Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa, formally the Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI), grants temporary residency in Portugal through a qualifying investment of €500,000 in eligible investment funds, with personal properties no longer allowed.
- Golden Visa holders gain the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, and can travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while residency rights remain limited to Portugal.
- The program requires only 14 days in Portugal every two years, usually involves a 12 to 18-month process, and can lead to permanent residency after five years and, for most applicants, eligibility to apply for citizenship after ten years.
- Family members, including spouses or recognized partners, dependent children who are full-time students and not working or married, and certain dependent parents or in-laws, can be included in the same application.
- VIDA Capital provides advisory services for investors using the VIDA Fund to pursue asset-backed Golden Visa strategies in Portugal’s hospitality sector; contact VIDA Capital to discuss your Portugal Golden Visa plan.
Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa: A Foundation for Your Future
Key Concepts and Terminology
The Portugal Golden Visa, officially the Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI), grants temporary residency to non-EU investors who commit at least €500,000 through qualifying investment funds. Current rules focus on fund investments, so personal properties no longer qualify for this program.
This residency can lead to permanent residency after five years and eligibility to apply for citizenship after ten years for most applicants, following legislative changes passed in October 2025. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens generally face a reduced citizenship timeline of seven years. The new framework is expected to apply to Golden Visa holders unless they have already submitted a citizenship application before the new law is officially published.
Golden Visa holders must spend only 14 days in Portugal every two years to keep their residency status. This low physical presence requirement suits investors who want a long-term “Plan B” in Europe while keeping their primary business and personal base elsewhere.
Industry Context and Trends
Portugal continues to attract international visitors and long-term residents. The country welcomed about 31 million visitors in 2024, with tourism revenues near €27 billion. Portugal ranked among the safest countries globally in the 2025 Global Peace Index and is preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which supports continued investment in infrastructure and hospitality.
The hospitality sector remains a core economic driver. Non-residents generated more than 70% of overnight stays in 2024, and overnight stays exceeded 56 million. Projections suggest that travel and tourism could reach more than one-fifth of Portugal’s GDP by 2035, which reinforces the importance of high-quality hospitality assets.
Strategic Opportunities: A Global Plan B
The Golden Visa functions as a strategic hedge for families who want optionality in a changing global environment. Portuguese residency provides stability, access to a robust legal system, and visa-free travel within Schengen, while keeping relocation optional. Portugal is currently one of the only countries in Europe that offers a path to citizenship without requiring full-time relocation, as long as investors comply with the minimum stay requirement in Portugal.
Living in Portugal with the Golden Visa: Lifestyle and Security
The Right to Reside
Golden Visa holders have the right to live in Portugal, with no obligation to relocate. This flexibility lets investors keep their primary residence elsewhere while establishing a base in a country known for its mild climate, coastal cities, and high quality of life.
Residents can choose from cosmopolitan Lisbon, historic Porto, or coastal regions such as the Algarve, with access to modern infrastructure and reliable public services.
Access to Public Services
Golden Visa residents can access Portugal’s public and private healthcare systems and enroll children in state or international schools. Universities and technical institutes across the country offer a broad range of programs and support integration for international students.
Family Inclusion
The program supports family reunification. A spouse or recognized partner, proven through a marriage certificate or other valid documentation, can be included. Dependent children can join the application if they are full-time students, not working, and remain unmarried throughout the residency process up to the citizenship application stage. Dependent parents or in-laws may also qualify if they are financially dependent or over a certain age, subject to legal criteria.
Family members receive the same rights to live, work, and study in Portugal, along with access to healthcare and education.
Working in Portugal: Expanding Your Professional Options
Work Permit and Business Opportunities
The Golden Visa grants the right to work in Portugal or run a business there. Residents can register companies, take employment, or consult for international clients while based in Portugal.
Key sectors include technology, renewable energy, and tourism-related services. Portugal’s location connects European and transatlantic markets, and membership in the European Union provides access to a large regulatory and commercial framework, while residency rights themselves remain limited to Portugal.
Remote Work and Entrepreneurship
Golden Visa holders can work remotely for employers or clients located anywhere in the world while living in Portugal. This flexibility supports digital professionals and entrepreneurs who want a stable base with straightforward Schengen travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Secure your Portuguese residency and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa and align your professional plans with long-term residency options in Portugal.
Studying in Portugal: A World-Class Education
Educational Access for All Ages
Golden Visa residency gives families access to Portugal’s education system, from primary schools to universities. Many institutions teach in Portuguese, and a growing number offer programs in English and other languages, especially at the secondary and university levels.
Pathway to EU Higher Education
Residents can pursue higher education in Portugal on the same terms as other legal residents. After obtaining Portuguese citizenship, graduates and professionals gain full EU freedom of movement, including the right to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in other EU and Schengen states.
The Pathway to Permanent Residency and EU Citizenship: Expanding Your Horizons
From Temporary to Permanent Residency
The Golden Visa journey starts with a temporary residency permit valid for two years. During this stage, holders must maintain their qualifying investment and spend at least 14 days in Portugal within each two-year period. The overall Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from initial application to residence card issuance. 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.
After five years of legal residency, Golden Visa holders can apply for permanent residency, provided they maintain their investment and residency obligations. A specialized Portuguese immigration lawyer is essential at every step, from preparing documentation to submitting applications and handling renewals.
The Road to EU Citizenship
Under the updated rules introduced in October 2025, most Golden Visa holders can apply for Portuguese citizenship after ten years of legal residency. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens may qualify after seven years. The Golden Visa grants residency rights only in Portugal during this period, but citizenship later opens full EU mobility, subject to meeting language and integration requirements.
Beyond Portugal: Schengen Mobility
Golden Visa residents can travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without additional visas. After obtaining a Portuguese passport, they can live, work, and study in any EU or Schengen Zone country and access public healthcare and education in those countries.
|
Timeline |
Status |
Rights |
Requirements |
|
Years 1-2 |
Temporary Residency |
Live, work, study in Portugal; Schengen travel |
14 days in Portugal |
|
Years 3-5 |
Renewed Residency |
Continue all rights |
14 days every 2 years |
|
Year 5+ |
Permanent Residency |
Enhanced stability |
Maintain investment |
|
Year 10+ |
EU Citizenship |
Full EU rights |
Language/integration requirements |
Securing Your Future with VIDA Capital: The Investment & Advisory Advantage
The VIDA Fund: Asset-Backed Security for Your Golden Visa
VIDA Capital provides advisory services for investors in the VIDA Fund, which focuses on acquiring and transforming undervalued hospitality assets in Portugal, giving these properties a second life rather than building new ones. This asset-backed strategy emphasizes capital preservation through ownership of tangible hospitality assets.
The VIDA Fund has completed more than €20 million in Fund I, supporting over 50 investors and more than 100 Golden Visa applications for investors and their families. The fund’s 6.5-year lifecycle targets doubling invested capital while aiming to protect downside risk through asset backing. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
VIDA Capital’s Concierge Advisory Service
VIDA Capital offers personalized advisory support across the Golden Visa process. The team coordinates closely with Portuguese immigration lawyers, handles communication with the VIDA Fund, and guides investors through documentation, fund subscription, and residency applications.
This approach includes transparent fee structures, practical guidance on eligibility, and ongoing investor relations throughout the residency period.
A Comparison of Golden Visa Programs (Portugal vs. Others)
Portugal’s Golden Visa combines low physical presence requirements, a clear route to permanent residency, and a structured pathway to citizenship. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program. Greece maintains its program, but applicants generally need to live there and pay taxes for at least seven years to qualify for long-term residency and citizenship.
Portugal is currently one of the only European countries where investors can work toward citizenship without relocating full-time, provided they meet investment and stay requirements. This feature makes Portugal a competitive choice for a long-term “Plan B.”
Secure your Portuguese residency and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa through VIDA Capital’s advisory services and the asset-backed strategy of the VIDA Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific rights do I have to live, work, and study in Portugal with a Golden Visa?
Golden Visa holders can live anywhere in Portugal, work in any lawful profession or run a business, and enroll themselves and their children in public or private educational institutions. They can establish a permanent or part-time residence, register companies, and participate fully in Portugal’s labor and education systems.
Do I need to actually live in Portugal to maintain my Golden Visa status?
Relocation is not mandatory. Golden Visa residents need to spend only 14 days in Portugal during each two-year residency period to keep their status. This structure suits investors who want Portuguese residency and Schengen mobility while keeping their primary base elsewhere.
What happens to my family’s rights if I get a Portuguese Golden Visa?
Approved family members have the same rights to live, work, and study in Portugal during the residency period. They can access healthcare and education independently and can develop careers or businesses in Portugal, as long as they respect the program’s conditions.
How does studying in Portugal with a Golden Visa compare to other EU countries?
Golden Visa residency provides full access to education in Portugal but does not grant residency rights in other EU states. During the residency phase, holders can only visit other Schengen countries for short stays under the 90/180 rule. After obtaining Portuguese citizenship, they gain full EU mobility, including study rights across the Union.
Can I work remotely for companies outside Portugal while holding a Golden Visa?
Golden Visa holders can work remotely for foreign employers or clients while based in Portugal, subject to tax and regulatory considerations. They can also maintain global business interests and use Portugal as a stable base for international work and travel.
Conclusion: Your Next Step Toward a Flexible European Plan B
The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026 offers a structured way to secure residency in Portugal, gain Schengen travel flexibility, and work toward permanent residency and eventual EU citizenship, without requiring full-time relocation.
Portugal’s stable environment, strong tourism sector, and manageable stay requirements create a practical foundation for long-term planning. With support from experienced immigration lawyers and specialized advisors, the process can be organized and predictable.
VIDA Capital’s advisory services, together with the VIDA Fund’s asset-backed hospitality strategy, give investors a focused route to pursuing the Golden Visa while investing in tangible Portuguese assets. Secure your Portuguese residency and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa and begin building a flexible, long-term European option for you and your family.
