Golden Visa Experts Urge Quick Action Amid EU Crackdown

Immigration lawyers and financial advisers are urging wealthy non-EU nationals to act swiftly on their investments through Golden Visa programs, warning that further restrictions and higher costs may soon be introduced.

A lawyer at Lisbon-based FiO Legal told Bloomberg, “The message is clear: whoever moves sooner will be in a better position.”

The EU Court of Justice recently ruled that EU countries cannot issue citizenship unless applicants have a genuine connection to the country. For instance, Portugal only requires Golden Visa holders to stay 14 days every two years to maintain residency, and permits passport applications after five years.

Pedro Lino, CEO of Optimize Investment Partners, noted that while Portugal’s Golden Visa program isn’t currently at risk, clients are being advised to proceed without delay.

Several European countries still offer Golden Visa (residency-by-investment) and Golden Passport (citizenship-by-investment) programs. While the former grants residency in exchange for financial contributions, the latter offers full EU citizenship, raising deeper legal and ethical concerns.

The European Commission has repeatedly called for the termination of these programs, citing links to money laundering, corruption, and threats to EU integrity.

EU Court: Malta Failed Its Treaty Obligations

In a separate ruling, the EU Court of Justice found that Malta failed to meet its obligations under EU treaties by issuing citizenship without requiring a true national link. This followed a 2024 opinion by Advocate General Anthony Michael Collins, who previously argued that nationality decisions rest with each EU member state.

However, the court's latest stance signals the EU’s firm commitment to curbing abuse of investment-based citizenship schemes across the bloc.