Key takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026 offers a path to Portuguese residency, with the possibility of permanent residency after five years and citizenship in the longer term, subject to updated 10-year residency rules for most applicants.
- Maintaining eligibility requires more than a one-time €500,000 fund investment, including a minimum physical stay of 14 days in every two-year permit period and continuous maintenance of your qualifying investment.
- Renewals, documentation, and biometric appointments can be complex, so structured planning and legal support are essential, especially because the overall Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months.
- Portugal remains one of the only European countries offering a path to citizenship without full relocation, while Spain has discontinued its Golden Visa, and Greece requires seven years of living and tax residency for citizenship and long-term status.
- VIDA Capital helps investors meet Golden Visa residency conditions through advisory support and access to the VIDA Fund; contact VIDA Capital to discuss your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.
Why additional Golden Visa Conditions Matter for Investors
Many investors concentrate on the initial €500,000 fund subscription and overlook ongoing residency conditions that sustain their Portugal Golden Visa over time. These requirements influence renewals, long-term planning, and the eventual path to permanent residency and citizenship.
Misunderstandings are common. Some investors assume that once the investment is completed, the rest of the process is passive. Others misinterpret the minimum stay rules, risking non-compliance. Legislative changes, including the citizenship framework extended in October 2025, have also created uncertainty for existing and new applicants.
Busy professionals often feel pressure from administrative tasks such as renewals, documentation collection, and scheduling appointments. Lack of clarity can lead to delays, legal issues, or interruptions in residency status, which also affects family planning and long-term security goals in Europe.
How Clear Guidance Helps You Meet All Golden Visa Conditions
Accurate information and structured support allow investors to comply with Golden Visa requirements without disrupting their primary lives. A clear plan covers minimum stays, investment maintenance, renewals, and the revised timelines for permanent residency and citizenship.
VIDA Capital combines advisory services with access to asset-backed fund investments. The VIDA Fund buys and transforms existing hospitality assets in Portugal, giving them a second life while supporting the maintenance of investment condition with tangible holdings. VIDA Capital also coordinates with specialized law firms so investors receive consistent legal guidance throughout the Golden Visa process.
Plan your Portugal Golden Visa with coordinated investment and legal support. VIDA Capital helps investors structure their applications, liaise with trusted lawyers, and stay organized through submissions, biometrics, and renewal cycles.
Key Additional Residency Conditions: Golden Visa Fund Investors Must Follow
Minimum stay requirements for Portugal Golden Visa investors
The Portugal Golden Visa requires limited physical presence in Portugal. Investors must spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year residency permit period. These days can be split into several trips, which gives flexibility for investors who do not plan to relocate.
This averages about seven days per year, a lighter requirement than many other European residency programs that demand long stays or full relocation. Portugal, therefore, works well as a Plan B for families who want an alternative option without changing their primary base.
Renewal steps and documentation for Golden Visa holders
The Golden Visa grants an initial temporary residency permit valid for two years. The permit must then be renewed for a further two-year period, while you maintain both the investment and minimum stay requirements. 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.
Renewal typically requires:
- Proof that the qualifying €500,000 fund investment has been maintained
- Evidence that you met the 14 days per two-year minimum stay requirement
- Updated personal documents, such as a passport, criminal record certificates, and biometric data collected in Portugal
The overall Golden Visa process from initial application to stable permit issuance usually spans 12 to 18 months. Having a Portuguese immigration lawyer accompany you throughout this process is essential so that forms, timings, and documents meet official requirements.
Path to permanent residency and citizenship under the new timelines
After five years of holding your temporary residency permit and complying with all investment and stay requirements, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. This application requires proof that you maintained your Golden Visa conditions during the full five-year period.
In October 2025, Portugal introduced a new citizenship framework. Most applicants now need to demonstrate 10 years of residency, counted from the date of their first residency permit. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens can qualify after seven years. This framework applies to Golden Visa holders unless they submitted their citizenship application before the new law was officially published.
Once Portuguese citizenship is granted, you gain the right to live, work, and study anywhere in the EU and Schengen Zone, with access to public healthcare and education systems.
Maintaining your fund investment throughout the Golden Visa period
The qualifying €500,000 fund investment must remain in place for the full duration of your Golden Visa residency. Early redemption or withdrawal can risk your status and affect renewals, permanent residency, and later citizenship applications.
Asset-backed funds, such as the VIDA Fund advised by VIDA Capital, hold tangible hospitality assets that can be clearly documented and monitored for compliance. VIDA Fund focuses on buying and transforming existing hospitality properties in Portugal, giving them a second life and supporting capital preservation. Historical performance of the VIDA Fund does not guarantee future results, so investors should review risks with their advisors.
Discuss how a fund investment can support your Golden Visa residency strategy. VIDA Capital helps investors understand fund structures, reporting, and how these elements align with Golden Visa maintenance rules.
How Portugal’s Golden Visa Conditions Compare in Europe
The Portugal Golden Visa stands out for combining a moderate minimum stay requirement with a long-term path to citizenship that does not require relocation. Investors can maintain their primary residence elsewhere while building a second base in Portugal.
Portugal’s 14-day stay requirement every two years contrasts with countries that link long-term status or citizenship to continuous presence. Greece allows Golden Visa residency without a stay requirement for the permit itself, but citizenship after seven years requires at least 183 days per year of physical presence and tax residency. Spain discontinued its Golden Visa program in 2024.
|
Program |
Minimum stay for permit |
Citizenship timeline |
Relocation needed for long-term status? |
|
Portugal Golden Visa |
14 days every 2 years |
10 years (most) / 7 years (CPLP and EU nationals) |
No |
|
Greece Golden Visa |
No mandatory stay for the permit |
7 years, with 183 days/year, and tax residency |
Yes, for citizenship and long-term residency |
|
Spain Golden Visa |
Program discontinued in 2024 |
Program discontinued in 2024 |
N/A |
Greece and Spain require long-term physical presence to secure durable residency or citizenship, while Portugal keeps its 14-day rule every two years. This difference makes Portugal one of the most competitive options in Europe for investors who want a Plan B without relocating.
Frequently Asked Questions about Golden Visa Residency Conditions
Impact of the October 2025 citizenship timelines on Golden Visa holders
The new framework increases the residency period for citizenship to 10 years for most Golden Visa investors, counted from the date of the first residency permit. CPLP nationals and EU citizens can apply after seven years. The longer timeline affects applicants who had expected earlier eligibility, except for those who filed their citizenship application before the new law took effect.
Consequences of missing the minimum stay requirement
Failure to spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year period can jeopardize Golden Visa renewals. Loss of status interrupts your path to permanent residency and citizenship and can create legal and financial complications. Careful travel planning and record keeping are essential to demonstrate compliance.
Role of lawyers in the Golden Visa application and renewals
A dedicated immigration lawyer is essential for the Portugal Golden Visa process. Legal support covers application preparation, document collection, communication with authorities, and renewals, reducing the risk of errors. VIDA Capital connects investors with experienced Portuguese law firms that specialize in Golden Visa cases.
How asset-backed funds support the maintenance of investment conditions
Asset-backed funds, such as the VIDA Fund advised by VIDA Capital, typically hold hotels and similar hospitality properties. These tangible assets are easier to document and monitor throughout the Golden Visa period. This structure helps investors show that their qualifying investment remained in place, which is necessary for renewals and for future permanent residency applications. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns, so investors should review risk disclosures in detail.
Rights granted by the Portugal Golden Visa
The Portugal Golden Visa grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, along with visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It does not grant residency rights in other EU countries. Once you obtain Portuguese citizenship, you gain full EU mobility rights, including residence and work rights across EU and Schengen Zone countries.
Planning your Portugal Golden Visa around residency conditions
Understanding the additional residency requirements of the Portugal Golden Visa is as important as selecting the right investment. Minimum stay rules, renewal procedures, investment maintenance, and the updated 10-year citizenship timeline all shape your long-term plan.
VIDA Capital supports investors with clear, structured guidance and access to asset-backed fund opportunities through the VIDA Fund. The firm works alongside specialized lawyers so that each stage of the process, from application to renewal, follows current regulations.
