Malta Golden Visa vs Portugal Golden Visa
Malta golden visa route: $6,164 fee, $1,941 a month. Portugal golden visa route: $678 fee, 24 months.
- Portugal Golden: $1,256 a month, $685 less than Malta Golden.
- Portugal Golden: $678 to apply, $5,486 less than Malta Golden.
- Malta Golden: about 19.5 weeks, 33 weeks sooner than Portugal Golden.
- Portugal Golden: 7 days a year required, 7 more than Malta Golden.
Built for: Passive investors.
- Income
- $1,941/mo
- Fee
- $6,164
- Processing
- 13-26 weeks
- Income
- $1,256/mo
- Fee
- $678
- Duration
- 24 months
Next steps
Malta Golden
Portugal Golden
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Side by side
Malta Golden Visa
Portugal Golden Visa
Visa type
Status
Initial duration, months
Renewable
Built for
Minimum age, years
Practical minimum age, years
Nationality restrictions
Processing time, minimum (weeks)
Processing time, maximum (weeks)
Where to apply
Interview required
Medical exam required
Minimum income, per month
Minimum savings, one time
Minimum investment, one time
Investment types
Application fee, one time
Renewal cost, one time
Social Security counts as income
Local work permitted
Health insurance required
Local bank account required
Apostille required
US FBI background check required
Certificate of coverage required
Minimum lease, months
Required documents
Leads to permanent residency
Years to permanent residency
Years to citizenship, PR plus naturalization
Days in country, per year
Tax regime
US tax treaty
| Field | Malta Golden Visa | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Golden visa | Golden visa |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Initial duration, months | Not specified | 24 |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Built for | Passive investors | Passive investors |
| Minimum age, years | 18 | 18 |
| Practical minimum age, years | 18 | 18 |
| Nationality restrictions | Non-EU nationals only | Non-EU nationals only |
| Field | Malta Golden Visa | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income, per month | $1,941 | $1,256 (Lowest known income requirement) |
| Minimum savings, one time | $545,000 | Not specified |
| Minimum investment, one time | $34,256 (Lowest known investment) | $224,152 |
| Investment types | Real estate | Investment fund, Business creation, Capital transfer |
| Application fee, one time | $6,164 | $678 (Lowest known fee) |
| Renewal cost, one time | $11,419 | $691 (Lowest known renewal cost) |
| Field | Malta Golden Visa | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security counts as income | Not specified | No |
| Local work permitted | Not specified | No |
| Field | Malta Golden Visa | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Processing time, minimum (weeks) | 13 weeks | 1 weeks (Fastest known processing) |
| Processing time, maximum (weeks) | 26 weeks (Fastest known processing) | 103.9 weeks |
| Where to apply | 3 items listedSee where to apply on the visa page | 2 items listedSee where to apply on the visa page |
| Interview required | No | No |
| Medical exam required | No | No |
| Field | Malta Golden Visa | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Leads to permanent residency | No | Yes (Path to permanent residency) |
| Years to permanent residency | 0 years (Shortest known path to permanent residency) | 5 years |
| Years to citizenship, PR plus naturalization | Not applicable | 15 years |
| Days in country, per year | 0 days (Fewest days required in country) | 7 days |
| Field | Malta Golden Visa | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Tax regime | Not specified | Worldwide |
| US tax treaty | Not specified | Yes, full treaty |
| Field | Malta Golden Visa | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance required | Yes | Yes |
| Local bank account required | Not specified | No |
| Apostille required | Yes | Yes |
| US FBI background check required | No | No |
| Certificate of coverage required | No | No |
| Minimum lease, months | 60 months | Not specified |
| Required documents | 9 items listedSee full list on the visa page | 6 items listedSee full list on the visa page |