Pathway to EU Citizenship 2026: Portugal Golden Visa Guide

Key Takeaways

• EU residency has become a core part of many high-net-worth families’ Plan B strategies, adding mobility and security alongside traditional investments.
• Portugal’s Golden Visa now focuses on €500,000 fund investments, offers low physical stay requirements, and remains one of the few European programs that can lead to citizenship without relocation.
• Greece and Malta still offer residency routes, but Greece generally requires seven years of living there for citizenship, and Malta follows a contribution-based model with different long-term paths.
• Portugal introduced a 10-year residency requirement for citizenship in October 2025, with a reduced 7-year period for EU and CPLP nationals, which investors need to factor into long-term planning.
• VIDA Capital advises investors on asset-backed fund solutions through the VIDA Fund and can help you evaluate whether the Portugal Golden Visa suits your family’s goals. Talk to VIDA Capital about your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.

Why a Plan B EU Residency Matters for High-Net-Worth Families

Global volatility has led many high-net-worth individuals to treat residency diversification as a core element of wealth preservation. A second residency offers flexibility if political, economic, or social conditions change in a home country.

EU residency in Portugal grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, plus visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Families often value access to Portugal’s stable legal system, high-quality education and healthcare, and one of the safest environments in the world, supported by Portugal’s ranking as the 7th safest country in the Global Peace Index 2025.

Citizenship then becomes a long-term asset. Once an investor obtains a Portuguese passport, the family can live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across EU and Schengen Zone countries, creating intergenerational benefits that go beyond financial returns.

How to Compare EU Residency and Citizenship by Investment Programs

Effective comparisons focus on a few practical criteria rather than headlines or marketing claims. Key factors include:

• Minimum investment and total costs, including government fees and legal expenses.
• Type of qualifying investment, such as regulated funds, property, or contributions.
• Residency obligations, especially whether relocation is required.
• Family inclusion rules for spouses, children, and parents.
• Timeline and conditions for permanent residency and eventual citizenship.
• Policy stability and clarity of the legal framework.

For many investors, flexibility and the ability to preserve existing business and personal ties matter as much as the investment itself.

How Portugal’s Golden Visa Compares to Other EU Options

Portugal Golden Visa: Asset-Backed Fund Route With VIDA Capital

Portugal’s Golden Visa shifted in October 2023 to focus on qualifying fund investments. The most common route is a €500,000 subscription into a CMVM-regulated venture capital or private equity fund. Personal properties are no longer eligible.

VIDA Capital advises clients on asset-backed opportunities through the VIDA Fund. The fund buys and transforms existing hospitality assets in Portugal’s tourism sector, giving these properties a second life. This approach offers exposure to a tangible asset base rather than purely financial instruments. Any discussion of past performance must be treated with caution, since historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Once approved, Golden Visa investors receive a temporary residency permit valid for two years. They then renew it for two additional two-year periods, maintaining the investment and spending at least 14 days in Portugal every two years. At the five-year mark, they can apply for permanent 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.

Portugal’s Parliament introduced a new citizenship framework in October 2025. Most applicants now need 10 years of legal residency in Portugal to qualify for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens face a reduced requirement of seven years. The new law should apply to Golden Visa investors except those who submitted citizenship applications before the law is published.

Applicants commonly follow a structured process that includes choosing a compliant fund, obtaining a Portuguese tax number, opening a bank account, subscribing to the fund, submitting the online application, attending biometrics, and renewing the residency card. Working with a Portuguese lawyer is essential at every stage to manage documentation, filings, and communication with the authorities.

The Portugal Golden Visa allows you to include a spouse or legally recognized partner, children who are economically dependent, full-time students, not working and unmarried during the residency program, and dependent parents or in-laws. Document-wise, families can present either a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship for common-law partners.

Discuss whether a €500,000 fund investment through the VIDA Fund aligns with your Portugal Golden Visa goals.

Greece Golden Visa: Property-Based Route With Residency Obligations for Citizenship

The Greece Golden Visa centers on property investment. Some specific projects, such as commercial-to-residential conversions or listed building restorations, can start from €250,000, although most areas now require €400,000, rising to €800,000 in premium locations like central Athens.

Holders do not need to spend time in Greece to keep their residency card. However, Greece generally requires seven years of living there and paying taxes to qualify for long-term residency and citizenship. This requirement means genuine relocation for those aiming at a second passport.

Family inclusion typically covers spouses, children under 21, and parents of both spouses. Investors considering Greece often value direct exposure to property but must accept the relocation requirement for citizenship.

Malta Residency Programme: Wealth-Based Residency and Contribution Model

The Malta Residency Programme emphasizes financial strength and government contributions. Applicants must show €500,000 in net wealth, including at least €150,000 in financial assets.

The contribution is structured and predictable. A payment of €97,000 can cover the main applicant, spouse, and minor children, with an additional €7,500 for each adult dependent. Applicants also gain visa-free access to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with no annual stay requirement in Malta.

Malta focuses primarily on residency, not a direct and standardised path to citizenship. Investors who want a clearer citizenship track without relocation often find Portugal’s structure easier to plan around.

Shifting Landscape: Spain’s Closure and Other European Programs

The European residency-by-investment environment has changed significantly since 2024. Spain, which previously offered a popular property-based route, has discontinued its Golden Visa program, removing a major option from the market.

Italy maintains an investor visa with options such as €250,000 in innovative startups or €500,000 in innovative joint-stock companies, alongside other financial instruments. Investors usually need more consistent physical presence to progress toward long-term residency and citizenship.

Greece and Spain both require genuine relocation and extended residence to reach long-term residency or citizenship. Portugal remains one of the only options in Europe that offers a structured route to citizenship without requiring you to move there full-time, provided you meet the minimum stay rules.

Comparison Table: Key Features at a Glance

Looking Beyond Numbers: Total Value and Process Complexity

Headline investment amounts only tell part of the story. Families often care more about long-term security, education options, healthcare access in Portugal, and the ability to pass EU citizenship to future generations.

Processes can be administratively demanding. Portugal’s Golden Visa involves fund compliance checks, due diligence, legal reviews, biometric appointments, and renewals. A Portuguese lawyer, together with an experienced advisory firm, can simplify coordination and reduce the risk of errors.

VIDA Capital supports investors from initial assessment through to residency renewals, working alongside legal partners. The team helps evaluate the VIDA Fund, prepare documentation, and align the investment with Golden Visa requirements and individual risk profiles. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Request a call with VIDA Capital to review your options under the Portugal Golden Visa.

Guided Decision Framework: Matching a Program to Your Goals

Investors who value capital preservation, low disruption to their current lifestyle, and a clear route to long-term residency often prioritize Portugal. The fund-based structure, low minimum stay requirement, and possibility of future citizenship without relocation make it suitable for international entrepreneurs and families with global commitments.

Greece may appeal to investors who actively seek property exposure and are prepared to relocate for at least seven years to work toward citizenship. Malta can suit those who prefer a defined contribution-based residency route and do not need a straightforward citizenship track.

Each family’s optimal choice depends on risk tolerance, desired involvement with assets, willingness to relocate, and the importance of eventual citizenship versus residency alone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about EU Residency and Citizenship by Investment

What investments now qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa?

Since October 2023, the most relevant option for Portugal’s Golden Visa has been a €500,000 subscription into CMVM-regulated venture capital or private equity funds. Fund investments through compliant vehicles such as the VIDA Fund, advised by VIDA Capital, meet this requirement while focusing on asset-backed strategies in hospitality. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

How long does Portugal’s path to citizenship take compared with other EU programs?

Portugal now requires 10 years of legal residency for most applicants before they can apply for citizenship, with a reduced seven-year requirement for EU and CPLP nationals. Greece generally requires seven years of living there and paying taxes for citizenship, and Malta follows separate rules where residency and citizenship are distinct tracks. Portugal’s advantage is that the Golden Visa does not require full-time relocation as long as you meet the minimum stay requirements.

Does the Portugal Golden Visa work as a Plan B without relocation?

Yes. You only need to spend 14 days in Portugal every two years to keep your Golden Visa residency. This schedule allows you to maintain your primary home and business interests elsewhere while developing a long-term Plan B through residency, potential permanent residency after five years, and possible citizenship under the current law.

What support does VIDA Capital provide to Portugal Golden Visa investors?

VIDA Capital acts as an advisory firm, helping investors select and subscribe to the VIDA Fund as a qualifying €500,000 asset-backed investment for the Portugal Golden Visa. The team coordinates closely with your Portuguese lawyer, provides fund documentation, and assists with practical questions throughout the residency journey. The VIDA Fund buys and transforms existing hospitality assets in Portugal, giving them a second life, but historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Which family members can be included in a Portugal Golden Visa application?

Golden Visa applications can include a spouse or recognized partner, dependent children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried during the program until the Golden Visa application is completed, and dependent parents or in-laws. Applicants can use a marriage certificate or other legal proof of relationship in the case of a common-law partnership.

Conclusion: Building a Structured Path to Portugal and the EU with VIDA Capital

Choosing an EU residency path is both a financial and personal decision. Portugal’s Golden Visa stands out in 2026 for investors who want asset-backed exposure, low stay requirements, and a possible route to citizenship without relocation, in contrast to programs in Greece and other countries that demand long-term residence.

VIDA Capital helps investors navigate this path by focusing on regulated, asset-backed fund investments through the VIDA Fund and by working alongside legal teams to manage the process from investment selection to residency renewals. This coordinated approach supports a clear, structured Plan B for you and your family.

Contact VIDA Capital to discuss how the Portugal Golden Visa can fit into your family’s long-term strategy.