A new Euronews overview confirms that several European countries continue to operate investor residence programmes — commonly known as "golden visas" — with Hungary and Cyprus highlighted among the most notable options still open to applicants.

The report arrives at a moment when the European investment-migration map has shrunk considerably. Over the past two years, several long-running schemes have closed their doors. Ireland terminated its Immigrant Investor Programme in 2023. Portugal removed real estate from its Golden Visa eligibility list. Spain shut down its own golden visa route in 2025. Against that backdrop, the Euronews guide sets out where applicants can still secure residence — and in some cases a path toward longer-term status — through investment.

Hungary returns to the investor-visa market

Hungary stands out in the roundup because it represents a return rather than a continuation. The country relaunched an investor residence programme after having closed its earlier residency bond scheme, and Euronews lists it among the live options for foreigners seeking European residence through capital investment.

The Hungarian programme allows qualifying investors to obtain residence rights, positioning the country as one of the few EU member states actively courting investment migrants again after a multi-year absence from the market.

Cyprus keeps its permanent-residence door open

Cyprus is the other headline name in the report. The island republic continues to offer a permanent-residence-by-investment route, making it one of the few European jurisdictions where applicants can move quickly from qualifying investment to long-term residence status rather than an initial temporary permit.

According to the Euronews overview, these two countries are joined by a small group of other European states that have kept their programmes running despite tightening scrutiny from Brussels.

Why the list keeps getting shorter

The shrinking menu of options reflects sustained political pressure. The European Commission has repeatedly criticised golden visa and golden passport schemes, arguing that they carry risks related to money laundering, tax evasion and security screening. The European Parliament has called for the gradual phasing-out of citizenship-by-investment schemes altogether, and several member states have responded by closing or narrowing their programmes voluntarily.

That regulatory climate explains why guides such as the Euronews roundup now frame the question differently from five years ago. The issue is no longer which countries offer golden visas, but which ones still do.

What applicants should watch

For prospective applicants, the Euronews report functions as a snapshot rather than a guarantee. Investor-migration rules in Europe change frequently, sometimes with little notice, and eligibility criteria — minimum investment amounts, qualifying asset classes, physical-presence requirements and family-inclusion rules — are set by national law and can be revised by each government independently.

Anyone considering an application should verify current requirements directly with the relevant national immigration authority before committing funds. Programmes that appear on today's list may introduce caps, raise thresholds or close to new applicants, as Ireland's and Spain's did.

The bottom line

The Euronews overview makes one thing clear: the golden visa is not dead in Europe, but its geography has narrowed sharply. Hungary and Cyprus sit at the front of the remaining field, offering investors routes to residence that most of the continent has now closed. Whether those doors stay open depends on political decisions in national capitals and ongoing pressure from EU institutions — factors that have already ended programmes in three countries since 2023.