Investor migration — golden visas, start-up founders, and E-2 entrepreneurs
Investor visa rules have tightened since 2022, with the UK Tier 1 Investor closed, Portugal’s Golden Visa reshaped away from real estate, and Spain’s Golden Visa wound down in 2025. This cluster tracks what’s still open, where, and at what threshold.
Last reviewed 20 April 2026.
Who this is for
Applicants considering migration via capital investment, business setup, or an entrepreneur route.
Key claims
The UK closed the Tier 1 (Investor) route to new applicants on 17 February 2022. The Innovator Founder visa replaces it, requiring a £10+ endorsed viable and innovative business plan, but has no minimum investment floor.
Portugal’s Golden Visa (ARI) was restructured in 2023 to exclude property investment. Remaining eligible routes include €500,000 in qualifying investment funds, €500,000 into Portuguese research, and €250,000 cultural donation. Naturalisation is possible after 5 years with only 7 cumulative days per year residence required.
Spain closed its Golden Visa (Ley 14/2013) to new applicants on 3 April 2025. Existing holders retain their rights, but new investor applicants must now use standard Non-Lucrative or entrepreneur routes.
The US E-2 Treaty Investor visa has no minimum dollar floor but expects “substantial” investment (in practice USD 100,000+ for most consular posts). Open only to nationals of E-2 treaty countries.
The US EB-5 Regional Center programme was reauthorised in 2022 and requires USD 1,050,000 standard investment or USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA), creating 10 qualifying jobs.
Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program (188 / 888) was closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. The replacement National Innovation Visa is in design.
The UAE Golden Visa is 5 or 10 years for investors in public investments (AED 2M+), real estate (AED 2M+), or exceptional talent. Renewable and allows full sponsorship of family and domestic workers.
Entrepreneur routes (UK Innovator Founder, Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur, Netherlands Start-up) have lower capital floors but require an endorsement from an authorised body, making them harder to unlock than pure capital-investment routes.
Curated routes
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)
Post-2023 fund-based ARI investment. Low 7-day/year residence requirement.
UAE Golden Visa
5- or 10-year residence for investors, talents, and real estate owners.
Innovator Founder visa
Replaces Tier 1 Investor. Requires endorsed innovative business plan.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
USD 800,000 TEA or USD 1,050,000 standard investment with job-creation.
E-2 Treaty Investor
Treaty-country investors — no hard minimum but “substantial” test.
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
€50,000 funding requirement; 2-year initial permission.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Portugal Golden Visa still available in 2026?
Yes, but the real-estate investment routes were removed in October 2023. Remaining eligible categories are qualifying investment funds (€500,000), research (€500,000), cultural donation (€250,000), and job creation. Citizenship after 5 years remains the key draw.
What is the lowest minimum investment for a residency programme?
Among actively open programmes: Portugal cultural donation at €250,000, US E-2 at ~USD 100,000+ (subjective “substantial” test), and Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur at €50,000 funding (not pure investment). UAE Golden Visa starts at AED 2M (~USD 544,000).
Do investor visas lead to citizenship?
Yes in most cases. Portugal Golden Visa: citizenship after 5 years with very low residence requirement. US EB-5: Green Card after conditions removed at year 2, citizenship at year 5. UAE Golden Visa: citizenship only by Presidential decree (rare). UK Innovator Founder: ILR after 3 years, citizenship at year 6. Spain’s defunct Golden Visa is grandfathered for existing holders.