What is Residency by Investment in Europe? Your Guide 2026

Key Takeaways

• Residency by investment programs allow non-EU nationals to obtain residency in specific European countries through qualified investments, with Portugal remaining one of the most competitive options in 2026.
• Portugal’s Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal, plus visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and can lead to permanent residency and, in time, EU citizenship.
• Portugal requires a minimum €500,000 investment in eligible funds instead of personal properties, and the program usually spans 12 to 18 months from application to receiving the first residency card.
• Portugal is currently one of the only European countries offering a path to citizenship without relocation, with minimal stay requirements, while countries such as Greece and Spain require physical presence for long-term status.
• VIDA Capital advises investors in the VIDA Fund on Portugal Golden Visa strategies and asset-backed hospitality investments in Portugal; contact VIDA Capital to explore your options.

Decoding Residency by Investment (RBI): Your Gateway to Europe

Definition of Residency by Investment

Residency by Investment (RBI) is a legal framework that allows non-EU nationals to obtain temporary or permanent residency rights in a European country through a qualifying financial investment. These programs grant non-EU nationals residency via qualifying investments, offering Schengen access, tax benefits, and paths to citizenship. RBI differs from traditional immigration routes that rely on employment or family ties, since it focuses on capital commitment.

Why High-Net-Worth Individuals Use European RBI Programs

High-net-worth individuals use European RBI programs to diversify residence options, protect assets, and create stability for their families. European residency provides broad travel flexibility within the Schengen Area, plus a structured route to long-term residency and eventual citizenship. Many families view RBI as a strategic “Plan B” that secures future education and lifestyle options for children and grandchildren.

Key Benefits of Portuguese Residency for You and Your Family

Portuguese residency through the Golden Visa offers several concrete benefits. Residents gain access to Portugal’s quality of life, political stability, and safety, and Portugal ranks as the 7th safest country globally. The program allows you to live, study, and work in Portugal, and to travel visa-free across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Family inclusion typically covers your spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents or in-laws. For spouses or partners, you can present either a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship, such as in the case of a common-law partner.

How to Choose the Right European RBI Program: Key Factors for 2026

Investment Requirements and Eligible Types

Investment thresholds across European RBI programs usually range from €250,000 to €500,000, depending on the country and asset type. Portugal’s Golden Visa requires a minimum €500,000 investment into eligible funds, such as regulated venture capital or private equity funds, including the VIDA Fund. Personal properties are no longer eligible for Portugal’s Golden Visa as of October 2023.

Residency, Citizenship Paths, and Physical Presence

Residency grants the right to live in Portugal, while citizenship later grants full EU rights. Portugal’s Parliament introduced new citizenship timelines in October 2025, requiring applicants to reside in Portugal for 10 years before qualifying for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens benefit from a reduced seven-year requirement. Portugal remains one of the only countries in Europe where investors can keep their main life elsewhere while maintaining eligibility for citizenship, with only a 14-day stay requirement every two years to keep residency.

Family Inclusion and Dependent Eligibility

Most European RBI programs extend benefits to close family members under one application. In Portugal, eligible dependents typically include:

• Your spouse or documented partner.
• Children who are full-time students, unmarried, not working, and financially dependent.
• Parents or in-laws who are over 65 or financially dependent.

For children, eligibility continues only while they remain full-time students, are not working, and stay unmarried during the entire residency program, until the application for the Golden Visa is complete for them.

Processing Times and Regulatory Stability

Processing times vary by country. Portugal’s Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from application to initial residency card. Program stability, legal clarity, and regulatory oversight should play a central role in your decision.

Step-by-Step: Navigating the Portugal Golden Visa Program

Successful Portugal Golden Visa applications rely on expert legal guidance from the outset. A qualified immigration lawyer is essential at every step, from structuring the investment to submitting and following your application.

Step 1: Pre-Application and Investment Selection

You start by selecting specialized legal counsel. VIDA Capital can recommend experienced Portuguese law firms with Golden Visa expertise. With your lawyer’s support, you obtain a NIF (Portuguese tax identification number) and open a Portuguese bank account, which can usually be completed remotely. You then invest €500,000 in an eligible fund, such as the VIDA Fund, which acquires and transforms hospitality assets in Portugal, giving them a second life.

Step 2: Application Submission and Biometrics

Your lawyer submits the online application for you and all eligible family members. After initial approval by AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum), you attend an in-person appointment in Portugal for biometric data collection, and all applicants must be present.

Step 3: Initial Residency Card Issuance

You receive a temporary residency permit valid for two years. This card grants you and your family the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, and to travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The residency rights apply only to Portugal, while Schengen access covers short stays for travel.

Step 4: Residency Card Renewals

Residency cards require renewal after each two-year period. You must maintain your qualifying investment, meet the minimum 14-day stay requirement per two-year period, and provide updated criminal records. As the approval card issuance usually takes a year, you will most likely only need to do a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period.

Step 5: Applying for Permanent Residency

After maintaining temporary residency in Portugal for five years, and meeting presence and investment requirements, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency. Permanent residency offers longer-term security and fewer renewals, while still limiting residency rights to Portugal.

Step 6: Path to Portuguese Citizenship

After the October 2025 legislative changes, Golden Visa holders must reside in Portugal for 10 years before qualifying for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens have a reduced seven-year requirement. The new rules should apply to all Golden Visa applicants, except those who submitted their citizenship application before the new law is published. Citizenship provides an EU passport and full rights to live, work, and study, and to access public healthcare and education across EU and Schengen countries.

Investment Spotlight: The Portugal Golden Visa and Asset-Backed Security with VIDA Capital

Why Portugal Remains a Practical Choice for RBI in 2026

Portugal combines a minimal stay requirement of 14 days every two years with a clear path from temporary residency to permanent residency and, over time, citizenship. Portugal’s political stability, location, and growing economy support a favorable environment for investors who want a European Plan B without relocating. Greece and Spain require you to live there to keep long-term residency, and Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program, which further strengthens Portugal’s relative position.

Asset-Backed Fund Investments with VIDA Capital

VIDA Capital provides advisory services focused on secure, asset-backed investments through the VIDA Fund, which operates exclusively in Portugal’s hospitality sector. The fund buys and transforms existing hospitality properties, giving these assets a second life rather than building from the ground up. The strategy emphasizes ownership of tangible assets, aiming for capital preservation as well as upside potential. Any references to historical returns relate to past performance only, and historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Portugal’s Hospitality Market as a Strategic Opportunity

Portugal’s tourism sector has expanded quickly, with 31 million visitors and €27 billion in tourism revenue in 2024. Forecasts suggest that by 2035, Portugal’s travel and tourism sector could represent 22.6% of national GDP. The planned co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup is expected to add hundreds of millions of euros in economic impact, supporting long-term demand for hospitality assets. Contact VIDA Capital to connect this market opportunity with your Portugal Golden Visa objectives.

Comparing Top European Residency by Investment Programs (2026)

Portugal Golden Visa

Portugal requires a €500,000 investment in eligible funds, with no direct personal property purchase options. The program requires 14 days of physical presence every two years to maintain residency in Portugal and offers a path to citizenship after 10 years of residency. Portugal is currently one of the only European countries where investors can obtain access to citizenship without relocating full-time.

Greece Golden Visa

Greece offers residency for €250,000 for property renovation projects, with no minimum stay requirement to keep residency. For citizenship, Greece requires at least seven years of physical residence, continuous tax residency, and integration measures such as a language test. Greece also requires an ongoing presence for long-term residency, which limits flexibility for investors who do not wish to relocate.

Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)

Malta requires a property investment of €375,000 or a five-year lease of at least €14,000 annually, plus government contributions of €97,000. The program offers permanent residency in Malta, with a possible path to citizenship through naturalization, subject to separate requirements.

Hungary Guest Investor Programme

Publicly available information on Hungary’s Guest Investor Programme remains limited as of 2026, so specific details on investment thresholds, timelines, or long-term residency and citizenship routes cannot be confirmed.

Why VIDA Capital is a Strong Partner for the Portugal Golden Visa

Expert Guidance and Concierge-Style Support

VIDA Capital offers personalized advisory services across the full Golden Visa journey. The team supports you with selecting qualified legal counsel, understanding documentation, and coordinating your investment and application steps. Each investor gains a single point of contact, which simplifies communication and keeps the process organized.

Asset-Backed Hospitality Strategy Through the VIDA Fund

Through VIDA Capital’s advisory work, investors can access the VIDA Fund, which focuses on acquiring and revitalizing undervalued hospitality businesses across Portugal. The fund buys and transforms existing assets into higher-performing hospitality operations, giving them a second life. This asset-backed approach emphasizes tangible collateral and aims to mitigate risk compared with strategies driven only by projected cash flows. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Transparent, Client-First Advisory Approach

VIDA Capital operates with full transparency on government fees, legal costs, and fund subscription terms. The team prioritizes suitability, including recommending alternative visa pathways or strategies when a Golden Visa structure does not fit a client’s goals. This approach supports long-term relationships built on clear expectations.

Regulatory Oversight and Track Record

The VIDA Fund operates under the supervision of the Portuguese Securities Market Authority (CMVM) and undergoes bi-annual audits by Deloitte. VIDA Fund I raised over €20 million from more than 50 investors and supported over 100 Golden Visa applications. Any performance figures relate to past outcomes, and historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns. Connect with VIDA Capital to assess whether the VIDA Fund aligns with your residency and investment objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Residency by Investment in Europe

Overview of Portugal’s Golden Visa

Portugal’s Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU investors to obtain Portuguese residency through a qualifying investment of €500,000 in eligible funds. The program grants a temporary residency permit, renewable in two-year periods, which can lead to permanent residency after five years and eligibility for citizenship after 10 years of residency, subject to legal and language requirements.

Relocation Requirements for Maintaining Golden Visa Residency

Golden Visa holders do not need to relocate to Portugal full-time. The program requires a minimum of 14 days of physical presence in Portugal during each two-year residency period. This low stay requirement distinguishes Portugal from countries such as Greece, which require long-term presence and tax residency for citizenship.

Key Differences Between Portugal and Other European RBI Programs

Portugal offers a path to citizenship without relocation and uses regulated investment funds instead of personal properties for eligibility. Greece allows a lower investment entry point but requires seven years of residence and integration for citizenship. Malta offers direct permanent residency but has separate, more demanding routes to citizenship. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program and requires relocation for long-term residence options.

Eligible Investments for the Portugal Golden Visa in 2026

Since October 2023, qualifying investments for Portugal’s Golden Visa require at least €500,000 in eligible investment funds, such as venture capital or private equity vehicles, including the VIDA Fund. Direct personal property ownership no longer qualifies as an eligible investment type.

Timeframe for Obtaining a Portuguese Passport

Under the rules introduced in October 2025, Golden Visa holders must maintain Portuguese residency for 10 years before becoming eligible to apply for citizenship, with only minimal physical presence required. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens can apply after seven years of residency. The Golden Visa process from application submission to first residency card typically spans 12 to 18 months.

Conclusion: Build a Flexible Plan B with Portuguese Residency

Residency by investment in Europe offers a structured path to increased mobility and security, and Portugal’s Golden Visa remains one of the most practical choices in 2026. The program links a regulated €500,000 fund investment to a clear route from temporary residency to permanent residency and, over time, EU citizenship, without requiring full relocation.

The combination of Portugal’s growing hospitality sector, the VIDA Fund’s asset-backed strategy of giving existing hospitality assets a second life, and VIDA Capital’s advisory support provides a focused way to align investment objectives with long-term residency planning. Contact VIDA Capital to explore how the Portugal Golden Visa and the VIDA Fund can support your family’s long-term Plan B in Europe.