A growing number of investors want a residence or citizenship program that covers the whole family, including parents and sometimes grandparents. Several programs allow this. Malta's permanent residence program and some Caribbean citizenship programs accept both parents and grandparents. Portugal and Italy accept parents under conditions, and Greece's golden visa covers the parents of both spouses.
The headline age limit is rarely the deciding factor. Most programs ask whether the parent depends on the main applicant, and each program words that test differently. Other programs, including the US EB-5 visa, do not cover parents at all.
This guide compares the main programs as of October 2026, explains what "dependent" means in practice, and lists the costs that grow with each extra person.
Key takeaways
- Malta, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Grenada can include grandparents as well as parents. Portugal, Italy, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia focus on parents.
- Dependency tests matter more than age. Malta has no age threshold but requires parents to be principally dependent on the main applicant.
- Since an October 2025 amendment, Portugal generally makes residents wait two years before family reunification, but golden visa holders are exempt.
- The US EB-5 program covers only a spouse and unmarried children under 21.
- Each added parent brings extra contributions, due diligence fees, health insurance and renewal costs.
Why parents are treated differently from spouses and children
Spouses and minor children are core family members in almost every program. Parents and grandparents are different. They join as dependants of the main applicant, and the program needs evidence that they actually rely on that person.
That evidence usually covers three points: the family link (birth and marriage certificates, and for grandparents a chain of certificates across two generations), financial dependency (proof that the main applicant supports them), and background checks, because adult dependants go through the same due diligence as the main applicant. A program can welcome parents on paper and still refuse a parent who has a pension, a business or property of their own.
Comparison: which programs include parents and grandparents
| Program | Type | Parents | Grandparents | Age rule | Dependency test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta (MPRP) | Permanent residence | Yes | Yes | None | Principally dependent, sworn affidavit |
| Portugal (ARI golden visa) | Residence | Yes, of investor or spouse | No | None | Dependent on the resident |
| Greece (golden visa) | Residence | Yes, of investor and spouse | Not provided | None | No separate test in practice |
| Italy (investor visa) | Residence | Yes, under conditions | No | 65+ in one branch | Dependent, with family conditions |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Citizenship | Yes, of applicant or spouse | Yes | 55 or older | Financially dependent |
| Dominica | Citizenship | Yes | Yes | Set by regulation | Relies on main applicant |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Citizenship | Yes, of applicant or spouse | Not listed | 55 or older | Living with and fully supported |
| Saint Lucia | Citizenship | Yes, of applicant or spouse | Not listed | Over 55, or any age if disabled | Fully supported |
| United States (EB-5) | Green card | No | No | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Rules change often, and official websites sometimes lag behind the legislation. Applicants generally check the current legal text and fee schedule before they commit funds.
Residence programs that accept parents
Malta Permanent Residence Programme
Malta is one of the broadest programs for older relatives. According to the official MPRP FAQs from Residency Malta, a parent or grandparent of the main applicant or of the spouse can be included if they are principally dependent on the main applicant at the time of application. There is no age threshold.
The main applicant signs an affidavit confirming support for each parent or grandparent, and grandparents need documents that trace the family line. The agency explains that a dependant with substantial assets or an independent income may not qualify. A retirement income does not automatically disqualify a parent, as long as they remain principally dependent. Malta charges a fee of €7,500 for each adult dependant other than the spouse, which covers each parent and grandparent, according to Residency Malta's program page.
Portugal golden visa (ARI)
Portugal's immigration law lists the dependent first-degree ascendants of the resident or of the spouse as family members, in Article 99 of Law 23/2007. In plain terms, that means the parents of the investor and the parents of the spouse, if they are dependent. There is no age limit, but grandparents are not on the list.
A 2025 amendment (Law 61/2025) introduced a general rule that a resident must hold a permit for at least two years before family reunification. The same article exempts family members of holders of the investment residence permit (ARI), the permit for teaching, highly qualified or cultural activity, and the EU Blue Card. For golden visa families, parents can still join without that wait.
Greece golden visa
Greece's golden visa extends to the investor's spouse, children under 21 and the direct ascendants of both spouses. Practitioners read the ascendant category as covering the parents of the investor and the parents of the spouse, without a separate dependency test. Grandparents are not provided for. Each family member receives a permit for the same period as the investor, but family members do not gain the right to work. See our Greece golden visa guide for thresholds and zones.
Italy investor visa
Italy's investor visa leads to a residence permit, and family members join through the general family reunification rules. Article 29 of Legislative Decree 286/1998 allows dependent parents if they have no other children in their country of origin. A second branch covers parents over 65 when the other children cannot support them because of documented serious health reasons. Grandparents are not included.
Citizenship by investment programs that accept parents
Antigua and Barbuda
The Antigua and Barbuda CIU's dependants page lists parents and grandparents of the applicant or spouse who are 55 or older and financially dependent on the principal applicant. The program also accepts unmarried siblings of the applicant or spouse. The official fee schedule sets due diligence at US$4,000 for a dependent parent aged 55 or over. Adding a dependant aged 18 or over after approval costs US$50,000, plus due diligence and passport fees, so families that plan to include parents usually do so in the first application.
Dominica
Dominica's Economic Diversification Fund page names parents and grandparents among possible dependants who rely on the main applicant. The contribution is US$200,000 for a single applicant and US$250,000 for a main applicant with up to three dependants. Each additional dependant aged 18 or over adds US$40,000, and due diligence is US$4,000 per dependant aged 16 or over. The regulations add age and support conditions, so the exact current text matters.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Saint Kitts and Nevis eligibility page includes parents of the main applicant or spouse who are aged 55 or over, living with and fully supported by the main applicant. Grandparents are not listed. The cohabitation condition is stricter than in most other programs.
Saint Lucia and Grenada
Saint Lucia accepts parents of the applicant or spouse who are over 55 and fully supported, and parents of any age who are physically or mentally challenged and fully supported. Grenada also accepts parents and grandparents as dependants, with pricing that varies by age. In both cases, applicants confirm the current rules with the official unit. Our guide to Caribbean citizenship by investment compares the five programs more broadly.
Programs that do not include parents
Some well-known programs leave parents out entirely.
- United States EB-5. USCIS lists spouses and unmarried children under 21 as the family members who can immigrate with the investor. Parents need a separate immigration route.
- UAE golden visa. The official UAE government portal says golden visa holders can sponsor family members, including spouses and children. Parents are not named, so any sponsorship of parents would follow separate UAE rules. Our UAE golden visa guide covers the categories.
- Spain. Spain closed its investor visa on April 3, 2025, so it is no longer an option for new families.
What "dependent" means in practice
None of these programs define dependency with a fixed number. In practice, the evidence that tends to matter includes:
- Regular transfers from the main applicant to the parent over a sustained period.
- Proof that the parent has little or no independent income, or that any pension is too small to live on.
- Statements on property and other assets, since significant assets can suggest independence.
- Sworn affidavits of support, which Malta requires for every parent and grandparent.
- In Saint Kitts and Nevis, proof that the parent lives with the main applicant.
These documents feed into the same due diligence as the rest of the file. Our article on source of funds for investment migration explains how programs review the money behind an application.
The costs that grow with each parent
Adding parents is rarely just a single fee. Families often budget for several layers:
- Government contributions per dependant. Dominica, for example, adds US$40,000 for each extra adult dependant.
- Due diligence and processing fees. These are charged per adult and can run to several thousand dollars per person.
- Late additions. Adding a dependant after approval often costs much more than including them at the start, as Antigua and Barbuda's US$50,000 fee shows.
- Health insurance. Many residence programs require private cover, and premiums rise sharply with age. Our overview of private health insurance costs by country shows how wide the range is.
- Renewals. Residence permits for parents need renewing alongside the main permit, with new fees and documents each time.
The choice of main applicant can also change who qualifies. Where a program covers the parents of both spouses, a married couple can include both sets of parents. Where a program caps children by age, a parent who invests cannot always include an adult child. For a wider look at the trade-offs between the two families of programs, see residency by investment vs citizenship by investment.
Frequently asked questions
Which golden visa lets you include parents?
Portugal, Greece and Malta are the best-known residence programs that include parents. Portugal requires parents to be dependent, Greece covers the parents of both spouses, and Malta accepts parents and grandparents who are principally dependent on the main applicant. Italy allows dependent parents under stricter family conditions.
Can grandparents be included in citizenship by investment?
Yes, in some programs. Antigua and Barbuda accepts grandparents aged 55 or older who are financially dependent, and Dominica and Grenada also list grandparents among possible dependants. Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia focus on parents.
Is there a minimum age for parents?
It depends on the program. Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis use 55, Saint Lucia uses over 55, and Italy has a 65-plus branch. Malta, Portugal and Greece have no age threshold.
Can I add my parents after I already have the visa or passport?
Often yes, but it usually costs more. Antigua and Barbuda charges US$50,000 to add an adult dependant after approval. Residence programs generally allow later family reunification, though the conditions and waiting periods vary by country.
Do parents included in a golden visa get the right to work?
Not always. In Greece, family members of a golden visa holder receive a residence permit without a right to work. Rules differ in other programs, so families check the permit type for each relative.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.