# Do golden visas still exist in 2026?

Yes, but fewer of them. As of October 2026, Spain has closed its golden visa, the EU's top court has ruled Malta's citizenship for investment scheme illegal, and programs such as the UAE Golden Visa remain open.

A golden visa is residency granted in exchange for a large investment. Some countries also sold citizenship outright. Both models have come under pressure, especially in Europe.

Spain ended its golden visa on 3 April 2025, under Organic Law 1/2025, according to a KPMG legal alert. Applications filed before that date follow the old rules. Permits already issued stay valid for their full term.

On 29 April 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in case C-181/23. It found Malta's investor citizenship scheme breached EU law. The court said EU citizenship cannot be acquired through a financial transaction.

Outside the EU, investor residency is still common. The UAE government lists a Golden Visa of 5 or 10 years. One investor category requires minimum capital of AED 2 million, per its page updated 28 July 2026.

Program rules and amounts change quickly. Confirm the current terms with the official consulate or a qualified immigration professional before you invest. This is educational research, not legal advice.

## Sources

- [Legal alert: elimination of the Golden Visa](https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmgsites/es/pdf/2025/01/legal-alert-ingles-eliminacion-golden-visa.pdf.coredownload.inline.pdf), KPMG Abogados (Spain)
- [Malta investor citizenship scheme violates EU law](https://kpmg.com/us/en/taxnewsflash/news/2025/05/malta-investor-citizenship-scheme-violates-eu-law.html), KPMG TaxNewsFlash
- [Golden visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visas/golden-visa), UAE Government (u.ae)

Facts checked 2026-10-08. Next review by 2027-01-08. Written and reviewed by Todd Allyn, Sovereo Intelligence Research. Canonical page: https://www.sovereo.com/answers/do-golden-visas-still-exist-in-2026/
Educational research, not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice.