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Portugal golden visa

Minimum investmentEUR 200,000
Processing time12-24 Months
Permanent residencyAfter 5 years

Portugal golden visa overview

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residence-by-investment program that lets non-EU investors live, work, and study in Portugal. You qualify with one of two investments: EUR 500,000 into qualifying Portuguese investment funds, held for at least 5 years with a minimum 60% placed in commercial companies headquartered in Portugal, or a EUR 200,000 donation in low-density areas for national cultural heritage.

The first residence permit lasts 2 years and renews in 2-year periods.

Physical presence runs to an average of 7 days a year, or 14 days every two years, with at least 7 days in the first year. There is no language, education, or work experience requirement. You can include a spouse or common law partner, dependent children, dependent parents, and in some cases minor siblings and parents-in-law.

The golden visa gives visa-free travel in the Schengen Area, with pathways to permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 7 to 10 years under separate law. The processing timeline is 12 to 24 months.

Portugal golden visa benefits

  1. Dependents include: (1) spouse or common law partner; (2) dependent children (dependency must be evidenced if over 18, established on first application and on each renewal); (3) dependent parents (dependency must be evidenced if under 65, established on first application and on each renewal); (4) dependent minor siblings in certain circumstances; and (5) dependent parents-in-law
  2. Member of the Schengen Area and the EU
  3. Right to live, work, and study in Portugal
  4. Pathways to obtaining Permanent Residency in Portugal after 5 years and Portuguese Citizenship after 7 to 10 years under separate law (both subject to conditions, including a language test)
  5. High standard of education and healthcare system
  6. Visa-free travel within the Schengen Area
  7. No language, education, or work experience requirements
  8. Short physical residency requirement of an average of seven days a year (or 14 days every 2 years), with at least 7 days in the first year

Portugal golden visa requirements

  1. Be over 18 years of age and a Non-EU/EEA citizen
  2. Make a qualifying investment in Portugal using funds from abroad
  3. Hold the investment for a minimum of 5 years after issue of the residence permit
  4. Have no debt to Portuguese authorities
  5. Have a clean criminal record
  6. Not have entered or stayed illegally in Portugal or the EU
  7. Obtain a tax identification number and open a bank account in Portugal

Portugal golden visa investment options

  1. Option 1: EUR 500,000 investment into qualifying Portuguese Investment Funds
  2. Must be held for at least 5 years after receiving the residence permit
  3. Minimum 60% of the investments realized in commercial companies headquartered in Portugal
  4. Option 2: EUR 200,000 donation in low-density areas by way of capital transfer, applied in investment or support to artistic production, recovery, or maintenance of the national cultural heritage, through qualified public entities or private foundations with public utility status
  5. Investment to be maintained until receiving Permanent Residency or Citizenship

Portugal golden visa application process

Process (12 to 24 months)

  1. Obtain a tax identification number in Portugal
  2. Open a bank account in Portugal
  3. Complete the qualifying investment
  4. Meet all application documentation requirements
  5. Submit the application to the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA)
  6. Upon approval, the applicant and dependents visit Portugal for biometric submission before the residence permits are issued
  7. The residence permit is valid for 2 years, renewable every 2 years subject to: (1) maintaining the investment, (2) complying with physical residence requirements, and (3) maintaining all initial requirements

Frequently asked questions

Does Portugal allow dual citizenship?

Yes, Portugal allow dual Citizenship.

Should I choose the Portugal Golden Visa or the Greece Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa suits investors whose end goal is EU citizenship: it requires only 14 days of physical presence in the first two years, and dual citizenship is permitted. The Greece Golden Visa suits investors who want direct property ownership, since real estate from EUR 250,000 still qualifies, with no minimum stay requirement and faster processing of around 6 to 9 months. Portugal's qualifying routes are a EUR 500,000 fund investment or a EUR 250,000 cultural donation. Our lawyers cover both programs from a single point of contact; see the full Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa comparison for a detailed breakdown.

Is the Portugal Golden Visa still available in 2026?

Yes, the Portugal Golden Visa is still available and open to new applicants. There have been no changes to the program since 2023 and there are no known plans to revoke the program in the coming years.

How much do I need to invest to qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa?

There are a few different options you can choose.

Currently, the two most popular paths are the so called “donation” into Portuguese arts and culture, that can be of EUR 200,000.00 in low-density areas or EUR 250,000.00 in bigger cities/regions such as Lisbon or Porto; or EUR 500,000.00 into qualifying Portuguese investment funds with a minimum 60% placed in commercial companies headquartered in Portugal.

Can I still obtain a Portugal Golden Visa by buying property?

No, since 2023, any real estate investments, direct or indirect, do not qualify for the Portuguese Golden Visa program.

How do I choose an investment fund for the Portugal Golden Visa?

There are many investment funds in Portugal that qualify under the Golden Visa program. Choosing which one you want to invest depends largely on your financial circumstances, risk appetite, how quickly you would like to be able to leave the investment, and so on. It is interesting to compare a few aspects of each fund, such as: investment strategies, risk level, lock-up period (some funds are open ended), associated fees, etc. Lawyers and financial advisors can help you navigate these differences and decide which one is best suited to your personal circumstances.

How long does it take to obtain a Portugal Golden Visa?

Typically, between 12 – 24 months.

How many days do I need to spend in Portugal each year to maintain my Golden Visa?

You must spend 7 days in the first year following final approval of your Golden Visa, and a cumulative 14 days every subsequent two-year periods.

Do I need to live in Portugal to keep my Golden Visa?

No, your Golden Visa grants you legal residency, but does not require full-time physical residence (although if you wish to do so, you may). If you comply with the 7/14 days rule, you should be able to maintain your Golden Visa and renew it as appropriate.

Can my spouse and children be included in my Portugal Golden Visa application?

Yes, spouse, civil law partners living together for over 2 years, minor children, and adult children who are either incapacitated or unmarried and still pursuing their studies can be included in your application.

Can I include my parents in my Portugal Golden Visa application?

Yes, financially dependent parents, particularly those over the age of 65 years old, can be included in the application.

What happens if my child turns 18 while my Golden Visa application is being processed?

Adult children (over the age of 18) who are either incapacitated or unmarried and still pursuing their studies can be included in your application.

Does the Portugal Golden Visa lead to Portuguese citizenship?

It can lead to citizenship, but citizenship applications are subject to their own requirements, ruled by a separate law. It is a requirement to acquire citizenship, or more technically speaking, nationality by naturalization, that you have held a form of legal residency (such as the Golden Visa), for a minimum of 10 years for most applicants, or 7 years for citizens from other Portuguese Speaking Country (CPLP), such as Brazil, Angola, São Tomé & Principe, or other EU countries.

How do the recent changes to Portuguese citizenship rules affect Golden Visa holders?

In May 2026, a set of amendments were approved that altered many provisions to Portuguese Nationality Law, including the controversial increase in timeline from 5 to 10 years for most applicants.

As these changes are recent, and supporting regulations that will clarify the practical effects and implications of these amendments to Golden Visa holders who had not already applied for citizenship, it is important to assess each circumstance on a case-by-case basis.

So far, only those who had already met all the requirements and had already applied for Portuguese nationality before the amendments came into effect are guaranteed to be grandfathered into the old rules.


Is Portugal Golden Visa Still Worth It in 2026?

Yes, as of September 2026, the Portugal Golden Visa can still be worth considering in 2026, but it depends on your goals and timeline, the new regulation makes it a bit more challenging but it is still one of the best Golden visa in the market. check out our full guide here: Portugal Golden Visa News.

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