Data Methodology

Every program record on Golden Visa Map is built from primary official sources first. Secondary sources are used only where primary documentation is incomplete or unpublished.

Primary sources

Primary sources are documents published directly by the issuing authority, with no intermediary interpretation:

• Official government program websites from the responsible ministry or immigration authority of each issuing country
• Statutory fee schedules and gazette publications where programs are legislated into national law
• Regulatory agency fee tables published on government portals (investment promotion boards, citizenship units, immigration departments)
• Official program amendments and circulars issued by the administering body when program terms change
• Consular publications where these specify applicant requirements or fees not available through the main program portal

Secondary sources

Where primary data is ambiguous, incomplete, or published only in a non-English language that requires specialist interpretation, we draw on:

• Published fee guides from licensed immigration law firms, minimum three firms per program, with figures averaged where ranges diverge materially
• Official practitioner guidance issued by bar associations or regulated immigration adviser bodies in the relevant jurisdiction
• Published program documentation from accredited agents where those agents have a formal relationship with the issuing government (primarily applicable to Caribbean CBI programs with formally designated agent lists)

No program field is published from a single source. Every data point is cross-referenced against a minimum of two independent primary or secondary sources before it is accepted into the dataset.

Cross-referencing standard

For each program, we verify the following fields independently: investment minimum, investment type (donation, real estate, fund, deposit), government processing fees, due diligence fees, processing time range, stay requirement, work rights, family inclusion scope, and path to citizenship. Each field requires agreement across at least two sources. Where sources conflict, the more conservative (higher cost, longer processing time, stricter requirement) figure is used, and the discrepancy is flagged internally for resolution.

Confidence ratings

Every program record carries an internal confidence rating used to govern how data is presented:

Date stamping

Every program record includes a lastUpdated field that records the date the record was last verified against its source documents. This date is visible in the dataset and updated each time a verification check is performed, whether or not the data itself changed. A record with a recent lastUpdated date reflects a recent verification, not necessarily a recent program change.

Investment migration programs change without warning. Minimum investment thresholds increase, fee schedules are revised, processing times lengthen, and programs close. Our update process is designed to catch material changes within one to four weeks of publication by the issuing authority.

Standard review cycle

All active programs are reviewed on a rolling weekly basis. Each week, a subset of programs is verified against their primary sources. At current coverage (62 programs), every program is reviewed at least once every four weeks as a baseline. High-traffic programs -- those accounting for significant visitor interest -- are reviewed more frequently.

Event-triggered updates

Any of the following events triggers an immediate out-of-cycle review of the affected program:

• Publication of a government gazette notice or press release announcing program changes
• A change to the official program website that affects fee schedules, eligibility criteria, or processing timelines
• Credible reporting from multiple licensed practitioners indicating a material change not yet reflected in official publications
• A reader-submitted correction with source citation (see Corrections Policy below)

Program closures

When a program closes, its record is marked with a closed status and retained in the dataset for reference. It is removed from active program listings and cost comparisons but remains accessible in historical research. Between March 2022 and April 2025, five programs closed: Bulgaria fast-track CBI, Montenegro CBI, Ireland's Immigrant Investor Programme, Spain's Golden Visa, and Malta's MEIN scheme. All five remain documented in the research appendix.

Beyond the core program database, Golden Visa Map produces original research that introduces proprietary cost and utility indices not available from any other public source. The methodology for these indices is described below.

5-year all-in cost standardisation

All cost comparisons use a standardised five-year all-in figure. This figure includes five components for every program: the investment minimum (whether returned or not), mandatory government processing fees, due diligence fees, published legal and agent fees (midpoint of the range from at least three licensed firms per program), and standard ancillary costs (apostille, certified translation, medical examination where required).

The five-year horizon reflects the most common mandatory holding period across the market and provides a consistent endpoint for programs on a citizenship track. Programs with shorter statutory hold periods (for example Turkey's three-year real estate route) are evaluated on their actual hold period, not extended to five years.

Two cost figures are presented for programs where principal capital is returned: gross all-in cost (total capital deployed plus all non-refundable fees) and net non-recoverable cost (fees permanently spent, net of capital returned at maturity). Donation programs are presented on a gross basis only, as no capital is returned.

Proprietary indices

Five indices are calculated for covered programs in the True Cost research report:

Currency treatment

All figures in cross-program comparisons are converted to USD using Q2 2026 exchange rates. Programs denominated in currencies with high exchange-rate volatility are flagged; their USD figures are included in appendix tables but excluded from primary cost rankings, which are intended to reflect structural program costs rather than short-term currency effects.

Investment migration is a commercially active industry. Comparison platforms are frequently operated by advisory firms, licensed agents, or referral networks that have a financial interest in directing users toward specific programs or providers. Our editorial structure is designed to prevent that conflict from affecting data or rankings.

No sponsored rankings

Program rankings, sort orders, and comparison results on Golden Visa Map are determined by the underlying data. No program receives a higher ranking, a featured placement, or a more prominent display position in exchange for any commercial arrangement. There are no sponsored programs in the dataset.

No affiliate relationships

Golden Visa Map does not have affiliate or referral fee arrangements with any immigration law firm, licensed agent, program developer, real estate developer, or government-designated agent. The site does not earn commissions based on user inquiries to specific programs.

Advertising boundary

Where advertising is introduced on the site, it will be clearly identified and will not influence editorial data, program rankings, or research conclusions. Advertising placements will not appear on research reports, methodology pages, or data comparison tools.

Investment migration programs change, and errors occur. When data on Golden Visa Map is incorrect, out of date, or materially misleading, we correct it promptly and without qualification.

Submitting a correction

Corrections can be submitted through the site's contact form or by referencing a specific program and the correct data point with a source citation. We accept corrections from any party: program administrators, licensed practitioners, applicants, researchers, and general readers. The identity of the submitter does not affect whether a correction is investigated.

Corrections submitted with a primary source citation (a link to the official government page, gazette entry, or regulatory document containing the correct figure) are prioritised. We investigate all corrections, but sourced corrections are resolved faster.

Correction process

On receipt of a correction submission, the following steps are followed:

1. The claimed error is verified against the original source documents used to build the record.
2. If the correction is confirmed, the record is updated, the lastUpdated field is revised, and the correction is logged internally.
3. If the original data is confirmed accurate, the submitter receives a response with the source citation supporting the current figure.
4. If there is genuine ambiguity between two current sources, the record is updated to reflect the range and both sources are noted.

We do not issue public correction notices for minor data updates (for example a processing time that has moved from "2 to 4 months" to "3 to 4 months" following a practitioner survey). We do disclose material corrections -- changes to investment minimums, eligibility criteria, or program status -- in the site changelog.

Limitation of liability

Program data on Golden Visa Map is for general reference only and does not constitute legal, immigration, or investment advice. Requirements, costs, and timelines change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the relevant government authority or a qualified immigration professional before making any decision. Golden Visa Map is not a licensed immigration advisory firm.