Key Takeaways
- A Portugal Residency Card obtained through the Golden Visa grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, plus visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- The program requires a minimum €500,000 investment in eligible funds, no longer accepts personal properties, and usually takes 12 to 18 months from application to residency card issuance.
- The Golden Visa offers a practical Plan B, with a low physical stay requirement of 14 days every two years and inclusive options for spouses or partners, dependent children, and dependent parents or in-laws.
- Under the citizenship framework approved in October 2025, Golden Visa holders can pursue permanent residency after 5 years and may qualify for Portuguese citizenship after 10 years of legal residence, which then grants full EU mobility and rights.
- VIDA Capital advises investors in the VIDA Fund, which focuses on asset-backed hospitality investments in Portugal; you can discuss your options through a direct consultation with VIDA Capital.
Why a Portugal Residency Card Matters for Your Plan B in 2026
A Portugal Residency Card gives non-EU investors and their families the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, access Portuguese public healthcare and education, and travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. These rights apply exclusively to Portugal until you obtain citizenship.
Portugal remains a competitive choice for a contingency plan. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program, and Greece requires long-term residence and tax residency, including seven years of living there, to progress toward citizenship. Greece and Spain also require physical relocation to maintain long-term residency. Portugal, by contrast, requires only 14 days of presence every two years, making it one of the few European options that still offers a path to citizenship without full relocation.
The Portugal Golden Visa: A Fund-Based Route to Residency
The current Portugal Golden Visa focuses on fund investments, with a minimum subscription of €500,000. Personal properties are no longer eligible. Investors now rely on regulated investment funds that both comply with Golden Visa rules and aim for capital preservation.
Portugal’s hospitality sector has shown strong demand, with 31 million visitors in 2024 and tourism projected to represent 22.6% of national GDP by 2035. These trends support the long-term relevance of professionally managed hospitality assets. VIDA Capital provides advisory services focused on this space through the VIDA Fund, which buys existing hospitality assets and gives them a second life by repositioning and improving operations.
1. Schengen Travel Flexibility with Clear Residency Rights
A Portugal Residency Card allows visa-free travel within the 26 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This simplifies business and leisure travel by removing repeated short-stay visa applications for Europe.
The residency card grants residence rights only in Portugal. You can visit other Schengen countries without a visa for short stays, but long-term residence, work, or study rights in those countries only become available once you secure Portuguese citizenship and a passport.
2. Defined Path to Permanent Residency and Citizenship
The Golden Visa grants a temporary residency permit that is valid for 2 years. You then renew it for two further 2-year periods, maintaining both the qualifying investment and the minimum stay requirement of 14 days every two years. After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal.
Under the framework approved by Portugal’s Parliament in October 2025, most applicants must now reside in Portugal for 10 years before qualifying for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens generally face a reduced requirement of seven years. Once you obtain Portuguese citizenship and a passport, you gain the right to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in any EU or Schengen Zone country.
3. Family Coverage for a Unified Plan B
The Portugal Golden Visa supports family planning by allowing the main applicant to include close relatives. You can include:
- A spouse or common-law partner, with either a marriage certificate or other accepted proof of relationship
- Economically dependent children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried throughout the residency program until the Golden Visa application is complete
- Dependent parents or parents-in-law, typically above 65 years old or financially dependent on the main applicant
This structure lets families secure mobility, education, and healthcare access together, instead of coordinating separate immigration paths for each member.
4. Quality of Life, Safety, and Public Services
Portugal consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, holding the 7th position in the Global Peace Index 2025. This reputation for stability is a central reason many families select Portugal as their Plan B jurisdiction.
Residents with a Portugal Residency Card can access the public healthcare and education systems, while still choosing private alternatives if preferred. Combined with a mild climate, strong cultural heritage, and established expatriate communities, Portugal offers a practical base for part-time residence today and a possible full-time home later.
5. Asset-Backed Investments in a Mature Hospitality Market
The Golden Visa’s shift to fund investments has pushed many investors toward professionally managed, asset-backed strategies instead of speculative projects. Hospitality assets in established urban and leisure markets fit this profile for some investors.
The VIDA Fund, advised by VIDA Capital, focuses on acquiring undervalued or under-managed hospitality assets, then repositioning and operating them more efficiently to give these properties a second life. Each fund has a planned lifecycle of around 6.5 years, with a target of doubling investors’ capital over that period. VIDA Fund I raised over €20 million from more than 50 investors, supporting over 100 Golden Visa applications. Historical performance targets and prior results are not a guarantee of future returns.
6. Low Stay Requirements and Flexible Tax Positioning
The Golden Visa’s minimum stay requirement of 14 days in Portugal every two years suits busy investors who want flexibility. You can keep your primary residence and business focus elsewhere while gradually building a long-term position in the European Union.
A Portugal Residency Card, by itself, does not make you a Portuguese tax resident. Tax residency usually depends on spending significant time in Portugal or having your main home there. Many Golden Visa holders keep their existing tax residency while using the Portugal Residency Card for mobility, diversification, and long-term planning.
The Benefits of a Portugal Residency Card: A Comparative Overview
Portugal’s Golden Visa program remains distinctive among European options, especially for investors who want a path to citizenship without full relocation.
|
Feature |
Portugal Golden Visa |
Greece Residency by Investment |
Spain Golden Visa |
|
Minimum Stay Per Two Years |
14 days |
Requires living in Greece to keep long-term residency |
Program discontinued |
|
Pathway to Citizenship |
Yes, possible after 10 years of residence under the current law |
Available, generally after 7 years of living in Greece and paying taxes |
Program discontinued |
|
Schengen Travel Access |
Yes, short-stay travel across Schengen |
Yes, short-stay travel across Schengen |
Program discontinued |
|
Family Inclusion |
Yes |
Yes |
Program discontinued |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current minimum investment for the Portugal Golden Visa in 2026?
The current minimum investment for the Portugal Golden Visa is €500,000 through eligible investment funds. Personal properties are no longer valid qualifying investments under the rules that took effect in October 2023.
Can I include my extended family in my Portugal Golden Visa application?
You can include your spouse or partner, economically dependent children who are full-time students and unmarried, and dependent parents or in-laws. Each eligible family member receives their own residency card and follows the same path toward permanent residency and, if desired, later citizenship.
How long does it typically take to obtain the Portugal Residency Card?
The Portugal Golden Visa process, from applying to receiving the first residency card, usually spans 12 to 18 months. 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. An experienced Portuguese immigration lawyer is essential at every step, from preparing documentation to handling submissions and renewals.
Do I have to pay taxes in Portugal if I have a Residency Card?
You do not automatically become a Portuguese tax resident by holding a Residency Card. Tax residency is generally based on where you live most of the year or where your main home is located. Many Golden Visa holders keep their existing tax residency while using the Portugal Residency Card for mobility and long-term planning.
Why should I choose VIDA Capital to advise on my Portugal Golden Visa investment?
VIDA Capital is an advisory firm that helps investors evaluate and subscribe to the VIDA Fund, which focuses on asset-backed hospitality investments in Portugal. The team works alongside your independent immigration lawyer to align your investment with Golden Visa rules, provide clear reporting on the underlying hospitality assets, and coordinate key steps related to your fund participation.
Conclusion: Using a Portugal Residency Card to Secure Your 2026 Plan B
The Portugal Residency Card, accessed through a fund-based Golden Visa investment, offers a combination of European mobility, family security, and structured exposure to a growing hospitality market. For high-net-worth individuals in 2026, it remains one of the few European routes that can lead to citizenship without immediate relocation, subject to the 10-year residence requirement now in place.
Working with a trusted advisor and a qualified Portuguese immigration lawyer helps you navigate the investment and legal steps with clarity. VIDA Capital supports this process by focusing on tangible, professionally managed hospitality assets through the VIDA Fund, while you and your lawyer manage the immigration side.
