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 areas​, 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.

Beyond funds and cultural donations, the program also recognises two further routes that suit specific investor profiles. The first is a EUR 500,000 investment into public or private scientific research institutions that form part of Portugal's national scientific system. The second is a business route, based either on creating at least 10 jobs (reduced to eight in low density areas), or on investing EUR 500,000 into an existing Portuguese company while creating or maintaining at least five jobs over three years. In practice, most applicants still favour the fund and donation options, as these involve less ongoing operational commitment, but the research and business routes remain valuable for investors with aligned objectives.

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.

How Long Does the Portugal Golden Visa Take?

Processing times are the single most important practical consideration for applicants, and they have been the subject of much discussion given AIMA's pending caseload. The honest position is that timelines vary considerably depending on when the application is filed and how complete the file is at submission. While parts of the market continue to cite longer waiting periods, which some of our clients also face, we have seen meaningful improvement over the past year, with several of our clients receiving pre-approval within six months of submission.

It is sensible to plan with a long-term view. The qualifying investment must be completed before the application can begin, and the path to permanent residence sits at five years from the issuance of the initial residency card. Applicants who treat the Golden Visa as a multi-year residency and citizenship strategy, rather than a fast document, tend to have the most realistic and positive experience of the program.

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. This is a key reason we see more and more Americans in the race for European residency, using the Golden Visa as a plan B without leaving the US.

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.

Read Also: EU Citizenship Timeline: Fastest Pathways to a European Passport

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.

Portugal Golden Visa vs the D7 and D8 Visas

The Golden Visa is not the only route into European residency. For applicants willing to relocate, visas such as the D7 (passive income) and D8 (digital nomad) offer a faster path that bypasses the investment requirement entirely. The key distinction is residence. Both the D7 and D8 require genuine, long-term physical presence in Portugal, making them suitable for those ready to make the country their main home. The Golden Visa, by contrast, remains the only option for investors who want to secure residency, and an eventual route to citizenship, while keeping their primary life and business elsewhere. The right choice depends entirely on whether full-time relocation fits the applicant's circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum investment for the Portugal Golden Visa?

the most popular routes are a EUR 500,000 investment into a qualifying fund, or a cultural donation from EUR 250,000 (reduced to EUR 200,000 in low density areas). Research and business investment routes are also available.

How many days must I stay in Portugal each year?

A: The minimum stay is 7 days in the first year, then 14 days for each subsequent two-year period. This is one of the lowest physical presence requirements of any European residency program.

Can I get Portuguese citizenship without living in Portugal?

A: Portugal is one of the few EU countries allowing Golden Visa holders to apply for citizenship without full-time residence, subject to meeting the minimum stay, language, and civic knowledge requirements.

How long until I can apply for citizenship?

A: Under the 2026 nationality law amendments, naturalisation requires 10 years of residency for most applicants, or 7 years for EU and CPLP (Portuguese-speaking country) nationals, counted from the first residence permit.

Can my family be included?

Yes. Residency extends to spouses and common-law partners, dependent children, and parents and in-laws, subject to certain conditions.