Comparison Tool

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Residency

UK Innovator Founder Visa

Residency

Malta Permanent Residence Programme

Status

Program status

United Kingdom: Operational
Malta: Operational

Investment

Minimum investment per route

United Kingdom: No fixed minimum investment.
Malta: Property purchase (from): EUR 375,000

Costs

Government fees

United Kingdom: Visa fee (per person, outside the UK): GBP 1,357Show full wordingShow less
Malta: Administration fee EUR 60,000 (EUR 15,000 on submission, EUR 45,000 on approval in principle); government contribution EUR 37,000.Show full wordingShow less

Family

Family eligibility

United Kingdom: Spouse, Children · conditions apply
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Partner and children can apply as dependants.
Malta: Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply
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Spouse or partner, children under 18, unmarried children up to 28 who are principally dependent, and financially dependent parents and grandparents of either spouse.

Obligations

Residence requirements

United Kingdom: No more than 180 days' absence in any 12-month period counts towards settlement.Show full wordingShow less
Malta: No minimum stay. Holders file annual declarations on property, health insurance and capital during the first five years.Show full wordingShow less

Processing time

United Kingdom: Usually 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside, once identity and documents are provided.Show full wordingShow less
Malta: Due diligence about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation are completed within eight months of approval in principle.
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Due diligence typically takes about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation must be completed within eight months of approval in principle. Applicants may ask for temporary residence when they apply: a one-year renewable card once basic checks are done and the first EUR 15,000 is paid, revoked if the application is refused.

Route to citizenship

United Kingdom: Settlement may be possible after three years; citizenship follows the ordinary naturalisation rules.Show full wordingShow less
Malta: No investment route to citizenship. Naturalisation follows Malta's ordinary residence-based rules.Show full wordingShow less

Program comparison
Criteria	Residency United Kingdom UK Innovator Founder Visa	Residency Malta Malta Permanent Residence Programme	Residency Portugal Portugal Golden Visa
Status
Program status	Operational	Operational	Operational
Investment
Minimum investment per route	No fixed minimum investment.	Property purchase (from): EUR 375,000	Cultural heritage / artistic support (from): EUR 250,000; Investment fund units: EUR 500,000
Costs
Government fees	Visa fee (per person, outside the UK): GBP 1,357	Administration fee EUR 60,000 (EUR 15,000 on submission, EUR 45,000 on approval in principle); government contribution EUR 37,000.	Information pending verification
Family
Family eligibility	Spouse, Children · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Partner and children can apply as dependants.	Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Spouse or partner, children under 18, unmarried children up to 28 who are principally dependent, and financially dependent parents and grandparents of either spouse.	Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents.
Obligations
Residence requirements	No more than 180 days' absence in any 12-month period counts towards settlement.	No minimum stay. Holders file annual declarations on property, health insurance and capital during the first five years.	At least 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period, continuous or not (official SEF renewal guidance, now administered by AIMA).
Processing time	Usually 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside, once identity and documents are provided.	Due diligence about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation are completed within eight months of approval in principle. Full wordingHide full wording Due diligence typically takes about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation must be completed within eight months of approval in principle. Applicants may ask for temporary residence when they apply: a one-year renewable card once basic checks are done and the first EUR 15,000 is paid, revoked if the application is refused.	A large backlog: about 39.6 months reported in March 2026.
Route to citizenship	Settlement may be possible after three years; citizenship follows the ordinary naturalisation rules.	No investment route to citizenship. Naturalisation follows Malta's ordinary residence-based rules.	Naturalisation under the Nationality Law as amended by Organic Law 1/2026 (published 18 May 2026, in force 19 May 2026): 10 years of legal residence for most nationals, 7 for EU and CPLP nationals, generally counted from the first residence title. Applications pending on 19 May 2026 follow the previous rules.

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