Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa 2026: A Comprehensive Comparison

Greece and Portugal remain two of Europe's most popular Golden Visa programmes. However, a legal reform in Portugal in October 2025 fundamentally changed the traditional comparison between the two. In this article we look in detail at the current investment routes, stay requirements and, above all, this major citizenship change.

Full Comparison Table

The Most Important Development of 2026: Portugal's Citizenship Advantage Is Gone

The key feature that for years made Portugal's Golden Visa more "attractive" than Greece's was the ability to apply for citizenship after just 5 years with almost no physical presence (14 days every 2 years). The new citizenship framework approved by the Portuguese Parliament in October 2025 raised this period to 10 years for future applicants (7 years for citizens of the CPLP — Portuguese-speaking countries — and EU citizens). The rule comes into force in 2026; investors who had already applied under the previous framework keep the 5-year period.

This change significantly altered the balance between the two programmes. Both countries now require a multi-year process for citizenship, but the fundamental difference remains: Portugal's 10-year period requires almost no physical presence (14 days/2 years), whereas Greece's 7-year period demands real and continuous physical residence (183 days/year). In other words, Portugal still offers a "without moving" option, but it is no longer "fast".

Investment Routes: Tangible Asset or Liquid Fund?

Portugal removed the property route entirely in 2023; today only a €500,000 regulated fund investment, a €200,000 cultural/heritage donation, research investment or the creation of 10+ jobs are available. Greece, by contrast, remains property-centred — offering a wide range from the €250,000 conversion route to the €800,000 premium areas — while non-property options such as funds, bonds, deposits and start-ups (as detailed in the relevant articles of our series) are also available.

This difference is decisive depending on the investor's profile: Portugal's fund route offers a professionally managed, liquid structure without responsibilities such as tenant management, maintenance or local property tax. Greece's property route offers a tangible asset and potential rental income (as covered in our series' rental income tax article), but also brings the responsibilities of property ownership (ENFIA, maintenance, the short-term rental ban).

Processing Time: Greece's Quiet Advantage

A difference that rarely stands out in most comparisons but is very decisive in practice: AIMA, Portugal's immigration authority, has a backlog of around 39.6 months, which means an application can take years to be decided. In Greece, as detailed in our series' application timeline article, the process can usually be completed in 6-9 months with a clean file. This is a factor that clearly puts Greece ahead on the question of "which country delivers results faster".

Minimum Stay: Both Are Low, but Portugal's Is Even Lower

Both countries offer a low physical-presence requirement for keeping the residence permit. Portugal technically has an even more minimal requirement, with 14 days in the first two years and 14 days every two years thereafter. Greece requires no minimum stay at all to keep the residence permit — as stressed in the relevant articles of our series, this offers full flexibility to those who only want to keep residence rights (such as Schengen access), but the flexibility disappears for those who want to reach citizenship.

Which Profile Should Choose Which Country?

• For those who want a tangible property asset, potential rental income and a lower entry budget (starting from €250K): Greece.
• For those who prefer a professionally managed, liquid fund investment without property-management hassle: Portugal.
• For those who really plan to live in Greece and become citizens after 7 years: Greece's path is shorter and clearer.
• For those who want long-term citizenship without moving, with low physical presence (14 days every 2 years): Portugal still offers this flexibility, but the period is now 10 years (or 7 years for CPLP/EU citizens).
• For those whose priority is fast processing: Greece's 6-9-month process is clearly faster than Portugal's 39.6-month backlog.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Portugal's citizenship advantage still valid?
Partly. The new framework approved by the Portuguese Parliament in October 2025 raised the time to citizenship from 5 to 10 years for future applicants (7 years for CPLP and EU citizens); the rule comes into force in 2026. Investors who had already applied under the previous framework keep the 5-year period. This means Portugal's traditional "fast citizenship" advantage has largely disappeared for new applicants, although the low physical-presence requirement (14 days/2 years) is still retained.

2. Can I invest in property in Portugal?
No. In 2023 Portugal completely removed property investment as an eligible Golden Visa route. Today only a €500,000 regulated investment fund, a €200,000 cultural/heritage donation, research investment or the creation of 10 or more jobs are available. Greece, by contrast, remains property-centred; this is a key difference that puts Greece ahead for investors who want a tangible asset and potential rental income.

3. In which country is processing faster?
Greece has a clear advantage here. While Portugal's immigration authority AIMA has a backlog of around 39.6 months, in Greece the process can usually be completed in 6-9 months with a clean file. For investors who want quick results, this difference can carry significant weight in the decision.

4. What is the key difference between Portugal's fund route and Greece's property route?
Portugal's fund route offers a professionally managed, liquid investment without responsibilities such as tenant management, maintenance or local property tax. Greece's property route offers a tangible asset and potential rental income, but also brings the responsibilities of property ownership (such as ENFIA property tax, maintenance and the short-term rental ban). The choice depends on whether the investor wants to be involved in property management.

5. Which country makes more sense if I do not really plan to move?
If your goal is only to keep residence rights (such as Schengen access) and you do not really plan to move, both countries offer a low physical-presence requirement: Greece requires no minimum stay, while Portugal requires 14 days every 2 years. If you are aiming for citizenship, however, you need to choose between Portugal's 10-year path (low presence) and Greece's 7-year path (high presence, 183 days/year) based on whether you genuinely intend to move.

Note: The information in this article is based on general observations, and both countries' legislation can change quickly; it does not constitute investment advice. Contact us to determine which of the Greek and Portuguese options best suits your goals — we are with you from the beginning to the end of the Golden Visa process.