Portugal Golden Visa Citizenship Timeline Guide 2026

Key Takeaways

• The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026 is a residency-by-investment program based on a minimum €500,000 investment in qualifying funds, since personal properties are no longer eligible.
• The program grants Portuguese residency, allows you to live, work, and study in Portugal, and offers visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• The overall process from investment to your first residency card usually spans 12 to 18 months, and this processing time counts toward the 5-year requirement for permanent residency.
• Most applicants now need 10 years of residency before becoming eligible for Portuguese citizenship, while nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens have a 7-year requirement, and Portugal remains one of the few European countries offering a path to citizenship without relocation.
• VIDA Capital helps investors structure Golden Visa strategies, provides advisory access to the VIDA Fund focused on Portuguese hospitality assets, and connects clients with specialized immigration lawyers. Speak with VIDA Capital about your Portugal Golden Visa plans.

How the Portugal Golden Visa Works in 2026

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that grants temporary residence permits to non-EU investors who make qualifying investments of €500,000 or more through eligible investment funds. The program offers flexibility, requiring only 14 days of physical presence in Portugal in each two-year residency period to maintain your status.

Golden Visa residency allows you to live, work, and study in Portugal. It also provides visa-free travel throughout the 26-country Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The Golden Visa does not grant residency rights in other EU countries, but it creates a path toward Portuguese citizenship, which can later open access to live, work, and study across the European Union.

The program also supports family planning. You can usually include a spouse or common-law partner, documented through a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship, as well as dependent children and financially dependent parents. For children to be included, they must be full-time students, not working, and not married at any time during the residency program until the Golden Visa application process is complete.

Explore whether the Portugal Golden Visa fits your family and mobility goals. VIDA Capital provides structured advisory support focused on compliant fund investments in Portugal.

Stage 1: Building Your Foundation with Legal Support and Investment Selection

A strong Golden Visa application starts with experienced legal representation. Choosing a lawyer who specializes in Portuguese immigration law is essential, because your lawyer will manage document preparation, online submissions, and communication with AIMA on your behalf. VIDA Capital can connect you with specialized law offices that work regularly with Golden Visa investors.

During this stage, your lawyer typically helps you obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and open a Portuguese bank account, usually without the need to travel. At the same time, you select your qualifying investment. Since October 2023, the Golden Visa has required a minimum €500,000 investment in eligible investment funds, and personal properties are no longer an eligible route.

Many investors focus on Portugal’s hospitality sector. Through the VIDA Fund, accessible via VIDA Capital’s advisory services, investors can gain exposure to a portfolio that buys and transforms undervalued hospitality assets, giving them a second life while meeting Golden Visa requirements. The fund strategy is asset-backed, and any historical returns associated with the VIDA Fund are not a guarantee of future returns.

The overall Portugal Golden Visa process, from investment to first residency card, usually spans 12 to 18 months.

Stage 2: From Application Submission to Your First Residency Card

After completing your investment and documentation, your lawyer submits the Golden Visa application online to AIMA for you and any eligible family members. The submission includes proof of investment, identity documents, criminal record certificates, and family relationship documents, all organized by your legal team.

Once AIMA accepts the application, you will be scheduled for biometric data collection for all applicants. Your lawyer coordinates these appointments and ensures that your documents remain valid and up to date throughout the process. The time from submission to first residency card varies, and processing delays are common, but this waiting period counts toward your 5-year eligibility for permanent residency.

When your application is approved, you receive a temporary residency permit valid for 2 years. This first residency card marks the official start of your Golden Visa residency. 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.

Stage 3: Keeping Your Status with Residency Card Renewals

To keep your Golden Visa active, you must renew your residency permit and maintain your investment. The first renewal normally occurs at the end of the initial 2-year permit. At that point, you must show that your qualifying investment remains in place, you have spent at least 14 days in Portugal during the previous two years, and you still meet all legal and criminal record requirements. A new biometric appointment is also required.

The renewed card is again valid for 2 years. A second renewal at around the 4-year point follows the same structure and brings you to 5 years of temporary residency. Throughout this period, you must maintain your investment and comply with the minimum stay rules. Having your lawyer manage each renewal helps avoid gaps in status and keeps documentation consistent.

Stage 4: Moving from Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency and Citizenship

After 5 years of Golden Visa residency, including the processing time, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. Permanent residency provides a more stable status while you continue toward eventual citizenship, as long as you keep meeting residency and legal requirements.

Portugal’s Parliament introduced a new citizenship framework in October 2025. Most Golden Visa residents now become eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship after 10 years of residency. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens have a reduced 7-year requirement. This new law should apply to all Golden Visa applicants except those who had already submitted their citizenship applications before the law is published.

Citizenship applications require an A2-level Portuguese language exam and a clean criminal record. Any children included in the family application must remain financially dependent, full-time students, and unmarried during the residency program until they obtain their own permanent residency or citizenship.

Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program, and Greece requires 7 years of living there and paying taxes before you can qualify for citizenship. Portugal remains one of the only countries in Europe that offers a path to citizenship without relocation, due to its minimal 14-day stay requirement every two years.

Discuss a long-term Portugal residency and citizenship plan with VIDA Capital. The team focuses on helping investors align their Golden Visa strategy with these updated timelines.

Golden Visa Costs and Fees You Should Expect

In addition to the minimum €500,000 fund investment, you should plan for several government and professional fees across the life of the program.

Typical government fees per family member include:

• Application analysis fee of €618.60 at the start of the process
• Initial residency card issuance fee of €6,179.40
• Renewal card issuance fee of €3,023.20 for each renewal
• Citizenship application fee of €250 when you apply for citizenship

Legal fees vary by law firm but often fall in the €16,000 to €20,000 range for a full family application over the life of the process. Investment subscription fees depend on the selected fund. For example, the VIDA Fund charges a 1 percent subscription fee on the invested amount, which is paid to the fund manager.

Golden Visa Portugal Citizenship Timeline: Key Milestones at a Glance

These timings are indicative and depend on individual circumstances and AIMA capacity. The overall process from investment to the first residency card usually spans 12 to 18 months, and all processing time counts toward the 5-year period for permanent residency.

FAQs about the Golden Visa Portugal Citizenship Timeline

What is Portugal’s Golden Visa program?

Portugal’s Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU investors to obtain Portuguese residency and, over time, a possible path to Portuguese citizenship through qualified investments in funds of at least €500,000. The program offers a route to Portuguese nationality without requiring you to relocate to Portugal full-time.

How long does it take from application to the first residency card?

The period from submitting your application to receiving your first residency card usually fits within the overall 12 to 18 month process. The months spent waiting for approval and card issuance count toward the 5-year residency requirement for permanent residency.

What are the physical presence requirements to keep your Golden Visa?

Golden Visa residents must spend at least 14 days in Portugal in each 2-year residency period. This low physical presence requirement allows you to keep your existing base while maintaining Portuguese residency and visa-free travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

What are the main citizenship timeline changes introduced in 2025?

The 2025 legal update extended the eligibility period for citizenship from 5 to 10 years of residency for most Golden Visa applicants. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens may apply after 7 years. The new framework applies to Golden Visa residents unless they had already submitted their citizenship applications before the law is published.

How does Portugal compare to other European residency programs?

Portugal’s Golden Visa remains competitive in Europe. Spain has discontinued its Golden Visa program, and Greece requires 7 years of physical residence and local tax residency before citizenship. Portugal stands out as one of the only countries that offers access to citizenship without requiring relocation, due to its minimal 14-day stay requirement every two years.

Conclusion: Planning Your Portugal Golden Visa Strategy

The updated Golden Visa Portugal citizenship timeline in 2026 requires careful planning, especially with the 10-year residency requirement for most applicants. Even with these changes, Portugal continues to offer a clear, relatively flexible route to long-term residency and, eventually, Portuguese citizenship.

Successful applications rely on experienced legal partners, carefully selected fund investments, and a long-term view of the residency and citizenship process. VIDA Capital focuses on advisory support for investors using eligible funds such as the VIDA Fund, which buys and transforms hospitality assets in Portugal and gives them a second life, while meeting Golden Visa requirements.

Contact VIDA Capital to design your Portugal Golden Visa plan and align your investment, legal strategy, and family goals with the current rules and timelines.