Argentina grants citizenship with no residence requirement and visa-free Schengen and UK access. Caribbean passports are cheaper but face EU suspension threats. Türkiye's programme is fast but the Turkish passport needs visas for Schengen and the UK. Greece and Portugal grant residence, not citizenship; Portugal now requires ten years of legal residence for naturalisation. Malta's programme was struck down by the EU Court of Justice in 2025.
Summary table
| Programme | Grants | Minimum | Path to citizenship | Schengen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Citizenship | USD 350,000 contribution / USD 800,000 bond | Direct; no residence | Visa-free |
| Caribbean (5 states) | Citizenship | About USD 200,000–250,000 | Direct; minimum-presence rule under discussion | Visa-free, under suspension threat |
| Türkiye | Citizenship | USD 400,000 property (other routes available) | Direct; no residence | Visa required |
| Greece Golden Visa | Residence | EUR 250,000 / 400,000 / 800,000 property | 7 years of actual residence plus exam | Free movement as resident |
| Portugal Golden Visa | Residence | EUR 500,000 fund investment | 10 years legal residence (since 19 May 2026) | Free movement as resident |
| UAE Golden Visa | 10-year residence | AED 2 million property | None | No effect |
| Malta | — | — | Struck down by CJEU, April 2025 | — |
| Spain Golden Visa | — | — | Abolished April 2025 | — |
Figures as of October 2026, excluding fees.
Argentina vs the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia raised their common minimum to USD 200,000 in 2024. Since then:
- The EU made the operation of investor citizenship schemes a standalone ground for suspending visa-free access (in force 30 December 2025).
- The European Commission asked the five states to end their programmes by 1 June 2028.
- The UK imposed visas on Dominica and Vanuatu nationals in 2023 and on St Lucia in March 2026.
- The US imposed partial entry restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.
- Vanuatu lost Schengen visa-free access entirely.
Argentina's passport strength rests on a G20 country of about 46 million people, not on passport sales. The same EU rule applies to Argentina in principle, which is why the depth of its vetting matters.
Argentina vs Türkiye
Türkiye's programme is one of the world's busiest: citizenship through USD 400,000 of real estate (with deposit, bond and fund routes also available), no residence requirement and processing typically measured in months. Its weakness is mobility: the Turkish passport scored 113 in the January 2026 Henley index and requires visas for Schengen, the UK and the US. Argentina costs less at entry level for a single applicant, but the contribution is non-refundable whereas Turkish property is an asset that can be sold after the holding period. For investors who want an asset in a large market plus a second passport, the two can complement each other.
Argentina vs Greece
Greece grants a residence permit, not a passport. Naturalisation requires seven years of actual residence and a language and culture exam, which most Golden Visa holders never complete. A Greek permit allows Schengen movement but not UK visa-free travel. Greek property can be resold; Argentina's contribution cannot.
Argentina vs Portugal
Portugal's new nationality law, in force since 19 May 2026, raised the legal-residence requirement for non-EU nationals from five to ten years. Real estate was removed as a qualifying route in 2023, leaving EUR 500,000 fund investment as the main option. Portugal's appeal is an eventual EU passport; its drawback is a timeline now exceeding a decade.
Which programme fits whom?
- Visa-free Europe and UK, without relocating: Argentina.
- Speed and an income-producing asset: Türkiye.
- A home and residence rights in Europe: Greece.
- An EU passport in the long run: Portugal.
- Lowest entry cost, accepting policy risk: the Caribbean.
- Life and business in the Gulf: UAE Golden Visa.
Frequently asked questions
Is Argentina better than Caribbean citizenship?
Argentina costs more but offers a passport backed by a G20 country and is not currently under the EU suspension process that targets the Caribbean.
Argentina or Türkiye citizenship by investment?
Türkiye is fast and investment is in resellable property, but its passport needs visas for Schengen and the UK. Argentina's passport is visa-free for both.
How long does Portugal's Golden Visa take to citizenship now?
Ten years of legal residence for non-EU nationals since 19 May 2026.
Does Malta still offer citizenship by investment?
The EU Court of Justice ruled Malta's programme contrary to EU law in April 2025.
Sources
- European Commission, 8th Visa Suspension Mechanism report (December 2025)
- CJEU, Commission v Malta (29 April 2025)
- Portuguese nationality law amendment (in force 19 May 2026)
- Henley Passport Index, January 2026
- Turkish Citizenship Law 5901 and implementing regulation