Key Takeaways
- Your application submission date starts both your Portugal residency permit process and the longer citizenship residency clock introduced in October 2025.
- The Golden Visa now requires investment funds only, with a minimum of €500,000, and no longer accepts personal properties as an eligible route.
- A specialized Portugal immigration lawyer is essential to prepare documents, manage the AIMA portal, and coordinate timing for items with short validity, such as criminal records.
- The overall process from online submission to first residency card generally spans 12 to 18 months, and you will most likely need only one renewal before reaching the five-year permanent residency milestone.
- VIDA Capital advises on Portugal Golden Visa strategies and hospitality-focused fund options; contact the team to discuss your plans.
Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa in 2026: Why the Application Date Matters
The Portugal Golden Visa offers residency in Portugal and a path to EU citizenship through qualifying investments in funds. The stay requirement remains low at 14 days in Portugal every two years, which makes the program a practical Plan B for many families.
Portugal’s Parliament approved new citizenship rules in October 2025. Most applicants must now reside in Portugal for 10 years before applying for citizenship, while nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens have a 7-year requirement. This new framework should apply to Golden Visa holders, except for those who submit their citizenship application before the new law is published. The Golden Visa still grants a renewable residency permit in Portugal for five years, after which you can apply for permanent residency.
The Golden Visa grants residency rights only in Portugal. Holders can travel visa-free throughout the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once you obtain a Portuguese passport, you gain the right to live, work, and study, and access public healthcare and education, across the EU and Schengen Zone.
Your online application submission date is the official start of your residency and citizenship clock. The program allows family inclusion, covering:
- Spouse or common-law partner, supported by a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship
- Children who are full-time students, financially dependent, not working, and unmarried for the entire residency period until the Golden Visa process is completed
- Parents over 65, or younger parents who can document financial dependence
Explore how the Portugal Golden Visa can support your long-term residency and citizenship goals. VIDA Capital acts as an advisory firm, coordinating fund selection and legal partners for investors in the VIDA Fund.
The Pre-Application Phase: Laying the Groundwork for a Smooth Submission
Step 1: Choose a Legal Partner and Secure Your NIF
You need a specialized Portuguese immigration lawyer from the very beginning. A lawyer prepares and submits your application on the AIMA portal, certifies documents, and helps you interpret evolving regulations. VIDA Capital introduces clients to experienced law firms that focus on Golden Visa work.
Your lawyer can obtain your Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF) remotely for all applicants, which avoids an initial trip to Portugal.
Step 2: Open a Portuguese Bank Account
A Portuguese bank account is required to fund your investment and pay fees. Your legal representative can usually open this account remotely, although some banks may ask for an in-person meeting, depending on internal policies.
Step 3: Select an Eligible Portugal Golden Visa Investment
Since October 2023, personal properties are no longer eligible for the Golden Visa. The minimum qualifying investment is €500,000 in approved funds, which has increased demand for well-structured vehicles.
The VIDA Fund focuses on asset-backed investments in Portugal’s hospitality sector. Portugal’s travel and tourism sector is projected to reach 22.6% of national GDP by 2035, and Portugal ranks among the world’s safest countries in the Global Peace Index 2025. The fund acquires existing hospitality properties, gives them a second life through upgrades and operational improvements, and aims to balance yield with capital preservation. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Mastering the Application Submission Date: Digital Process and Documentation
The Golden Visa application now runs fully online through the AIMA portal. Your lawyer uploads all documentation and tracks your file.
Key documents for submission include:
- Valid passport for each applicant
- Proof of investment, such as the fund subscription agreement and bank confirmation of transfer
- Portuguese NIF for all family members
- Criminal record certificates from each country of residence, dated within 90 days of submission
- Portuguese bank account confirmation
- For spouses or partners, a marriage certificate or other relationship proof
- For children, birth certificates, proof of full-time student status, and documents showing financial dependence and unmarried status
- For parents, birth certificates and proof of financial dependence, if they are under 65
All time-sensitive documents must be dated within 90 days of submission and uploaded with lawyer certification. This requirement makes careful coordination of your submission date essential.
Understanding the Timelines: From Submission to Residency Card
Online Application Review and Pre-Approval
AIMA typically takes 12 to 18 months to review the electronic application and issue pre-approval. Processing times increased after earlier backlogs, but the system has gradually become more predictable.
Biometric Appointments
AIMA has expanded biometric locations and staffing to clear tens of thousands of pending applications. Appointments are scheduled automatically in chronological order, and you receive a notification in advance. All applicants must attend in person in Portugal with original documents and updated criminal records.
Residency Card Issuance and Validity
After biometrics and payment of issuance fees, AIMA produces the first temporary residency card. This card is usually valid for two years. It grants residency in Portugal and visa-free travel throughout the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
You must then renew your card for two additional two-year periods, maintaining both your qualifying investment and the minimum stay of 14 days in Portugal every two years. After five years of legal residency, you can apply for permanent residency. As the approval card issuance usually takes about a year, you will most likely only need one renewal instead of two within the five-year period.
Overall Golden Visa Process Timeline
|
Phase |
Pre-2025 (Average) |
2025+ (Expected) |
Key Notes |
|
Document preparation |
2–3 months |
2–3 months |
Similar, but with more emphasis on digital formats |
|
Online submission to pre-approval |
6–12 months |
12–18 months |
Longer due to previous backlog |
|
Biometric scheduling |
Variable |
Variable |
Auto-scheduled as AIMA clears files |
|
Card issuance after biometrics |
2–4 months |
Variable |
Timing depends on the AIMA workload |
Discuss your expected timeline and investment options with VIDA Capital. The team coordinates with lawyers to align investment, documentation, and submission dates.
Costs Linked to Your Portugal Golden Visa Application
Government Fees
The initial government fee at submission is €618.60 per family member. Upon approval and card issuance, you pay €6,179.40 per person. Each renewal typically costs €3,023.20 per person, and the citizenship application fee is about €250 per person.
Legal and Advisory Fees
Legal fees usually total €16,000 to €20,000 per family for the full process, including document preparation, AIMA submissions, biometrics support, and renewals. Advisory support from VIDA Capital is integrated into the investment process for investors in the VIDA Fund.
Fund Subscription Fees
The VIDA Fund charges a 1% subscription fee on the invested amount. The fund focuses on buying and repositioning hospitality assets in Portugal, giving existing properties a second life while aiming for capital preservation and income. Historical performance does not guarantee future results.
Strategic Considerations for an Efficient Application
Plan Documents and Timing With Your Lawyer
Starting document collection several months before your target submission date helps align items with 90-day validity windows. A dedicated lawyer is essential to ensure that each document meets AIMA standards and that the submission occurs at the right moment.
Stay Current on Regulatory Updates
Rules around citizenship timing, documentation, and online procedures continue to evolve. An advisory partner such as VIDA Capital, working with specialized law firms, helps you adjust your strategy if regulations change during your process.
Use Asset-Backed Fund Investments
Fund investments backed by tangible hospitality assets can reduce volatility compared with more speculative options. The VIDA Fund combines exposure to Portugal’s tourism growth with a focus on preserving capital and generating income over the investment period. Any reference to past returns should be viewed in context, and historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Benefit from Ongoing Support
VIDA Capital maintains long-term relationships with its investors in the VIDA Fund, coordinating with legal partners from initial consultation through renewals and, eventually, citizenship planning. This continuity helps you keep residency, investment, and family documentation aligned over many years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most time-sensitive documents for the submission date?
Criminal record certificates are the most sensitive, since they must be issued within 90 days of online submission. Other documents, such as bank letters and some civil records, may also have validity limits, so your lawyer should map all expiry dates before locking in a submission date.
Can I complete most of the process remotely?
Your lawyer can obtain NIFs, open bank accounts, and submit the online application without you traveling to Portugal. You and all family members included in the application must, however, attend biometric appointments in person in Portugal.
How does the submission date affect my citizenship timeline?
The application submission date starts your Portuguese residency for citizenship purposes. With the October 2025 changes, most applicants must now complete 10 years of residency before applying for citizenship, or 7 years for CPLP and EU nationals. The Golden Visa remains one of the few European programs that does not require you to relocate to Portugal full-time during this period.
Why work with an advisory firm like VIDA Capital?
VIDA Capital coordinates between you, your chosen fund, and specialized lawyers. The team helps you understand regulatory changes, select an asset-backed fund such as the VIDA Fund, and schedule each step of the process so that investment execution, documentation, and online submission align with your family objectives.
Conclusion: Using Submission Timing to Strengthen Your Portugal Plan B
The application submission date shapes your entire Portugal Golden Visa journey, from residency cards to eventual citizenship eligibility. Careful preparation with a qualified lawyer, aligned with a clear investment choice and family documentation strategy, can reduce delays and uncertainty.
Portugal continues to stand out as a flexible residency and citizenship route, especially when compared with countries such as Greece, where citizenship usually requires seven years of physical residence and tax residency, or Spain, which no longer offers a Golden Visa. For investors seeking a structured Plan B in Europe, a well-timed Portugal Golden Visa application remains a practical solution.
