Europe's Investor Visa Rules Are Changing: What Investors Should Ask Before They Commit

As of 5 November 2026.

Two recent developments have unsettled investors who are weighing residence or citizenship through an investment in Europe. Latvia has rewritten its investor residence rules, and Portugal has lengthened the time most people need to live in the country before they can apply for citizenship.

Latvia: new rules and a closer look at one route

According to industry publication IMI Daily, Latvia's Financial Intelligence Unit identified more than 20 companies linked to the share-capital route of its investor residence programme in an inquiry reported in April 2026. Latvia's new Immigration Law then took effect on 15 September 2026 and changed which investment routes remain open, as reported by immigration advisers. Investors should check the current list of routes on the Latvian government's official immigration pages before relying on any older guide.

Portugal: a longer road to citizenship

According to The Portugal News, the country's revised Nationality Law was signed by the President in May 2026. Reports from the paper and from immigration advisers say that most applicants from outside the EU and the Portuguese-speaking countries now need ten years of legal residence before they can apply for citizenship, up from five. The same sources say the rules for permanent residence are unchanged: holders of qualifying visas, including golden visas, can still apply after five years, provided they meet the standard conditions. How the change applies to people who have already applied should be confirmed with the Portuguese authorities.

What an adviser says investors should take from this

Get Golden Visa, an immigration advisory, answered three questions from The Platinum Capital. The comments below are those of Murat Coskun, Managing Partner at Get Golden Visa.

What do these changes mean for investors?

Mr Coskun says the developments show that getting residency and qualifying for citizenship are two separate legal processes with different requirements and timelines. A change to citizenship rules does not necessarily affect the right to obtain or keep residency. He says Portugal remains an option for long-term European residency planning, and that Latvia's situation shows the need to examine the underlying investments and regulatory risks instead of reacting to individual headlines.

What should investors ask their advisers?

He says investors should look beyond the minimum investment and ask what is needed to obtain and keep residency, how their capital is invested, and what happens if regulations change. They should also understand realistic timelines for permanent residence and citizenship, the implications for family members, and the restrictions that can apply when exiting an investment. In his view, a suitable programme stays aligned with the investor's objectives beyond the initial approval.

Which European routes still offer value?

Mr Coskun says value depends on what an investor wants to achieve. Get Golden Visa says its own internal data shows a 35-40% year-over-year increase in Greek Golden Visa applications from single-child families where the child is the main applicant, which he says points to the growing importance of education and family planning. The Platinum Capital has not independently verified this figure. He says Greece remains attractive for investors focused on property, while Italy offers opportunities that combine business investment with lifestyle considerations. He also says Portugal's golden visa asks for an average stay of just seven days a year to keep residency, which lets investors stay flexible without moving full-time. These are the adviser's views and Get Golden Visa's own description of the rules; investors should confirm the current requirements with the authorities in each country.

Before you decide

• Check each country's official immigration site for the current rules.
• Ask who is paid, and by whom, for recommending a particular programme.
• Remember that rules can change while an application is in progress.

Spokesperson: Murat Coskun, Managing Partner, Get Golden Visa. Sources: IMI Daily; The Portugal News.

About the comments in this article. The comments from named advisers, firms and lawyers belong to the people who gave them. They are those people's own views and, where they state figures or rules, their own statements, which The Platinum Capital has not independently verified. Programmes and rules differ by nationality and change often. Please contact the adviser, the programme's official government website or a licensed professional for guidance before you decide. The Platinum Capital does not endorse any adviser or programme and accepts no responsibility for decisions made or losses incurred in reliance on the comments or content in this article.

This article is general information and does not constitute legal, financial or tax advice.