Key Takeaways
- Parents and parents-in-law can be included in a Portugal Golden Visa application when they meet age and financial dependency rules.
- The Portugal Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal, with minimal stay requirements and a path to permanent residency and, later, citizenship.
- Golden Visa holders, including eligible parents, can live, study, and work in Portugal and travel visa-free across the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Portugal remains one of the few European options that allows a path to citizenship without relocation, while programs in countries like Spain have closed, and Greece requires long-term residence.
- Work with VIDA Capital to plan your Portugal Golden Visa strategy, including how to add your parents to your application.
Benefits of Including Parents in Your Portugal Golden Visa Application
Adding parents to your Portugal Golden Visa helps create a multi-generational Plan B in a stable European country. Parents benefit from Portuguese residency rights, access to the national healthcare system, and visa-free travel across the Schengen area for short stays.
This structure lets your parents keep their current home country while holding Portuguese residency. The Golden Visa only requires 14 days of stay in Portugal every two years, so families can secure future options without a full relocation.
Eligibility Criteria for Including Parents in the Portugal Golden Visa
Age and Financial Dependency Requirements
Parents and parents-in-law are usually eligible when they are over 65 years old. Younger parents can still qualify if they can show clear financial dependency on the main applicant or the spouse.
Parents under 65 must present proof that they rely on the main applicant for their living costs. Evidence often includes:
- Bank statements showing regular transfers from the main applicant
- Shared residence proven by lease agreements or utility bills
- Financial statements showing limited independent income
- Notarized declarations describing the support relationship
Documents that prove the family link, such as birth certificates and, where relevant, marriage certificates or other proof of relationship, must be translated, apostilled, and submitted.
Required Documentation for Parents
Parents included in the Portugal Golden Visa application must provide:
- Valid passports and recent biometric-style photographs
- Birth certificates and, when relevant, marriage certificates or other proof of relationship, translated and apostilled
- Criminal record certificates from their country of residence
- Financial dependency documentation when under 65, such as bank statements, shared housing proof, and notarized declarations
Step-by-Step Process for Adding Parents to Your Golden Visa Application
Initial Setup, Legal Support, and Investment
Professional legal support is essential for a successful Portugal Golden Visa. VIDA Capital helps connect clients with experienced Portuguese immigration lawyers who handle the full application for the main applicant and their family, including eligible parents.
Your lawyer will obtain your NIF (Portuguese tax number) and open a Portuguese bank account. After that, you select a qualifying fund investment of at least €500,000. One €500,000 investment can cover the main applicant, spouse, dependent children, and eligible parents, although each person has separate government fees.
VIDA Capital advises investors on the VIDA Fund, which buys and transforms hospitality assets across Portugal, giving these assets a second life. The fund focuses on asset-backed projects in the hospitality sector, aiming for capital preservation and income potential. Disclaimer: Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Application Submission, Biometrics, and Processing Time
Your lawyer files the online Golden Visa application for all family members at once through the AIMA system. This includes the main applicant, spouse, children, and qualifying parents.
After the file moves forward, each applicant attends an in-person appointment in Portugal for biometric data collection. The overall Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months, from initial preparation to receiving the first residency cards.
Residency Card Issuance and Renewals
The first Portugal Golden Visa residency permits are valid for two years. They grant the right to live, study, and work in Portugal, as well as visa-free travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Residency permits must then be renewed for two additional two-year periods, and the investment and minimum stay requirements must be maintained throughout the full five-year period. 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.
During renewals, the family must show continued fund investment, updated criminal records, and refresh biometric data.
Path to Permanent Residency and Citizenship for the Family
After five years under the Golden Visa, the main applicant and dependents, including parents, can apply for permanent residency in Portugal if all requirements have been met.
For citizenship, Portugal’s Parliament approved a new framework in October 2025. Applicants must now hold Portuguese residency for 10 years before qualifying for citizenship, while nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens have a reduced requirement of seven years. The Golden Visa grants residency rights only in Portugal, but once citizenship is obtained, the passport grants the right to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across the European Union and Schengen Zone.
Benefits of Multi-Generational Residency with the Golden Visa
Family Security, Healthcare, and Mobility
Parents added to a Golden Visa application gain predictable access to Portugal’s healthcare system and can live close to children and grandchildren in a safe, stable country. They keep their freedom to travel while holding a strong residency status in the EU.
Golden Visa residency also allows visa-free travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, which applies equally to parents included as dependents.
Long-Term Legacy and Peace of Mind
A Portugal Golden Visa can serve as a long-term hedge against political or economic instability in a home country. It can create a base in Europe that benefits parents, children, and, eventually, future generations who may obtain citizenship.
How VIDA Capital Supports Families
VIDA Capital offers advisory services that clarify each step for including parents, from eligibility checks and documentation to coordinating with legal partners and the VIDA Fund. The focus stays on transparent communication about costs, timelines, and obligations so that families can plan with confidence.
Speak with VIDA Capital about including your parents in your Portugal Golden Visa plan.
Investment Strategy for Family Inclusion: The VIDA Fund
How the VIDA Fund Fits a Golden Visa Strategy
A €500,000 commitment to the VIDA Fund can qualify a full family for the Portugal Golden Visa, including eligible parents. The fund acquires underperforming hospitality properties in Portugal and gives them a second life through repositioning and operational improvements.
This asset-backed approach ties investor capital to tangible hospitality assets instead of purely financial instruments, which can support capital preservation objectives while targeting income and potential appreciation. Disclaimer: Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Comparison: Golden Visa Family Inclusion Programs
|
Feature |
Portugal Golden Visa |
Greece Golden Visa |
Spain |
|
Parents inclusion |
Yes, when dependent |
Yes, when dependent |
Golden Visa program closed in 2024 |
|
Minimum stay requirement |
14 days every 2 years |
No minimum stay for residency; long-term stay needed for citizenship |
Not applicable |
|
Path to citizenship |
Yes, after 10 years of residency |
Yes, after 7 years of living in Greece and paying taxes |
Not applicable |
|
Relocation required for citizenship |
No relocation required |
Yes, long-term residence in Greece is required |
Not applicable |
Portugal is currently one of the only countries in Europe that offers access to citizenship without the need to relocate. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program, and Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes before citizenship. For families who want a European Plan B with limited stay requirements, Portugal remains highly competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Including Parents in Your Golden Visa
Can my parents live in other EU countries once they have the Golden Visa?
The Portugal Golden Visa grants residency rights only in Portugal. Your parents can live, study, and work in Portugal and travel to other Schengen countries without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The right to live and work elsewhere in the EU only comes after obtaining Portuguese citizenship.
What if my parents are under 65? Can they still be included?
Parents under 65 can be added to the application if they show clear financial dependency on the main applicant or spouse. This requires consistent proof of support, such as regular transfers, shared housing, or other documents that show they rely on you for daily living expenses.
What kind of proof of financial dependency is required for parents?
Proof usually includes several elements together. Common documents are bank statements showing ongoing transfers, utility bills or leases for a shared address, proof of limited independent income, and notarized statements explaining the support relationship.
Does including parents increase the minimum investment amount?
No, the minimum investment remains €500,000 in qualifying funds, even when you include parents, a spouse, and dependent children. Government fees and processing costs, however, apply separately for each applicant, so total administrative costs rise with each additional family member.
How does VIDA Capital support the inclusion of my parents in the application?
VIDA Capital provides advisory guidance on the Golden Visa structure, helping you understand the eligibility rules for parents, organize documents, and work efficiently with specialist lawyers. The team also supports you through the VIDA Fund subscription process and later renewals so that your family maintains compliance over the full residency period.
Conclusion: Securing a Future for Your Entire Family with VIDA Capital
Adding parents to your Portugal Golden Visa application can turn an individual residency plan into a full family strategy. Parents gain a safe base in Portugal, access to healthcare, and Schengen travel flexibility, while the family as a whole builds a long-term path to permanent residency and potential citizenship.
VIDA Capital helps families coordinate this process through clear advisory work and access to the VIDA Fund’s asset-backed hospitality investments, which give existing properties a second life. With the right legal support and a well-structured fund investment, your family can navigate the 12 to 18 month Golden Visa process and plan confidently for the years that follow.
