProvisional, verify against the official source
Path: ENACTED LAW (Lei Orgânica 1/2026, Diário da República, in force 19 May 2026): 7 years of legal residence for EU and CPLP (Lusophone) nationals; 10 years for all other nationalities (was 5 years for all prior to 19 May 2026). GV/ARI holders follow the same timeline. Requires A2 Portuguese language test, clean criminal record, ties to community. Transitional provisions protect applicants who paid AIMA fees or filed IRN citizenship applications before 19 May 2026. Portuguese passport = EU citizenship with 187 visa-free countries.Source: diariodarepublica.pt, verified 2026-06-28 (confidence 90)
Processing time: not publishedProvisional, verify against the official source
Visa-free access: 182 destinationsProvisional, verify against the official source
Path: Naturalisation after 8 years of lawful residence (must hold permanent residence and pass Croatian language proficiency / cultural integration; B1-level Croatian language test). Croatia generally requires renunciation of prior citizenship for naturalised citizens, with exceptions.Source: mup.gov.hr, verified 2026-06-04 (confidence 92)
How to read this brief. Routes are ranked from Mirabello's live dataset. Each figure shows the official source it was verified against and the date. Where a figure is marked provisional, treat it as indicative and confirm against the linked government source before acting. Programme terms change, sometimes with short notice. This is general information, not investment, legal, tax or financial advice.
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Ask Mira for a route based on your nationality and goal, or have a Mirabello specialist confirm eligibility and next steps. Information, not advice.
Mirabello Route Briefs present general information about citizenship and residency by investment programmes, ranked from a verified dataset with official-source citations. They are not investment, legal, tax or financial advice, and no client relationship is formed by reading them. Programme figures are time-sensitive: governments change thresholds, fees and rules, so verify any figure against the linked official source before acting. A Mirabello specialist confirms eligibility and next steps for your specific case.