Greece Golden Visa vs Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Greece Golden Visa is faster: 4 months vs 6 months for Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP).
- ›Greece Golden Visa leads to citizenship (~7 yrs); Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) does not.
- ›Lower capital: Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) (150,000 USD) vs 250,000 for Greece Golden Visa.
- ›Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) uses territorial taxation; Greece Golden Visa taxes worldwide income.
Greece Golden Visa Greece · investment | Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) Malta · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Greece | Malta |
| Category | Investment | Investment |
| Application Fee | $2,200 | $40,000 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | $250,000 | $150,000 |
| Processing Time | 4 months | 6 months |
| Family Included | No additional investment required; covers spouse and dependent children up to 21, as well as parents and parents-in-law | €7,500 additional government contribution per additional adult dependent |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 0 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 7 years | No |
| Physical Presence | No minimum annual stay required to maintain the Golden Visa; 7 years of actual residence required for citizenship | No minimum annual stay required to maintain permanent residency |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | No mandatory tax residency triggered by the visa; those who choose to tax-reside may benefit from Greece's non-dom lump sum tax of €100,000/year on foreign income for up to 15 years | Permanent residency does not automatically create tax residency; Malta's tax system is favorable, and residents who remit income may benefit from low effective rates |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Territorial |
| Renewal Cost | $2,200 | — |
About Greece Golden Visa
Greece's Golden Visa is one of Europe's most accessible investment-residency programmes. Originally a uniform €250,000 real-estate threshold, the 2024 reform raised investment minimums sharply: €800,000 in high-demand zones (Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, islands over 3,100 inhabitants), €400,000 in other regions, with the legacy €250,000 threshold preserved only for commercial-to-residential conversions and specific listed-building restorations. Alternative routes include €500,000 in Greek capital-company shares, €500,000 in mutual funds or AIFs, or €500,000 bank deposit. The visa grants 5-year renewable residence with no minimum physical-presence requirement — making it one of the lowest-effort EU residency permits and a popular passive-investment route for non-EU HNWIs. Holders gain Schengen visa-free travel but cannot acquire Greek citizenship through this route directly; standard naturalisation requires 7 years of physical residence plus B1 Greek language. Greece levies progressive income tax to 44%, but a flat-tax regime for qualifying HNWIs taxes worldwide income at €100,000/year for up to 15 years. Property tax (ENFIA) applies annually to the underlying real-estate investment.
Full Greece Golden Visa profile →About Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
Malta's Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) grants immediate permanent residency — not just a temporary visa — to non-EU nationals through a combination of government contributions, donations, and real estate investment or rental. Malta offers full Schengen access and a stable EU jurisdiction.
Full Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Greece Golden Visa
- ⚠September 2024 reform raised thresholds significantly; Athens/Thessaloniki/Mykonos/Santorini now €800k minimum
- ⚠No physical presence required, but also no path to citizenship without 7 years actual residence
- ⚠Greek Golden Visa ≠ EU Schengen freedom; allows visa-free Schengen travel but not residence
- ⚠Property cannot be rented short-term (Airbnb) in Athens/Thessaloniki districts under some interpretations — consult lawyer
- ⚠Citizenship requires 7 years of genuine residence, B1 Greek, civic test
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
- ⚠MPRP grants permanent residence but NOT EU free movement to work/live in other EU states
- ⚠Malta citizenship by naturalisation for residents requires 5+ years + oath + language (different from Malta CBI)
- ⚠Enhanced due diligence is among the strictest globally — prior residency in 10 countries each requires separate criminal records
- ⚠Property must be maintained for full 5 years; selling earlier risks residence withdrawal
- ⚠Malta taxes non-dom residents on Malta-sourced income + foreign income remitted to Malta only
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.