Best Portugal Golden Visa Funds 2026: Top 5 Options

Key Takeaways

• Portugal’s Golden Visa in 2026 centers on regulated investment funds that provide Portuguese residency, Schengen travel access, and a long-term path to EU citizenship.
• CMVM-regulated funds that exclude exposure to personal properties and invest most of their capital in Portuguese companies help keep your Golden Visa application compliant.
• Asset-backed strategies that acquire and upgrade hospitality assets can support capital preservation while meeting the €500,000 minimum investment requirement.
• Clear fees, thoughtful exit terms, and an experienced management team are essential for aligning your fund choice with the 5-year residency period and the 10-year citizenship timeline now in force.
• For personalized guidance on Golden Visa–eligible fund investments, contact VIDA Capital through the VIDA Capital contact page.

1. Prioritize CMVM-Regulated And Compliant Funds For Your Golden Visa

Regulation and compliance form the foundation of a secure Golden Visa fund investment. The fund should be regulated by the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM), Portugal’s securities market authority, to ensure strong oversight, audited reporting, and clear investor protections. Post-October 2023 rules require that eligible funds explicitly exclude direct or indirect investments in personal properties. At least 60% of the fund’s capital must also be invested in companies based in Portugal.

A CMVM-regulated fund such as the VIDA Fund undergoes regular independent audits, for example, by Deloitte, to monitor portfolio quality, governance, and compliance with its mandate. This level of control reduces the risk of non-compliant activity that could jeopardize your residency status. Engaging an experienced Portuguese immigration lawyer and an advisory firm like VIDA Capital is essential to verify that the fund’s documentation, structure, and prospectus meet all Golden Visa requirements.

2. Focus On Asset-Backed Investments For Capital Preservation

Capital preservation is often a primary goal for Golden Visa investors. Asset-backed strategies can support this goal because they are linked to tangible, operating businesses instead of purely financial instruments. For a minimum investment of €500,000, many investors prefer funds that own and improve physical assets with lasting economic value, such as hospitality properties that generate cash flow and can appreciate over time.

The VIDA Fund focuses on acquiring and transforming hospitality assets, such as hotels, giving these properties a second life through renovation and repositioning. This approach anchors your investment in operating businesses with revenue potential, which can reduce downside risk compared with funds that rely mainly on intangible assets. This type of structure can offer an added layer of security for investors who prioritize long-term stability in their Golden Visa strategy.

Discuss asset-backed Golden Visa fund options with VIDA Capital and explore how Portugal’s hospitality sector can fit into your Plan B.

3. Evaluate Fund Longevity And Management Expertise For Long-Term Security

Fund duration and management quality should match your residency and citizenship goals. The Golden Visa requires you to maintain your qualifying investment and residency obligations for five years before you can apply for permanent residency. Under Portugal’s new citizenship framework, you now need to reside in Portugal for 10 years before applying for citizenship, with a reduced seven-year requirement for nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens.

Investors benefit from funds with a clear lifecycle that comfortably spans the residency period, along with a defined strategy for operating and exiting investments. The VIDA Fund’s management team has collectively overseen more than €4 billion in assets and executed over 100 private equity deals, including in the hospitality sector. The fund targets attractive long-term returns and capital protection by acquiring and repositioning underperforming assets, though historical performance targets do not guarantee future returns. Reviewing the fund’s track record, governance, and sector expertise with your lawyer and advisor can help align the fund’s horizon with your residency and citizenship plans.

4. Scrutinize Fees And Transparency In Golden Visa Fund Investments

Clear, itemized fees support better decision-making and help you protect net returns. In addition to the €500,000 minimum investment, Golden Visa investors usually face subscription fees, legal fees, and government processing costs. Subscription fees often range from 1% to 3% of the invested amount and are typically charged by the fund on entry.

Advisory firms such as VIDA Capital provide detailed breakdowns of expected costs, including government application fees, legal fees, and any fund-related charges, such as a 1% subscription fee for the VIDA Fund. This clarity reduces the risk of unpleasant surprises during the multi-year process. Golden Visa fund subscriptions can also include additional administrative and bank fees beyond the core investment, so investors should request complete fee schedules upfront and review them with their lawyer.

5. Understand Redemption And Exit Strategies For Your Portugal Golden Visa

Exit terms are as important as entry terms. After the mandatory five-year holding period for the Golden Visa, investors typically want a clear plan to redeem or sell their fund units once residency and long-term objectives are secure. A well-structured fund should define how and when investors can exit, including any lock-up periods, redemption windows, or planned asset sales.

Some Golden Visa–oriented funds adopt a fixed lifecycle and plan to dispose of assets toward the end of the term, using sale proceeds to repay investors. Certain structures even include mechanisms to return 100% of invested principal at the end of a six-year holding period, aligning with the five-year residency requirement. In all cases, investors should confirm that the exit strategy is realistic under current market conditions and that it supports both capital preservation and the timing of their residency and citizenship goals.

Speak with VIDA Capital about aligning your fund’s exit strategy with your Golden Visa timeline and broader family plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Portugal Golden Visa Funds

What Is Portugal’s Golden Visa?

Portugal’s Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU nationals to obtain Portuguese residency by making a qualified investment, such as subscribing to an eligible investment fund. The visa grants the right to live, study, and work in Portugal and to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

When you receive your Golden Visa, you obtain a temporary residency permit that is valid for two years. You must then renew this permit for two additional two-year periods while maintaining your qualifying investment and meeting the minimum stay requirement of 14 days in each two-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. After five years, you can apply for permanent residency. The full Golden Visa process, from initial application through card issuance, usually spans 12 to 18 months.

Do I Need To Relocate To Portugal To Maintain My Golden Visa?

No. You do not need to relocate to Portugal to keep your Golden Visa. The requirement is to spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year residency period, which makes the program suitable as a Plan B for globally mobile families. 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, and Greece requires you to live there and pay taxes for seven years to qualify for long-term status.

Why Are Fund Investments Now The Primary Option For The Golden Visa?

Recent legal changes removed direct investments in personal properties from the Golden Visa program. As a result, CMVM-regulated venture capital and private equity funds that meet the current rules have become the main route for investors. These funds must invest at least 60% of their capital in Portuguese companies and must exclude direct or indirect exposure to personal properties while remaining fully compliant with Golden Visa legislation.

What Makes The VIDA Fund Different From Other Funds?

The VIDA Fund is an asset-backed, Golden Visa–eligible investment fund that focuses on capital protection and sustainable value creation. The fund buys and transforms existing hospitality assets in Portugal, giving these assets a second life through renovation and operational improvements. This sector specialization, combined with experienced management and independent audits, aims to balance risk and return for investors seeking residency. Any reference to return targets or historical results does not guarantee future performance.

Is Portugal Still Competitive Compared With Other European Options?

Portugal remains one of the most competitive options for investors who seek residency and a potential path to EU citizenship without full relocation. The minimal stay requirement of 14 days every two years contrasts with programs where continuous residence and local taxation are required. While Portugal’s citizenship timeline has increased to 10 years of residence, with seven years for CPLP nationals and EU citizens, Spain has closed its Golden Visa program and Greece requires seven years of residence to reach long-term status.

Can I Include My Family In A Golden Visa Fund Application?

Yes. You can typically include a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children in your application, subject to eligibility rules. Document-wise, you can present either a marriage certificate or other acceptable proof of relationship for a partner. Dependent children usually must be full-time students, not working, and unmarried for the entire duration of the residency program until the Golden Visa process is complete. An experienced immigration lawyer is essential to confirm eligibility and prepare the correct documentation for each family member.

What Rights Do I Gain With Residency And Later With Citizenship?

Golden Visa residency grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal and to travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The residency itself does not grant rights to live or work in other EU countries. After meeting the 10-year residence requirement (or seven years for eligible CPLP nationals and EU citizens) and successfully obtaining Portuguese citizenship, you gain full EU citizenship rights, including the ability to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across EU and Schengen Area countries.

Conclusion: Align Your Golden Visa Fund Strategy With Long-Term Goals

The choice of the Golden Visa fund in 2026 has a direct impact on your family’s mobility, security, and future citizenship options. CMVM-regulated, asset-backed funds that avoid exposure to personal properties and invest primarily in Portuguese companies can help you stay compliant while supporting capital preservation. A clear fee structure, robust management team, and realistic exit plan ensure that your investment aligns with Portugal’s five-year residency requirement and the longer citizenship horizon now in place.

Contact VIDA Capital to explore Portugal Golden Visa–eligible fund investments and structure a residency strategy that fits your family’s long-term objectives.