Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa grants residency in Portugal through a minimum investment of €500,000 in qualifying funds, with a low physical stay requirement of 14 days every two years.
- Personal properties no longer qualify for the program, so most investors now use regulated investment funds that hold tangible assets, such as hospitality projects.
- A specialist Portuguese lawyer is essential for each step, including obtaining your NIF, opening a bank account, submitting your AIMA application, and handling renewals over the usual 12 to 18 month process.
- Portugal remains competitive compared to other European options, with a clear path to permanent residency and, under the new rules, citizenship after 10 years of residency while maintaining your investment.
- VIDA Capital advises investors on asset-backed fund options like the VIDA Fund and onboarding with suitable law firms; contact VIDA Capital to review your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.
Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa Program and its Benefits
What is the Portugal Golden Visa and Why is it Important?
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that offers a path to permanent residency and, later, citizenship in Portugal only. The minimum qualifying investment is €500,000 in funds regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Authority (CMVM). Law changes in October 2023 removed personal properties as an eligible route, so curated funds have become the main option.
Key advantages include residency rights in Portugal, visa-free travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and a low physical stay requirement of 14 days in each two-year period. This structure suits investors who want a Plan B in Europe without relocating immediately.
Eligibility Requirements for the Portugal Golden Visa
Eligible applicants must be non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens, at least 18 years old, with a clean criminal record. There are no education, language, or management experience requirements for residency. A2 Portuguese is required only when you apply for citizenship.
Investment funds must come from outside Portugal. You also need a Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF) and a local bank account before subscribing to a qualifying fund.
Key Considerations for Portugal Golden Visa Applicants
The €500,000 investment threshold allows family bundling. A single application can include a spouse, dependent children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried, and financially dependent parents or in-laws (either over 65 or demonstrably dependent).
Portugal requires only 14 days of presence every two years, while Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes to qualify for citizenship, and Spain has discontinued its Golden Visa. A new framework approved in October 2025 now requires Golden Visa holders to reside in Portugal for 10 years before qualifying for citizenship applications, with a seven-year period for CPLP and EU nationals. The new rules should apply to all Golden Visa applicants except those whose citizenship files were already submitted before the law was published.
Step 1: Laying the Foundation for Your Portugal Golden Visa Application
Engaging Expert Legal Counsel for the Golden Visa Process
A specialized Portuguese immigration lawyer is essential from the start. Your lawyer handles NIF requests, bank account opening, fund documentation, AIMA filings, and renewals over the full five-year residency period. VIDA Capital can introduce you to law firms with a consistent Golden Visa track record.
Obtaining Your Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF)
You need a NIF for any financial activity in Portugal. Your lawyer can usually secure this remotely as your tax representative. The NIF will then be used for your bank account and fund subscription.
Opening a Portuguese Bank Account
A Portuguese bank account is mandatory to route your investment. Many banks allow remote onboarding with video calls and standard compliance documents. Once opened, the account becomes the channel for your €500,000 transfer into the qualifying fund.
Selecting Your Asset-Backed Investment Pathway for the Golden Visa
Qualifying investment funds are now the main route for Golden Visa investors. Asset-backed funds, such as the VIDA Fund in Portugal’s hospitality sector, seek capital preservation by holding tangible assets. The VIDA Fund buys and transforms existing hospitality properties to give them a second life, rather than building new assets from the ground up. Past returns are not a guarantee of future returns, but backing your investment with real operating assets can reduce exposure to purely speculative strategies.
Discuss Golden Visa-eligible fund options with VIDA Capital.
Step 2: Submitting Your Portugal Golden Visa Investment and Application
Committing Your €500,000 Investment
Your capital is invested in a CMVM-regulated fund. Funds such as the VIDA Fund are subject to ongoing supervision and independent audits, which help support transparency. The fund subscription must be completed and documented before your lawyer files the Golden Visa application.
Gathering Essential Documentation for Your Golden Visa
Core documents usually include criminal records from your country of residence and any country where you have lived recently, proof that funds originated outside Portugal, and evidence of family relationships for dependents. Unmarried partners can use either a marriage certificate or other valid proof of relationship.
Online Application Submission through AIMA
Your lawyer submits your file online to AIMA for you and any included family members. The review period varies by volume and case complexity. The overall Golden Visa process, from submission to your first residency card, usually spans 12 to 18 months.
Request guidance on preparing a complete AIMA application.
Step 3: Biometrics, Residency Card Issuance, and Renewals for Your Portugal Golden Visa
The Mandatory Biometrics Appointment in Portugal
After AIMA issues a pre-approval, you and your dependents must attend an in-person biometrics appointment in Portugal for fingerprints and photos. This appointment cannot be completed remotely and counts toward your physical presence requirement.
Receiving Your Initial Portugal Golden Visa Residency Card
Your first residency card is a temporary permit valid for two years and grants residency rights in Portugal plus visa-free travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. As the approval card issuance usually takes about a year after submission, you will most likely only need to complete a single renewal instead of two during the five-year period.
Navigating Golden Visa Residency Card Renewals
Renewals every two years require proof that you have maintained your qualifying investment, met the 14-day stay requirement in each two-year period, and kept a clean criminal record. Your lawyer will again coordinate the filing and any updated documentation before your current card expires.
Step 4: The Path to Permanent Residency and Portuguese Citizenship
Applying for Permanent Residency with Your Portugal Golden Visa
After five years of holding a valid residency permit and meeting the investment and stay conditions, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. Permanent residency reduces administrative friction and offers more security, though you should maintain your qualifying investment until you achieve citizenship or decide to exit the program.
Achieving Portuguese Citizenship Through the Golden Visa Program
The new rules approved in October 2025 require Golden Visa holders to show 10 years of legal residency in Portugal before applying for citizenship, or seven years for CPLP and EU citizens. The change should apply to Golden Visa holders unless they file their citizenship application before the new law is officially published.
The Golden Visa grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal only. After you obtain a Portuguese passport, you can live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across EU and Schengen Zone countries.
Speak with VIDA Capital about structuring your long-term residency and citizenship plan.
Understanding the Costs Involved in the Portugal Golden Visa Program
Investment Capital for the Golden Visa
The main cost is the €500,000 investment in a qualifying fund. This capital should remain invested throughout your residency and often until you reach permanent residency or citizenship, depending on your exit strategy and fund terms.
Government Fees for the Golden Visa Application and Renewals
Current government fees include €618.60 per family member for the initial application, €6,179.40 per family member for the first card issuance, and €3,023.20 per family member for each renewal. Citizenship applications add about €250 per person once you meet the 10-year residency requirement.
Legal Fees for Golden Visa Advisory Services
Specialized legal fees generally range from €16,000 to €20,000 per family, depending on complexity. This covers NIF and bank procedures, AIMA submissions, biometrics support, renewals, and eventual permanent residency and citizenship filings.
Investment Subscription Fees for Qualifying Funds
Qualifying funds charge management and subscription fees. The VIDA Fund, for example, charges a 1 percent subscription fee on the invested amount, paid to the fund manager on commitment, in addition to ongoing management fees outlined in its documentation.
Portugal Golden Visa vs. Alternative Residency Programs: A Cost Comparison
|
Feature |
Portugal Golden Visa |
Greece Golden Visa |
Spain Golden Visa |
|
Minimum Investment |
€500,000 |
€250,000 |
Program discontinued |
|
Path to Citizenship |
Yes, after 10 years of residency |
Yes, after 7 years of residence and taxes |
Not available |
|
Minimum Stay Requirement |
14 days every 2 years |
Long-term residence required |
Not applicable |
|
Investment Focus |
Qualifying investment funds |
Various options |
Not applicable |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Portugal Golden Visa
What is the Portugal Golden Visa?
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program for non-EU investors who commit at least €500,000 to eligible funds. The program grants residency rights in Portugal and allows visa-free travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with only 14 days of physical presence required every two years.
Do I Need to Relocate to Portugal to Maintain My Golden Visa?
Relocation is not required. You only need to spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year permit period. This structure suits investors who want European mobility and a long-term option for permanent residency and citizenship without immediate relocation.
Is the Portugal Golden Visa Program Still Active and Viable?
The Portugal Golden Visa remains active in 2026, after changes in 2023 that removed personal properties from the list of eligible investments. Regulated investment funds, including the VIDA Fund, continue to qualify and attract international investors seeking residency rights in Portugal.
How Long Does the Entire Golden Visa Process Typically Take?
The full journey from initial application to issuance of the first residency card usually takes 12 to 18 months. Timelines depend on AIMA processing capacity and how quickly you assemble documents, so working with an experienced lawyer helps reduce unnecessary delays.
What are the benefits of asset-backed investments for the Portugal Golden Visa?
Asset-backed funds that hold hospitality assets can provide more predictable downside protection than purely financial instruments. Tangible properties, such as hotels and serviced apartments, have intrinsic value that can often be recovered through operations or sale. The VIDA Fund focuses on Portugal’s hospitality sector and aims to give underperforming assets a second life, but historical returns are not a guarantee of future results.
Conclusion: Securing Your Future with the Portugal Golden Visa and VIDA Capital
The Portugal Golden Visa offers a clear path to Portuguese residency and, under the updated rules, citizenship, with relatively low physical presence requirements and fund-based investment options. For globally mobile families, it remains a practical Plan B that does not require relocation.
Careful planning, a reliable lawyer, and a well-structured, asset-backed fund are central to a successful application. VIDA Capital acts as an advisory partner, helping investors evaluate Golden Visa-eligible fund options such as the VIDA Fund and connecting them with experienced legal teams.
Contact VIDA Capital to explore how a Golden Visa-eligible, asset-backed fund allocation can support your long-term residency and citizenship goals in Portugal.
