How to Get European Residency with Portugal's Golden Visa

For individuals seeking to diversify their investment portfolio and secure European Residency, the Portugal Golden Visa offers a compelling opportunity. Portugal's residency by investment program stands out as an attractive pathway to access the benefits of residency in the old continent, with those investing in the program having the opportunity to become European citizens despite a short stay requirement.

How Does the Portugal Golden Visa Program Work?

As one of the most popular Golden Visa programs in the world, Portugal's Golden Visa allows non-European Union citizens and their families to obtain residency permits by investing in the country, with one of the most popular routes within the program being the investment fund option. This option allows individuals to invest a minimum of EUR 500,000 into qualifying funds such as private equity and venture capital funds, which must be held at least 5 years after receiving the residence permit.

Another very popular and more affordable option is the one-time, non-refundable, investment, or commonly called donation, in support of artistic production or to the restoration, preservation, or maintenance of the national cultural heritage, in the base cost of EUR 250,000. This cost can be reduced to EUR 200,000 when said artistic or cultural project takes place in a low density region, such as many rural areas in Portugal.

These qualifying investments (whether an investment fund or a donation) allow investors to submit a request for the Golden Visa, which is a temporary residence permit. AIMA, the Portuguese immigration authority, will assess if the investment was duly completed, meeting the legally established requirements, as well as if the investor themselves have a clean criminal background in their origin country and within the EU.

If successful, applicants are granted a temporary residency card in Portugal that is valid for two years, and can be renewed for equal periods as long as the initial conditions are maintained, and the minimum stay requirements are met.

Even though the Portuguese immigration authorities are still getting over a considerable backlog of pending cases, we have seen significant improvements in waiting times in the past year. As an example, a few of our clients have received pre-approval of their applications in less than 6 months from initial submission.

Furthermore, and despite the recent changes to Portuguese nationality law that increased the required length of legal residence for citizenship applications from 5 to 10 years in most cases, the program is still one of the most attractive ones in Europe, as it is one of the few that allows Golden Visa holders to apply for citizenship without having to physically reside in the country.

Lastly, it is important to remember that the possibility to apply for permanent residency after 5 years from the issuance of your first Golden Visa has remained unchanged, which is a legally secure and clear path to reduce bureaucracy, costs, and allows for a much easier return of the investment sum while waiting for the opportunity to apply for citizenship.

What Are the Benefits of European Residency in Portugal?

One of the main benefits of the Golden Visa program is the opportunity to obtain legal residency in Portugal, a member state of the European Union, without the need to physically relocate to Portugal. The minimum stay requirements are of only 7 days in the first year after issuance of your first residence permit, and subsequently, 14 days every two years.

This flexibility is a great opportunity for investors and their families who wish to have a plan B against political or economical instabilities in their home countries, allowing them not only to diversify their investment portfolio, but to have the possibility of quick relocation if the necessity ever arises.

It is also a great opportunity for those who look for better mobility within Europe, given that the Portugal Golden Visa allows visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for 90 days every 180-day period.

Another benefit is that residency extends to three generations of family members, including spouses and common-law partners, parents, in-laws and children, whether minor or over the age of 18 provided that a few conditions are met, enabling individuals and their families to live, work, and study in Portugal.

Portugal Golden Visa also allows direct access to top-tier education and healthcare systems in very similar (if not identical) conditions as Portuguese nationals.

How Do You Go From Golden Visa to Portuguese Citizenship?

After five years of maintaining residency, and upon meeting certain conditions such as the minimum stay requirements and A2 Portuguese language, Golden Visa investors may apply for permanent residency in Portugal. This proves as a legally sound path to exit investments and reduce bureaucracy with Golden Visa renewals up to citizenship.

Portuguese citizenship is a separate process: under the 2026 Nationality Law amendments, naturalisation requires 10 years of residency for most applicants, or 7 years for other EU and CPLP (Portuguese speaking countries such as Brazil, Angola or Mozambique) nationals, counted from the issuance of the first residence permit, and is subject to requirements such as A2 Portuguese language as well as demonstrating sufficient civic knowledge on Portuguese history and culture, as well as its political and legal foundations.

It is important to note that, until now (June 2026), the supporting regulations to the newly approved amendments to nationality law have not yet been drafted and approved. In other words, a few practical implications of these amendments remain to be clarified and determined in the coming months.

Once granted citizenship, investors and their families have the right to live, work, and study anywhere in the European Union without the need to obtain complex residence permits, as well as visa-free travel to over 170 countries

How Do You Apply for the Portugal Golden Visa?

Learn more about how regulated Portuguese investment funds or cultural donations may fit within your European residency and investment project. If you are interested to learn more about the Portugal Golden visa route or want a confidential consultation, do not hesitate to contact our legal team today.