Key Takeaways
- Portugal’s Golden Visa in 2026 requires a minimum €500,000 commitment into a regulated investment fund with at least a five-year maturity.
- The overall Golden Visa process, from initial application to issuance of the first residence permit, usually spans 12 to 18 months, followed by a five-year residency period before permanent residency becomes available.
- Citizenship generally requires 10 years of legal residency under the framework introduced in October 2025, with a reduced seven-year requirement for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens.
- Fund-based, asset-backed strategies focused on hospitality assets can align Golden Visa compliance with potential capital preservation and returns, while still carrying investment risk and no guarantee of future performance.
- VIDA Capital advises investors on the Portugal Golden Visa and the VIDA Fund from strategy to execution. Speak with the team about your Portugal plan.
Navigating Portugal’s Golden Visa Investment Landscape
What is the Portugal Golden Visa?
Portugal’s Golden Visa is a residency by investment program that attracts foreign capital and provides a clear pathway to Portuguese residency and, later, citizenship. The program grants a temporary residency permit that is valid for two years, can be renewed for additional two-year periods, and can lead to permanent residency after five years.
Golden Visa residency gives you 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. These residency rights apply only in Portugal. After the October 2025 legislative changes, citizenship generally becomes available after 10 years of legal residency, subject to language and other legal requirements. A Portuguese passport then allows you to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in any EU or Schengen Zone country.
The Fund Investment Route: €500,000 Minimum
Qualifying Golden Visa investments require at least €500,000 in a regulated investment fund with a minimum maturity of five years. This must be invested into a Private Equity or Venture Capital style fund supervised by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, CMVM.
Personal properties are no longer eligible for the Golden Visa. The regulated fund must keep at least 60 percent of its capital invested in companies with headquarters in Portugal, so international capital supports the domestic economy while offering investors professional management and diversified exposure.
Key Terms: Residency, Permanent Residency, Citizenship
Temporary residency is the status granted by the Golden Visa. It requires you to keep your qualifying investment and meet minimal stay requirements in Portugal while your permit remains valid.
Permanent residency becomes available after five years of legal residency if you have complied with the Golden Visa conditions. It provides greater stability and fewer renewals, but your residency rights are still limited to Portugal, with continued Schengen visa-free travel.
Citizenship, in most cases, after 10 years of legal residency under the new rules, provides full Portuguese and EU citizenship rights. This includes the ability to live, work, and study across the EU and Schengen Zone, together with access to public healthcare and education systems.
Discuss how a Portugal Golden Visa can support your long-term residency and citizenship planning with VIDA Capital’s advisory team.
The Multi-Stage Investment Period Commitment for the Golden Visa
Initial Temporary Residency, Years 1 to 2
The first residence permit sets the foundation for your five-year investment commitment. You must make and maintain a qualified investment of at least €500,000 for five years while holding residency. The fund investment normally follows a five to seven-year horizon, which aligns with Golden Visa requirements.
Physical stay requirements are light. You must spend at least seven days in Portugal during the first year. From application submission to issuance of the first residence card, the overall process usually spans 12 to 18 months. Working with an experienced Portuguese immigration lawyer at every stage of the application, document preparation, and submission is essential.
Residency Renewals, Years 3 to 6
Renewal periods continue the same basic obligations. You must keep the full €500,000 invested in the qualifying fund and meet minimal physical presence in Portugal. The program requires at least 14 days in Portugal in each subsequent two-year period, which creates a competitive option for investors who do not want to relocate.
Each renewal requires updated documentation, including proof that the fund investment remains active, clean criminal records, and updated biometric data. As the approval card issuance usually takes about a year, you will most likely only need a single renewal instead of two during the five-year period.
Applying for Permanent Residency After Year 5
After five years of legal residency and maintaining the investment, you can apply for permanent residency. Once the minimum five-year commitment is complete and permanent residency is secured, you may be able to redeem or exit your fund investment, depending on the fund’s terms.
Permanent residency removes the need for further temporary permit renewals and allows you to stay in Portugal indefinitely, while you continue counting years of residency toward a possible citizenship application.
Explore how to structure your Golden Visa timeline from first permit to permanent residency with support from VIDA Capital.
Beyond Residency: The Path to EU Citizenship with Your Golden Visa
The New 10 Year Citizenship Timeline
In October 2025, Portugal’s parliament approved a new framework that extended the general residency requirement for citizenship to 10 years. This applies to Golden Visa holders, except for those who had already submitted their citizenship applications before the new law was published.
Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens usually follow a reduced seven-year requirement. Golden Visa investors now need to view the five-year fund investment as one phase within a longer residency horizon.
Portugal’s Advantage: Citizenship Without Relocation
Portugal is currently one of the only European countries that offers an investment-based route to citizenship without requiring you to relocate. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa. Greece expects long-term residents to live there and pay taxes for seven years before qualifying for citizenship.
Portugal’s modest stay requirements and longer, but flexible, citizenship path make it a competitive Plan B for globally mobile families who want European access while keeping their primary base elsewhere.
Why Ongoing Legal Guidance Matters
Specialized immigration lawyers help you stay compliant over the long term. Their support covers application strategy, renewals, document collection, tracking legislative changes, and planning when to apply for permanent residency and later citizenship.
Securing Your Investment with VIDA Capital and the VIDA Fund
Why Asset-Backed Fund Investments Support Capital Preservation
Asset-backed funds offer exposure to tangible assets, which can provide a different risk profile compared to traditional equity-focused funds. The VIDA Fund concentrates on hospitality assets in Portugal. The fund does not build new hospitality assets; it buys and transforms existing properties and operating businesses, giving these assets a second life.
Portugal’s tourism sector generated record revenues and more than 30 million visitors in 2024, which supports demand for quality hospitality projects. The 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Portugal will co-host, is projected to create a significant additional economic boost. These fundamentals support the long term outlook for well-located hospitality assets. Any historical or projected returns for the VIDA Fund are not a guarantee of future returns, and all investments carry risk.
How VIDA Capital Supports Your Golden Visa Journey
VIDA Capital acts as an advisory partner throughout the Golden Visa process. The team helps you understand fund documentation, coordinates with your Portuguese lawyer and the fund manager, and keeps your application steps aligned with investment requirements.
Clear explanations of government fees, legal fees, and fund costs help you understand the total commitment from the start, rather than relying on commission-driven intermediaries.
Regulatory Oversight and Due Diligence
The VIDA Fund is regulated by CMVM, Portugal’s Securities Market Authority. Independent auditors such as Deloitte review the fund regularly, and the management team brings extensive experience from managing several billion euros across many private equity transactions.
|
Feature |
VIDA Fund |
Traditional Golden Visa Funds |
Direct Business Investment |
|
Asset Backing |
Operating hospitality assets in Portugal |
Varies by fund |
Business equity only |
|
Investor Support |
Hands-on advisory and coordination via VIDA Capital |
Standard fund reporting |
Self-managed by the investor |
|
Sector Focus |
Specialization in hospitality assets |
Diversified or generalist |
Depends on investor choice |
Request details on the VIDA Fund’s Golden Visa eligibility and hospitality strategy from VIDA Capital.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Golden Visa Investment Period
How long is the mandatory investment period for the Golden Visa?
The mandatory investment period is five years. It covers the first residence permit and the renewal period that follows. During these years, you must keep at least €500,000 invested in a qualifying fund and meet the stay requirements of seven days in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period.
Can I access my investment before applying for permanent residency?
You generally cannot withdraw the qualifying €500,000 during the first five years without putting your Golden Visa status at risk. Many Golden Visa-oriented funds, including the VIDA Fund, target lifecycles of around six to seven years and aim to return capital and potential profit at the end of the term. Any past performance or targets do not guarantee future results.
What are the residency requirements for my family?
The stay requirement, seven days in the first year and 14 days in each following two-year period, applies to the main applicant and included family members. Spouses can be included by presenting a marriage certificate, or other proof of relationship for a common law partner. Children can be included if they are financially dependent, full-time students, not working, and remain unmarried throughout the Golden Visa residency period until the application for the Golden Visa is complete.
How does an asset-backed fund like the VIDA Fund offer security?
Asset-backed funds hold operating hospitality properties and businesses that have tangible value, cash flow, and potential resale value. In the case of the VIDA Fund, the strategy is to acquire underperforming hospitality assets, renovate and reposition them, and improve operations. This differs from a purely financial investment that relies only on company shares without underlying physical assets.
What if I decide not to pursue citizenship after permanent residency?
Permanent residency in Portugal allows you to live, work, and study in Portugal indefinitely, and to travel within the Schengen Area without a visa for short stays. Many investors view permanent residency as sufficient, since it secures a long-term base in Portugal without the additional steps and time needed for citizenship. You can consider a citizenship application later if your goals change and you meet the legal requirements at that time.
Conclusion: Navigating Your Portugal Golden Visa Investment Period
The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026 offers a structured path from a €500,000 fund investment to long term residency and, potentially, citizenship. Success depends on maintaining the investment for five years, meeting light but important stay requirements, and working closely with a qualified Portuguese lawyer and experienced advisors.
Asset-backed, hospitality-focused funds such as the VIDA Fund can match Golden Visa rules with a clear investment thesis, while still involving market and execution risk and no guarantee of returns. Portugal’s combination of minimal physical presence requirements, a route to citizenship without relocation, and a stable legal framework continues to appeal to globally mobile families planning a European option for the next decade and beyond.
