Golden visa brokers urge fast action after Malta court ruling

Key Takeaways

• The ECJ ruled Malta’s citizenship-by-investment program illegal, closing it after April 2025 and urging reforms across Europe.
• Golden visa brokers warn clients to act swiftly before tighter EU laws or more program closures affect investor residency options.
• Portugal and Greece continue golden visa schemes with stricter requirements, while Spain ended its program due to EU pressure.

The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declaring Malta’s citizenship-by-investment program illegal has sent ripples across Europe’s immigration landscape. As soon as the decision came out in late April 2025, golden visa brokers across the continent began urging their clients to act fast. The fear is that time is running out for easy paths to European residency and, in some cases, citizenship. Their push for quick action is more than simple business—it reflects a sense of urgency rooted in changing laws and the uncertain future of these popular investment programs.

Let’s break down what’s going on, how the Malta ruling affects golden visa programs in other countries, and what you should know if you’re considering residence—or even citizenship—through investment in Europe.

Why the Malta Ruling Is a Big Deal

First, it’s important to understand the heart of the issue. Malta’s so-called “Golden Passport” scheme allowed people to buy citizenship directly, just by making a big investment. There weren’t strong residency requirements—people didn’t have to actually live in Malta. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that this approach was illegal. The court said Malta’s scheme turned EU citizenship into a product for sale, which went against the values and rules of the European Union 🇪🇺.

• The ECJ stressed that these programs break down trust between member countries. They also undermine the idea of what it means to be an EU citizen.
• Malta’s government stated it will follow the ruling and review its program rules.

This ruling sets an important precedent. Many experts see this as a warning to other countries with similar programs: it’s time to rethink or even end them.

What Are Golden Visa Brokers Saying?

With the Malta case fresh in everyone’s minds, golden visa brokers—people and companies who help investors apply for these programs—are raising red flags.

• They’re telling clients to move quickly if they want to get a European golden visa. The worry is that other countries will soon face new restrictions or bans.
• In the words of brokers and immigration lawyers, the path to European residency through these schemes could close soon, not just in Malta 🇲🇹 but also in other countries.

Brokers point out that the ECJ’s Malta ruling has created a sense of urgency for anyone thinking about using this pathway. According to analysis from VisaVerge.com, many clients are rushing to complete their paperwork, hoping to sneak in before tighter laws or complete shutdowns happen across the European Union 🇪🇺.

How Has the Ruling Impacted Other European Schemes?

The ECJ’s decision was aimed directly at Malta’s program. But other European countries have similar, though not identical, golden visa or investor residency programs. Each country has crafted its own set of rules, sometimes requiring investors to actually live in the country, learn the language, or invest in certain kinds of businesses.

Portugal 🇵🇹

Portugal’s golden visa program is still active. The ECJ ruling did not affect it directly. Why not? Portugal’s program doesn’t hand out citizenship right away. Applicants must:

• Actually spend time living in Portugal 🇵🇹.
• Learn the Portuguese language.
• Wait at least five years before they can even apply for citizenship.

Plus, Portugal recently changed its program. Starting in 2023, investors are no longer allowed to just buy property to qualify. Instead, the government wants investments directed into certain areas, such as healthcare, technology, or renewable energy. These investments must be made through regulated funds.

The focus on longer residency and specific kinds of investment helps Portugal 🇵🇹 avoid the problems that got Malta 🇲🇹 into trouble with the European Court of Justice.

Spain 🇪🇸

Spain 🇪🇸 was home to a popular golden visa program that granted residency to investors, often through real estate purchases. However, Spain ended its program in early 2025. Two things drove this decision:

• Pressure from the European Union 🇪🇺, anxious to avoid speculation and rising house prices linked to foreign investors.
• A local crisis of affordability, with many Spanish citizens priced out of housing after years of foreign investment.

Closing the program was viewed as a response to these problems, but it also reflects the wider EU movement to clamp down on easy paths to residency or citizenship for investors.

Greece 🇬🇷 and Hungary 🇭🇺

Greece 🇬🇷 and Hungary 🇭🇺 both still have golden visa-type schemes running. Greece’s program is mainly based on buying real estate, while Hungary’s offerings are similar. However, both countries are sensing more scrutiny from within their own governments and the wider EU, thanks to the big news coming out of the Malta ruling.

For the moment, investors can still apply for golden visas in these places, but the future is unsure.

A Simple Comparison

Here’s a handy table showing the current status of popular golden visa and passport programs as of mid-2025:

Why Brokers Urge Speed

Why the big rush? Golden visa brokers say the ECJ’s Malta ruling is likely just the start. Here’s why they urge clients not to wait:

• Other European countries may soon face lawsuits, bans, or new rules. Acting now might secure a visa or residency card while the door is still open.
• The European Union 🇪🇺 is making clear that “citizenship for sale” doesn’t match its values. While not all golden visa programs give immediate citizenship, the trend is toward much stricter rules or outright bans.
• Some countries could announce changes with little warning, leaving would-be investors out in the cold.

As a result, brokers are working flat-out to help clients finish their applications before any more crackdowns.

What Does the European Court of Justice Decision Say?

The heart of the Malta ruling is this: handing out citizenship in exchange for money, without strong ties like actually living in the country or learning the local language, is not okay in the EU’s eyes.

• The court said these programs “commodify” or commercialize the rights of being an EU citizen. That, it argued, undermines the special trust each EU country places in another when recognizing passports.
• EU citizenship is supposed to mean something deeper than a cash transaction.

This strong language from the highest court in the EU means every investment migration program is now under the microscope.

How Is Malta Responding?

After the court’s decision, Malta 🇲🇹 promised to follow the judgment and look at its rules again. All new citizenship-for-investment applications are stopped, at least for now.

• Maltese officials say they will change the scheme to comply with EU law. What exactly that will mean isn’t clear yet.
• If Malta tries to restart its program, it will probably have to include real residency, language requirements, and stricter screening.

Will Portugal’s Golden Visa Survive?

Portugal 🇵🇹 seems safe for now. It’s made changes to distance its program from Malta’s approach. The country doesn’t sell citizenship. Rather, it gives residency, which can lead—after five years of living there and meeting other strict rules—to citizenship.

• By removing the real estate route and focusing investments on important sectors like technology and healthcare, Portugal 🇵🇹 signals to the EU that its program is about building the economy, not selling EU rights.

However, politicians and officials in Brussels keep calling for more EU-wide rules—or even a complete ban—on all golden visa programs. Some experts worry that despite Portugal’s efforts, the EU might eventually demand tougher rules or the end of residency-by-investment altogether.

What Does This Mean for Investors and Immigrants?

If you’re thinking about residency or citizenship through investment in Europe 🇪🇺, here’s what you need to know:

• The rules are changing fast. What was possible in Malta 🇲🇹 only a few months ago is now gone.
• Even in countries where programs still exist, criteria may get tougher, or the schemes could be closed suddenly.
• Professional advice from golden visa brokers is helpful for navigating current rules, but also risky: what works today might not work tomorrow.
• Always check official government sources for the most up-to-date rules, like Portugal’s golden visa guidelines directly from the Portuguese government page.

What’s Driving These Changes?

Several reasons are pushing countries and the EU toward stricter controls or bans:

• Concerns about criminals or money from questionable sources using golden visa and passport schemes to buy access to the EU 🇪🇺.
• Worries over fairness, with wealthy people getting special treatment, while regular immigrants face many more hurdles.
• Housing problems, especially in places like Spain 🇪🇸, where local people struggle to buy homes due to foreign investment.

The European Court of Justice ruling adds legal force, not just political pressure, to the growing movement against selling citizenship or residency for investment alone.

What’s Next for the EU?

The story doesn’t end with Malta 🇲🇹. Other EU countries are already examining their investment migration schemes. The ECJ’s decision is likely to push Brussels, the political heart of the European Union 🇪🇺, toward new, stricter EU-wide rules.

• We could see tighter conditions for all golden visa programs, such as more serious residency demands, background checks, or required investment in sectors with clear economic or social benefits.
• Some experts predict the EU might even move to shut down all golden visa schemes in member countries at some point in the future.

For investors, this means the golden age of easy EU access through investment might be ending. For policymakers, the debate will continue as they balance attracting foreign investment with protecting the integrity and safety of the European Union 🇪🇺.

Conclusion: What Should You Do Next?

Given the Malta ruling and changing political winds, anyone interested in residence or citizenship through investment in Europe 🇪🇺 should act with clear eyes and timely information.

• Work with trusted advisers and check government websites for the latest updates.
• Remember that schemes can change or disappear swiftly, especially after high-profile court rulings.
• The advice to move fast, as golden visa brokers suggest, is not just about beating the deadline; it’s about making sure you’re part of the last wave before even stricter laws come in—or these programs vanish for good.

If you’re seriously considering applying for a golden visa, read the official EU Parliament report on these programs to understand both the benefits and the risks. Golden visas and passports have always existed in a grey zone between investment, migration, and politics. After the Malta ruling by the European Court of Justice, that zone is shrinking. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the next chapter may include even bigger changes across Europe 🇪🇺—with investors needing to act faster and smarter than ever before.

Learn Today

European Court of Justice (ECJ) → The highest court in the European Union, ruling on issues affecting EU law and member states.
Golden visa → A program allowing investors to gain residency, and sometimes citizenship, through significant financial investment in a country.
Citizenship-by-investment → Acquiring nationality of a country by making a substantial financial contribution, often without strict residency requirements.
Residency requirement → The obligation for visa applicants to live in the destination country for a specified period before qualifying.
Schengen Area → A group of European countries allowing passport-free travel, where residency or citizenship grants broad mobility.

This Article in a Nutshell

Malta’s citizenship-by-investment scheme was declared illegal by the European Court of Justice in April 2025. This landmark decision has sent shockwaves through Europe, causing golden visa brokers to urge clients to act before more programs close. Portugal’s and Greece’s programs continue, but stricter EU-wide changes are expected soon.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• European Court of Justice rules Malta golden passport program illegal
• EU Court of Justice declares Malta golden passport program illegal
• EU Pressure Fuels Drop in Malta’s Citizenship by Investment Sales
• Malta Grants 33,000+ Residence Permits to Tackle Skilled Worker Shortages
• How to Apply for a Malta Dependent Visa: Step-by-Step Guide