Turkey vs Golden Visa Programmes: Greece, Cyprus & the Caribbean Compared (2026)

Turkey, Greece, Cyprus or the Caribbean. Which golden route actually fits you? Let's compare them, simply and fairly.

First, know what you are buying. Turkey and the Caribbean grant citizenship. Greece and Cyprus grant residence. Those are very different products, with very different obligations.

In Turkey, you buy property worth at least $400,000. That investment opens a direct application for Turkish citizenship. Apartments, villas and commercial units can all qualify.

You keep the property for 3 years, with a no-sale note on the title deed. Your spouse and children under 18 are included. Investment files typically take 3–6 months.

Prefer not to buy? A bank deposit of $500,000, kept for 3 years, is another route. And Turkish citizenship does not require you to live in Turkey.

Greece runs a golden visa with tiers. €800,000 in areas like Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini. €400,000 in most other regions. And €250,000 for certain conversions and restorations.

What you get is a 5-year renewable residence permit, with Schengen travel and no minimum stay. A Greek passport is a separate path: about 7 years of real residence plus a language exam.

Cyprus offers permanent residence from €300,000. You also show a secured income of at least €50,000 a year, plus more for each family member, and visit at least once every 2 years.

Five Caribbean islands also offer citizenship, starting from about $200,000. A common route is a contribution to a government fund, which means you do not own an asset afterwards.

Now, liquidity. In Turkey, after 3 years you can sell and keep your citizenship. In Greece and Cyprus, your status depends on keeping the investment.

Be fair to each option. A Turkish passport still needs a Schengen visa for Europe. Greek and Cypriot residence give Schengen travel, but no passport for years.

Only want residence in Turkey, not a passport? Property worth at least $200,000 can support a residence permit. It is a lighter, more flexible starting point.

Two documents matter. For a citizenship file, a valuation report costs about $1,500 and is valid for 12 months. A foreign exchange certificate is also mandatory for the purchase.

So start with your goal. A passport plus property you own? Look at Turkey. The lowest entry to a passport? The Caribbean. A base inside the EU? Greece or Cyprus. There is no single best programme, only the best fit.

Taxes, family and timing differ for everyone. We'll check yours. Book a free consultation at simplytr.com.