If you’re a UK resident thinking about a European Golden Visa, you’re not alone. UK residents made an estimated 94.6m visits abroad in 2024 and spent £78.6bn overseas — with Spain the most visited destination (estimated 17.8m visits). That appetite for Europe is a big reason Golden Visas stay popular: they can give you a legal foothold in the EU and (in many cases) easier Schengen travel, which matters when you’re otherwise limited to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. 

But “best” depends on what you’re actually trying to achieve: a Plan B for your family, more flexibility for travel, a future citizenship pathway, or simply a lifestyle upgrade.

Below is a practical, UK-focused comparison — costs (in £), realistic timelines, and the lifestyle bits people forget to ask about.

What “best” really means for you

Before you compare countries, get clear on your non-negotiables:

• Budget: are you comfortable with capital at risk (funds), or do you want property?
• Speed: do you need a residence card quickly, or can you play a longer game?
• Time in-country: will you actually spend time there each year?
• Family: do you need to include spouse, children, or dependent parents?
• Lifestyle fit: climate, schools, language, healthcare, flights back to the UK.
• Long-term outcome: do you want a potential path to permanent residence/citizenship, or just mobility?

If you want a structured overview of how residency and citizenship routes differ, start with Comparing Residency & Citizenship Programmes.

1 big update: Spain is no longer on the shortlist

A lot of UK residents still ask about Spain because it’s familiar — but Spain ended its Golden Visa route for new applicants effective April 2025. So, for 2026 planning, the “best in Europe” conversation is really about Portugal, Greece, Hungary, and Malta (and sometimes Italy, depending on your profile).

For ongoing updates, you can browse Coates Global’s Golden Visa insights.

Best options in 2026 (and who each one suits)

Portugal: best for a long-term EU plan with low physical presence

If you want a credible EU residency pathway without relocating full-time, Portugal remains a favourite — especially post-Brexit. 

Typical routes & headline costs (approx. in £)
Portugal is now mainly fund / contribution-based (real estate is not the main route anymore).
Using the ECB reference rate €1 = £0.8744 (21 Jan 2026): 

• €500,000 fund route ≈ £437,200.
• €250,000 cultural route ≈ £218,600 (in some low-density cases, €200,000 ≈ £174,880) 

Government fees you must budget for
Portugal’s AIMA fees are per applicant. A realistic plan includes the government fee “stack”, not just the investment.

• Receipt + analysis: €618.60
• Concession/issuance: €6,179.40
  Total per adult (digital channel figures): €6,798 ≈ £5,944
  Renewals are also meaningful: €3,090.40 ≈ £2,702 per person, per renewal. 

Timeline (realistic, not salesy)
Coates Global’s guidance for 2026 is that processing is measured in months: commonly 6–9 months to pre-approval, then biometrics can add 2–4 months, and cards often follow 3–6 months after biometrics.

Lifestyle factors that matter

• You can meet the stay requirement with limited time in-country (commonly discussed as 7 days in year 1, then 14 days in each 2-year period).
• Great if you want a warm base, strong expat infrastructure, and a “future-proof” plan rather than a quick fix.

If Portugal is top of your list, the most relevant internal pages are Portugal, the Portugal fund route, and the Portugal donation route.

Greece: best for lifestyle-first buyers who want a property angle

If your dream is “I want a place in the sun and residency benefits,” Greece is the obvious contender.

Costs (approx. in £)
Greece has historically been known for a lower entry point, but thresholds now vary by location and property type. Many applicants still see €250,000 as the “headline”, but higher tiers apply in high-demand areas (commonly referenced up to €800,000).
Using €1 = £0.8744: 

• €250,000 ≈ £218,600
• €800,000 ≈ £699,520

Timeline
Greece is often considered relatively fast compared with some alternatives, but your timeline will hinge on property selection, legal checks, and how clean your document pack is.

Lifestyle factors

• Greece is very “liveable” if you like outdoor life, islands, and a slower pace.
• Works well if you’ll actually use the property (or want family holidays to have a base).
• The big watch-out: picking the wrong property (or wrong area threshold) can turn a “simple” plan into a stressful one.

For Greece, see Greece and the Greece Golden Visa Programme.

Hungary: best for speed and Schengen access (with a simpler lifestyle proposition)

Hungary is often chosen by people who are mobility-first and want a quicker, more straightforward process.

Costs
Coates Global outlines Hungary’s modern investor route starting from €250,000.
Approx. £218,600 at €1 = £0.8744. 

Timeline
One standout detail: the process can be fast — Coates Global notes 4–6 weeks in many cases (assuming documents are ready and processing is smooth). 

Lifestyle factors

• Budapest is a serious city (culture, dining, cost of living) and flights back to the UK are manageable.
• You don’t pick Hungary for beaches — you pick it for function: EU residency + Schengen access, without needing to build your life around it.

Malta: best for a compact, English-friendly base

Malta appeals if you want an English-speaking environment, a small footprint, and a relatively direct residency framework.

Costs
Coates Global references Malta residency options with a minimum donation figure (commonly shown as €70,000 on programme summaries).
That’s roughly £61,208 at €1 = £0.8744. 

Lifestyle factors

• English is widely used, which reduces friction quickly.
• You’re getting a sunny, well-connected base — but it’s also small, so it’s not for everyone.

Next steps

If you want, you can turn this into a clear plan in 1 conversation: your budget range, who you’re including (partner/kids/parents), and how many days per year you can realistically spend in Europe.

Speak to Coates Global via the Contact page and get solicitor-led guidance on eligibility, total cost (not just the headline investment), timelines, and the exact documentation you’ll need — so you move forward with confidence, not guesswork.

Ready to take the next step towards EU residency or citizenship? Speak to Coates Global today for clear, compliant guidance tailored to your goals. Whether you need a portugal golden visa solicitor, a hungary golden visa solicitor, an italy investor visa consultant, or a malta citizenship by investment solicitor, we’ll help you understand eligibility, costs, timeframes, and documentation—so you can move forward with confidence. Book a consultation and get a clear plan from day 1.