# Portugal, Spain, and Greece Golden Visa Programs Compared **URL:** \ **Category:** Article discussion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502 "2020-08-13T14:52:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tkrunning](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/tkrunning/32/9053_2.png) [@tkrunning](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tkrunning)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/1 "2020-08-13T14:52:14Z")
“Golden Visa” is a residence permit scheme. The Golden Visa programs grant investors the right to live in a country in exchange for a qualifying investment. The investment options, the benefits, and the extent of the preferential treatment differ depending on the issuing country. * * * This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at [https://nomadgate.com/portugal-vs-spain-vs-greece-golden-visa/](https://nomadgate.com/portugal-vs-spain-vs-greece-golden-visa/) ---
**Author:** ![hgus2727](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@hgus2727](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/hgus2727)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 8:11am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/2 "2020-08-17T08:11:02Z")
Nice analysis… Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Papa](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@Papa](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Papa)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2020, 7:51am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/3 "2020-08-25T07:51:27Z")
Thank you for the information. Just noticed a typo in two places (same typo). In the second table (Benefits) and third table (Stay Requirement for Residency), you have “No requirement to reside in [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/)” under the “Stay Requirement (Residence)” for Spain. Again, thank you for your effort ---
**Author:** ![tkrunning](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/tkrunning/32/9053_2.png) [@tkrunning](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tkrunning)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/4 "2020-08-25T15:20:46Z")
Thanks, I’ve corrected the mistake! ---
**Author:** ![imarkphillips](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/imarkphillips/32/2324_2.png) [@imarkphillips](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/imarkphillips)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/5 "2020-08-31T15:24:00Z")
Can you elaborate on the line "Each program provides the right to live in the corresponding country and travel within the Schengen countries without the need for an additional visa. " Does this mean someone can travel full time in the Schengen zone without counting the days outside their resident country? ---
**Author:** ![nomadiconion](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@nomadiconion](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/nomadiconion)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/6 "2020-09-01T20:52:25Z")
That’s correct. A residency permit in any country in the Schengen zone allows you to travel freely within the respective countries, subject only to their individual immigration restrictions. ie you cannot spend more than 90 days in any individual country without registering and a residency permit in one country does not allow you to reside in any other country. So a PR card from [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/) would allow you to travel to, for examle, 60 days in Italy, 70 days in France, 80 days in Spain etc but you could not move your residence to Spain. As a practical matter, you could probably get away with spending longer than 90 days in a country as there are no checks, but the legal limit is 90 days. ---
**Author:** ![imarkphillips](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/imarkphillips/32/2324_2.png) [@imarkphillips](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/imarkphillips)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 6:15am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/7 "2020-09-02T06:15:18Z")
@nomadiconion , as this is a big one for us would you mind letting me know your reference source please. I’ve not been able to find anything official on this matter. ---
**Author:** ![nomadiconion](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@nomadiconion](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/nomadiconion)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 11:47am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/8 "2020-09-02T11:47:38Z")
Mark, short stay or tourist visa requirements are set by the Schengen group of countries as a whole on a consistent basis ie what is agreed by one is agreed by all. [https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/schengen\_visa\_en](https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/schengen_visa_en) For tourists wanting to travel long term in Europe this results in the “Schengen Shuffle” where you spend 90 days ‘in’ and then 90 days ‘out’ of the Schengen countries. The 90 day requirement is based in large part on the principal of reciprocity between countries. The US, Canada and other countries only give Europeans a 90 day tourist visa. It’s a kind of ‘you get what you give’ between nations. Immigration requirements and long term residency rules are set by each individual country. If you want to stay longer than 90 days in a country you have to apply for some type of long term visa, a work visa, a retirement visa etc. Each country sets their own rules. You can obtain a permanent residency card in [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/) by buying property there (subject to a number of other requirements) and this allows you to reside for as long as you like in [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/). As a resident of any Schengen country you can visit any other country - you must carry your passport and your residency card. Unless you have an EU passport, you are still subject to the 90 day limit in any country. As long term residency/immigration is a national affair, you cannot ‘purchase’ a Greek residency and then go and live in France. For immigration and residency requirements you need to search by country as each is a little bit different, ie France’s requirements are extremely bureaucratic and pedantic, while Belgium is a little more relaxed. Requirements vary by both the country you want to reside in and by the passport you hold. [https://france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/long-stay-visa](https://france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/long-stay-visa) > **[Residence Visa / Long Stay Visa](https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/visa/residence-visa/922288)** > > A residence visa is required if you intend to stay in Germany for more than 90 days for work or study or if you intend to move to Germany permanently. If you have a PASSPORT from any EU member country, ie you are a citizen of an EU member country, you can move to and live in any other member state at will. You are still required to register your stay with that country for social insurance and health care purposes etc. but you have the right of free movement within the EU. A residency permit DOES NOT give you the same rights as a PASSPORT. Visa requirements, whether short term or long term are based on your passport, not your residency. ---
**Author:** ![ShoariLake3](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@ShoariLake3](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/ShoariLake3)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/9 "2020-09-02T12:26:35Z")
some schengen countries have extra agreements called Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreements with some non-schengen countries that allow additional stays, usually at the end of the 90 days. Read under Visa Waiver Agreements on this Australian government website for examples that apply for Australian citizens: [https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/the-basics/schengen#:~:text=Australians%20don’t%20need%20a,in%20any%20180-day%20period.&text=If%20you’ll%20be%20staying,Schengen%20country%20you%20will%20visit](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/the-basics/schengen#:~:text=Australians%20don't%20need%20a,in%20any%20180%2Dday%20period.&text=If%20you'll%20be%20staying,Schengen%20country%20you%20will%20visit). ---
**Author:** ![imarkphillips](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/imarkphillips/32/2324_2.png) [@imarkphillips](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/imarkphillips)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/10 "2020-11-19T03:54:17Z")
Sorry guys. Not sure why I didn’t get notified of your responses. Let me pull this thread back to my question a little. The missing piece of information I’m seeking is the source to the suggestion that EU ‘residents’ have the right to travel to other EU countries (for up to 90 days at a time). Before Paul’s note I thought residency was limited to your EU Residency Country and when outside your EU resident country you need to use Schengen or Bilateral visas. I get that rights to travel other EU countries( up to 90 days) is open to EU ‘citizens’ and I get the Schengen/Bilateral ‘tourist visa’ rights for certain 3rd party passport holders like us Australians. The Schengen/Bilateral method still requires excessive time recording to be undertaken. For instance [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/)/Spain (who are non-Bilateral) treat time spent in other EU countries as ‘Schengen’ time even if you were there under a Bilateral Visa. So if you’ve got an official source that shows some access rights to other EU countries by EU ‘residents’ without use of Schengen or Bilateral I’m all ears. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Moath](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Moath](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Moath)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/11 "2021-11-11T02:21:25Z")
A great article, I had the wrong information about Spain. I thought it was required to stay for 6 motnhs every year when you apply for a Spanich Golden Visa. Thanks to this article , now I know Spain doesn’t have a stay requirement ---
**Author:** ![hanna](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/hanna/32/4193_2.png) [@hanna](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/12 "2021-11-25T15:35:18Z")
Hi Moath, just to clarify that it doesn’t have any stay requirement, if you just want a residency. However, to get a Spanish citizenship, you need to reside majority of your time in Spain during 10-year period. ---
**Author:** ![rigneykc](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@rigneykc](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/rigneykc)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/13 "2023-02-13T02:33:44Z")
Thanks for this article. We are currently doing a lot of research on both Portugal and [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/)’s GV programs. We are trying to clarity the work prohibition for [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/)- are we able to work remotely for our US-based jobs while in [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/) while remaining tax residence in the US? What about working as consultants for non-EU companies while tax residents in [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/)? Thanks in advance for any insight or resources. Kelly ---
**Author:** ![Windrider](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/windrider/32/8705_2.png) [@Windrider](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Windrider)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/14 "2025-03-31T18:17:53Z")
Great article, but quite dated. Any updates forthcoming? Also, I would love to see a Spain specific guide. ---
**Author:** ![PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dbc845/32.png) [@PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/PTbound)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/15 "2025-03-31T19:10:51Z")
> [@Windrider](#): > > I would love to see a Spain specific guide. Think it would be a pretty short guide, no? > **[Spain Closes Golden Visa, Sets Transitional Period - IMI Daily](https://www.imidaily.com/europe/spain-closes-golden-visa-sets-transitional-period/)** > > After months of internal deliberation and legislative maneuvering, the Spanish government has finally ended the golden visa ---
**Author:** ![Windrider](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/windrider/32/8705_2.png) [@Windrider](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Windrider)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/16 "2025-03-31T22:34:46Z")
It would seem that way. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![tkrunning](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/tkrunning/32/9053_2.png) [@tkrunning](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tkrunning)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 11:17am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/portugal-spain-and-greece-golden-visa-programs-compared/26502/17 "2025-04-06T11:17:40Z")
> [@Windrider](#): > > Great article, but quite dated. Any updates forthcoming? Probably no update forthcoming for this article. We usually don’t update guest posts, and with the Spanish program winding down there’s even less reason to update this one. The relevant articles for [Greece](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/) and Portugal’s GV programs are up to date. And you may also consider the Maltese programs depending on your goal. > **[Portugal Golden Visa Guide: Pros & Cons in 2025](https://nomadgate.com/portugal-golden-visa-guide/)** > > Is the Portuguese Golden Visa (ARI) right for you? Find out, plus all you need to apply in 2024 and beyond—through fund investment, donation, or an entrepreneurial project. > **[The Ultimate Guide to the Greek Golden Visa](https://nomadgate.com/greek-golden-visa-guide/)** > > Guide to everything you need to know about the Golden Visa in Greece, your options and the process. > **[The Ultimate Guide to the Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP)](https://nomadgate.com/malta-permanent-residence-program-mprp-guide/)** > > Learn why Malta’s MPRP residency-by-investment program could be the perfect way of getting permanent residency in the EU for you and your family. > **[The Ultimate Guide to the Malta Citizenship-by-Investment Program](https://nomadgate.com/malta-citizenship-by-investment-guide/)** > > Learn why Malta’s CBI program is the fastest way to EU citizenship for you and your family.