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Repealed Golden Visa Programs

Golden visa and investor residence programs that have closed – Spain, Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom – with what each one offered, when and why it ended, and the open residence programs to consider instead.

Looking for a program that is open today? Compare current golden visa and residence by investment programs.

Why golden visa programs close

Governments have closed investor residence routes for three main reasons. The first is security: the UK closed its Tier 1 Investor visa over concerns about illicit finance and corrupt elites. The second is housing: Spain ended its golden visa to cool property prices in its big cities. The third is low economic benefit: the Netherlands and Australia found their schemes did too little for the wider economy. International pressure also plays a part, and Ireland cited findings from the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the OECD when it closed its program.

What happens to people who already hold a golden visa?

In every case below, people who already held residence kept it. Applications filed before each closing date were still processed, and existing permits could be renewed under the old rules, within the deadlines each country set.

Which golden visa programs are still open?

Portugal, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Luxembourg in Europe, along with the UAE, Panama, the United States (EB-5), New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and others, still offer residence by investment. Compare all open golden visa and residence by investment programs with official minimums and processing times.