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Tool · residence & visas

Talent Visas & Golden Visas: Route Picker

Fourteen live routes — from O-1A and Global Talent to the golden visas of Portugal and Greece. Set who you are (expert, founder, investor), where you look and what matters: speed, a citizenship path, the right not to live there, or the tax regime. The tool ranks the programmes for your case.

Who you are
Where you look
What matters
Applicant citizenship

All routes at a glance

Talent & experts

O-1A — extraordinary ability visa — USA, 1–4 months, 3 years + one-year extensions, no cap.

EB-1A — extraordinary ability green card — USA, 8–24 months, Permanent status outright (green card).

Global Talent visa — United Kingdom, 2–6 months, Up to 5 years, renewable.

Titre Talent (ex-Passeport Talent) — France, 2–6 months, Up to 4 years, renewable.

ONE Pass — Overseas Networks & Expertise — Singapore, 1–3 months, 5 years, renewable.

UAE Golden Visa — talent or investor — UAE, 1–3 months, 10 years, renewable.

Founders & tech

Innovator Founder visa — United Kingdom, 2–5 months, 3 years, renewable.

Tech.Pass — tech leader visa — Singapore, 1–3 months, 2 years, renewable.

Investors (golden visas)

EB-5 — investor green card — USA, 24–60 months, Conditional green card for 2 years → permanent.

Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) — Portugal, 12–24 months, Residence with renewals; presence — about 7 days a year on average.

Greece Golden Visa — Greece, 6–12 months, 5 years, indefinitely renewable.

Italy Investor Visa — Italy, 3–8 months, 2 years + a 3-year renewal.

Hungary Guest Investor — Hungary, 3–6 months, 10 years + a 10-year renewal.

Singapore GIP — Global Investor Programme — Singapore, 9–18 months, Permanent Residence outright.

FAQ

How does a talent visa differ from a golden visa?
A talent visa is bought with a dossier, not money: you prove achievements (O-1A, EB-1A, Global Talent, ONE Pass) and get status with no investment — but real work and residence are usually expected. A golden visa is the opposite: a passive investment (€250k–800k and up) and, as a rule, the right NOT to live in the country while keeping the status.
Which route reaches a passport fastest?
Among investor routes — Portugal: ~7 days of presence a year and a citizenship application (from 19 May 2026 — after 10 years, 7 for EU/CPLP nationals). Among talent routes the UK is fastest: Global Talent gives ILR after 3 years and a passport a year later, but you genuinely live there. Greece, Hungary and the UAE lead to no passport without relocation.
Can I hold the status without living in the country?
Yes — that is the core golden-visa advantage: Greece and Hungary require no presence at all, Portugal needs ~7 days a year, the UAE a visit every six-to-twelve months. Talent visas work differently: the US, UK, France and Singapore expect real activity.
What is left in Europe after Spain closed its golden visa?
Spain closed the programme in April 2025; Portugal dropped real estate back in 2023. The 2026 working routes: Greece (real estate at €400k/€800k, narrow €250k categories), Portugal (funds from €500k), Italy (from €250k into a startup plus the €200k flat tax), Hungary (a fund from €250k, 10 years). The surviving programmes put money into the economy, not into housing.

Related articles

Portugal Golden Visa: the €500k fund route

Greece Golden Visa: €250–800k tiers

UAE: Golden Visa and tax residency

Digital nomad visas

Tax residency: the basics

Tool: citizenship-by-investment picker

This is a first-pass orientation, not legal advice: thresholds, timelines and programme rules change. The route for your profile, family and source of funds is assembled by a lawyer.

Contact information

If you have questions or need a consultation, our experts will be glad to help.

Maria Zdrok
Maria Zdrok, Client Portfolio Managermariya@private.law
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