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Turkish Citizenship vs European Golden Visas in 2026: What's Actually Still Open
Last updated: · Reviewed quarterly and after every regulatory change
Half the programs investors ask about no longer exist. Before comparing anything, here is the 2026 reality:
| Program | Status 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cyprus citizenship | ❌ Suspended since 2020, not returning |
| Spain golden visa | ❌ Abolished April 2025 |
| Portugal golden visa (real estate) | ❌ Property route ended October 2023; fund route survives |
| Greece golden visa | ✅ Open. €250,000–800,000 depending on location |
| Malta | ⚠️ Citizenship-by-investment struck down by the EU Court of Justice (2025); residency (MPRP) continues |
| Turkey citizenship | ✅ Fully open. $400,000 real estate |
If a website is still selling you Spanish golden visas or Cyprus passports, leave that website.
A permit and a passport are different products
A golden visa is permission to stay: renewable, conditional, revocable, and usually a 7–10+ year path to an eventual passport with physical-presence and language requirements. Turkish CBI is citizenship now: a passport in 6–12 months, no renewal, no minimum stay, heritable by your children.
| Turkey (citizenship) | Greece golden visa | Portugal (fund route) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlay | $400,000 property | €250,000–800,000 property | €500,000 fund |
| What you hold | Passport in ~6–12 months | Residence permit (5-yr renewable) | Residence permit |
| Path to passport | Immediate | 7+ yrs residence + language exam | 5 yrs + language exam (under political review) |
| Stay requirement | None | None to keep permit (but yes for citizenship) | ~7 days/year average |
| EU access | No | Schengen travel | Schengen travel |
| Family | Spouse + minors | Spouse, children, parents | Spouse, children, parents |
The Decision Logic
Choose a golden visa if EU access is the entire point. Greece remains the cleanest property-based Schengen play. Accept that you hold a permit, not a passport, and that golden visas are politically fragile (ask anyone who planned around Spain or Portugal).
Choose Turkey if the goal is a second citizenship. No European program hands you a passport in under a year for $400,000. Since Cyprus closed and Malta’s CBI was struck down, that product effectively doesn’t exist in Europe at any price.
The combination is common. Turkish citizenship (status, asset, E-2 route to the US) plus a Greek golden visa (Schengen mobility) costs less than the old Cyprus program did; many investors pursue exactly that stack.
Compare the full details
Everything about the Turkish program (routes, costs, documents, timeline) is in the complete 2026 guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get EU citizenship by investment?
Effectively no. Cyprus is suspended, and the EU Court of Justice ruled against Malta's program in 2025. EU golden visas lead to citizenship only after years of genuine residence and language requirements.
Is Turkey's program more stable than European golden visas?
It has proven more durable than Spain's or Portugal's property routes, both now closed. Turkish thresholds can change by decree, but the program has run continuously since 2017.
Does Turkish citizenship give Schengen access?
No — Turkish citizens need a Schengen visa. Investors who need both typically pair Turkish citizenship with a Greek golden visa.