In this article
Programmes change more often than most guides admit. These are the developments from the last eighteen months that change real decisions, each checked against the source listed below.
Malta: investor citizenship has ended
On 29 April 2025 the EU Court of Justice ruled in Case C-181/23 that Malta's investor citizenship was incompatible with EU law. Malta repealed the investment provisions by a law published on 24 July 2025. What remains is discretionary naturalisation for exceptional services, with no price and no route that can be bought.
Portugal: open, but slow and changing
Portugal removed real estate as a golden visa route in October 2023. The golden visa remains open through funds, cultural donations and other routes, but backlogs are long: about 39.6 months was reported in March 2026. A new nationality law, Organic Law 1/2026, has been in force since 19 May 2026: naturalisation now generally needs 10 years of legal residence, or 7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking nationals, and applications pending on 19 May 2026 follow the previous rules.
Latvia: property and deposit routes closed
Latvia's new Immigration Law ended the real estate and bank deposit residence routes on 15 September 2026. A company investment route remains.
Mauritius: a new Golden Visa
In August 2026 the Economic Development Board published guidelines for a Golden Visa: a renewable two-year visa for investors who commit at least USD 1 million to a qualifying business within 12 months, with a five-working-day processing target and a route to permanent residence.
Quebec: the investor route is open
Quebec's Investor Program accepts applications by mail, with no cap. It requires a net worth of at least CAD 2 million, a CAD 1 million five-year guaranteed investment plus a CAD 200,000 contribution, and spoken French at level 7. The 2026 application fee is CAD 18,241.
Spain: the golden visa has closed
Spain stopped accepting new golden visa applications on 3 April 2025, under Organic Law 1/2025.
Canada: the Start-up Visa has closed
Canada stopped accepting new Start-up Visa applications after 31 December 2025, ahead of a new pilot for immigrant entrepreneurs. Founders holding a valid 2025 commitment could still apply until 30 June 2026.
Cambodia: much higher thresholds
Since December 2025, Cambodia's investor citizenship starts at about USD 1 million in a priority project or about USD 3 million as a donation. Older figures of about USD 245,000 to 300,000 no longer apply.
Grenada: an independent review
Grenada's Investment Migration Agency commissioned an independent review of its citizenship by investment programme, running in September and October 2026.
Caribbean passports and US travel
A US presidential proclamation effective 1 January 2026 restricts entry for nationals of some countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. Travel plans that depend on US access should be checked against the current rules before choosing a programme.
What this means
A programme that suits you today may not exist, or may cost more, next year. Check the date on every figure you rely on, and keep a second option in mind.
Every dated change we track
The timeline below is generated from our register of rule changes and programme closures since 2025, newest first. Each entry links to its source and to the programme page.
| Date | Change | Programme pages |
|---|---|---|
| Türkiye updates its citizenship valuation circularThe Land Registry (TKGM) updated Circular 2024/4, which sets how real estate is valued for citizenship through investment. | ||
| Antigua and Barbuda moves towards a 30-day stayA 2026 bill would raise Antigua and Barbuda's stay requirement from five days to 30 within five years of citizenship. The Prime Minister told Parliament the 30-day rule is already applied administratively; the Citizenship by Investment Unit's website still gives five days. | ||
| St Kitts and Nevis describes a genuine-link requirementThe Citizenship by Investment Unit has described a mandatory genuine-link requirement including structured physical presence and residency, while its FAQ still says no residence is needed to keep citizenship. | ||
| Saint Lucia's residency and genuine-link conditionsSaint Lucia's Act No. 22 of 2025 requires applicants and qualifying dependants to meet prescribed requirements for residency and genuine link. Statutory Instrument No. 57 of 2026 adds a biometric duty but sets no number of days. | ||
| Latvia ends its property and deposit routesLatvia's new Immigration Law ended residence through real estate and bank deposits. The company investment route remains. | ||
| Grenada commissions an independent programme reviewGrenada's Investment Migration Agency commissioned an independent review of its citizenship by investment programme, running in September and October 2026. | ||
| Grenada defers its 30-day residence requirementIMA Circular No. 2 of 2026 says the new residence requirement and other regional obligations will not apply until the regional regulator is operating and the participating states agree a start date. | ||
| Quebec updates its Investor Program conditionsQuebec's Investor Program accepts applications by mail with no cap: CAD 2 million net worth, a CAD 1 million five-year guaranteed investment plus a CAD 200,000 contribution, and spoken French at level 7. The 2026 application fee is CAD 18,241. | ||
| Mauritius publishes Golden Visa guidelinesA renewable two-year visa for investors who commit at least USD 1 million to a qualifying business within 12 months, with a five-working-day processing target. | ||
| Dominica announces a 30-day presence ruleDominica's August 2026 budget address announced that new citizens must spend at least 30 days in the country during their first five years. The rule is not in force and no start date has been given. | ||
| Grenada publishes its Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) BillThe bill amends the 2013 Act: it adds a 30-day presence requirement within five years of citizenship, an integration programme and five-year first passports. | ||
| Argentine appeal courts rule against Decree 366/2025On 18 June the Federal Civil and Commercial Appeals Chamber, and on 30 June the National Electoral Chamber, held that Decree 366/2025 could not validly move citizenship decisions to the Migration Directorate. The cases were ordinary naturalisations, but the investment route sits in the same part of the decree; an appeal is reported to be before the Supreme Court. | ||
| Portugal's new nationality law takes effectOrganic Law 1/2026 changes the rules for naturalisation and for descendants. Applications filed before 19 May 2026 are judged under the old law. | ||
| St Kitts and Nevis requires biometric enrolmentFrom 14 April 2026, all citizens by investment of St Kitts and Nevis must complete biometric enrolment by 31 July 2027. | ||
| US entry restrictions for Antigua and Barbuda and DominicaA US proclamation suspends immigrant visas and visitor, student and exchange visas for nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, citing citizenship by investment without residence. | ||
| Canada closes its Start-up VisaCanada stopped accepting new Start-up Visa applications ahead of a new pilot for immigrant entrepreneurs. | ||
| Cambodia raises its citizenship thresholdsCambodia's investor citizenship now starts at about USD 1 million in a priority project or about USD 3 million as a donation; older figures of about USD 245,000–300,000 no longer apply. | ||
| Malta repeals investor citizenshipMalta amended its Citizenship Act to remove the investment route. Only discretionary naturalisation for exceptional contributions remains. | ||
| EU Court of Justice rules against Malta's investor citizenshipIn Case C-181/23 the Court held that Malta's investor citizenship was incompatible with EU law. | ||
| Spain Golden Visa (Closed)Spain stopped granting investor residence (the 'golden visa') on 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025. |
Reviewed by Martin Albers, Head of ResearchSample profile
Programmes in this article
General information only — not legal, tax or financial advice.
