Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa grants Portuguese residency and visa-free travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while requiring only 14 days in Portugal during every two-year residence period.
- The residence path moves from a two-year temporary permit to two further two-year renewals, after which you can apply for permanent residency, and after 10 years of residence, you may qualify for Portuguese citizenship under the current law.
- Physical presence requirements are flexible, can be split across multiple short trips, and apply to the main applicant and eligible family members, as long as you keep clear travel records.
- Portugal remains one of the few European countries offering a route to citizenship without relocation, while Spain has ended its Golden Visa and Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes for citizenship, so legal guidance throughout the 12 to 18-month process is essential.
- VIDA Capital supports investors with advisory services and access to the qualifying VIDA Fund, which focuses on hospitality assets in Portugal; you can speak with VIDA Capital about whether the Portugal Golden Visa fits your plans.
Understanding Portugal Golden Visa Residency: Key Concepts and Terminology
Portugal’s Golden Visa grants temporary residency, which is the first status you receive after your investment is approved. This permit is valid for two years and allows you to live in Portugal while still choosing to reside elsewhere.
Permanent residency becomes available after five years of temporary residency, once you have respected the investment and minimum stay rules. This status provides longer-term security and reduces renewal frequency, but it still grants residency rights only in Portugal.
Citizenship is the long-term objective for many families. Portuguese citizenship provides a passport and full rights to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across the European Union and Schengen Zone.
Physical presence describes the days you are actually in Portugal. The minimum stay for Golden Visa holders is 14 days in each two-year residence period, which can be consecutive or split into several shorter trips. This low requirement keeps Portugal highly competitive as a residency-by-investment option.
A specialist immigration lawyer is essential for interpreting these definitions, managing documents, and interacting with AIMA, and VIDA Capital can help you connect with trusted legal partners from the start of your Golden Visa plan.
The Portugal Golden Visa: Minimal Physical Presence Explained
The Portugal Golden Visa requires only 14 days of physical presence in Portugal in every two-year residence permit period. This averages seven days per year and suits investors who manage businesses, careers, or family commitments in other countries.
This structure does not oblige you to relocate or become a Portuguese tax resident, unless you decide that moving to Portugal is right for your family. You still gain the right to live in Portugal and to travel visa-free in the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Portugal compares favorably with other programs. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa, and Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes for citizenship. Portugal remains one of the only countries in Europe that offers access to citizenship without a mandatory relocation, which makes it especially attractive as a long-term “Plan B.”
The Golden Visa Journey: From Temporary Residency to Citizenship
The Golden Visa process typically spans 12 to 18 months from investment to the first residence card. Each phase has specific rules for investment maintenance and physical presence. A qualified Portuguese lawyer is crucial at every step to avoid delays or refusals.
Initial Temporary Residency (Years 1-2): The First Golden Visa Card
The first Golden Visa residence permit is valid for two years. During this period, you must spend at least 14 days in Portugal and maintain a qualifying investment of at least €500,000 in an eligible fund, such as the VIDA Fund.
The VIDA Fund focuses on buying and transforming hospitality assets in Portugal, giving existing properties a second life and aligning with Golden Visa rules that no longer accept personal properties as a qualifying option. 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.
Legal support during this stage covers document collection, application submission, and communication with AIMA, helping you comply with the program’s requirements from the start.
Residency Renewals (Years 3-4): Maintaining Your Status
Each renewal covers another two-year period and again requires at least 14 days in Portugal. You must prove that your qualifying investment remains in place and provide updated documents, including biometrics and recent criminal record certificates.
A lawyer monitors regulatory changes, keeps your file updated, and helps schedule visits for biometrics and renewals so your status remains continuous.
Applying for Permanent Residency (Year 5 onwards)
After five years of holding temporary residency permits, you can apply for permanent residency. You must show that you have consistently met the minimum stay requirement and maintained the eligible investment throughout these five years.
Permanent residency offers longer-term security in Portugal with fewer renewal events. You continue to enjoy visa-free Schengen travel, but residency rights still apply only to Portugal.
Path to Portuguese Citizenship (Year 10 onwards)
New rules introduced in October 2025 extended the residence requirement for citizenship to 10 years for most Golden Visa holders. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens have a reduced seven-year requirement. The new law should apply to all Golden Visa applicants except those who have already submitted their citizenship application before the new law is published.
These longer timelines mean citizenship planning now spans a decade or more, but Portugal still offers a rare path to citizenship without needing to relocate. Ongoing legal guidance helps you maintain continuous residency status and prepare for the final citizenship application.
Strategic Advantages of the Portugal Golden Visa’s Minimal Stay Requirements
Golden Visa residency gives your family a stable base in Portugal with a limited time commitment. You can keep your main home, business, and tax residency elsewhere, while securing visa-free movement within the Schengen area for short stays.
The flexible physical presence rules allow you to combine vacation time, business trips, or short family visits to reach the 14-day requirement in each two-year period. This structure works well for entrepreneurs, executives, and international professionals.
Family inclusion is another important benefit. You can usually include a spouse or common-law partner, as long as you provide a marriage certificate or other proof of the relationship. Dependent children must be full-time students, not working, and must remain unmarried until the Golden Visa process and any linked applications finish. Financially dependent parents can also be included when they meet program criteria, and all qualified family members follow the same 14-day rule every two years.
Common Misconceptions and Clarifications About Physical Presence
Many prospective investors assume that holding a Golden Visa requires full-time living in Portugal. In practice, the program only requires that you meet the 14-day minimum in each two-year period and maintain your qualifying investment.
Physical presence can be documented with passport stamps, boarding passes, hotel bookings, or other travel records. Your lawyer will advise you on how to keep and present this evidence at renewal time.
The 14 days do not need to be consecutive. Several weekend trips or short business visits over two years will satisfy the rule, as long as the total adds up to at least 14 days.
Experienced legal counsel, which VIDA Capital can help you secure, reduces the risk of misunderstandings about stay requirements and keeps your documentation aligned with what AIMA expects.
How VIDA Capital Supports Your Golden Visa Journey with Minimal Disruption
VIDA Capital acts as an advisory partner for investors who want a clear, structured route into the Portugal Golden Visa. The team focuses on helping you understand the program, choose a qualifying fund, and coordinate with specialist immigration lawyers.
The VIDA Fund is built to meet the €500,000 Golden Visa requirement and focuses on capital preservation through hospitality assets in Portugal’s tourism sector. The fund purchases and transforms existing hospitality properties, giving them a second life rather than developing new buildings from the ground up.
VIDA Capital explains all relevant costs in advance, including government fees, legal fees, and VIDA Fund subscription fees. You receive support from initial strategy discussions through application filing and later renewals, with particular attention to physical presence records and ongoing investment compliance.
Historical returns from the VIDA Fund, or any investment, are not a guarantee of future returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 14-day minimum stay requirement need to be continuous?
No. You can meet the 14-day requirement through several shorter trips over the two-year period. Many investors combine holidays, business travel, and family visits to reach the total.
What happens if I miss the minimum stay requirement?
Missing the 14-day minimum can place your renewal and long-term residency or citizenship plans at risk. A lawyer may still help you present exceptional circumstances, but it is safer to track your stays carefully and plan ahead.
How does the Portugal Golden Visa’s physical presence compare to other residency programs?
Portugal offers a relatively low and predictable stay requirement of 14 days every two years. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa, and Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes to qualify for citizenship, while Portugal remains one of the only options that allows a route to citizenship without relocation.
Can family members have different physical presence requirements?
All family members included under the same Golden Visa application must meet the same 14-day requirement every two years. This rule applies to spouses or partners, dependent children, and qualifying parents.
What are the latest updates regarding citizenship timelines for Golden Visa holders?
From October 2025, most new Golden Visa applicants must maintain residency for 10 years before applying for citizenship. EU citizens and nationals of Portuguese-language countries have a reduced seven-year requirement, and those who submitted citizenship applications before the new law’s publication follow the earlier rules.
Conclusion: A Flexible Route to Portuguese Security with Limited Time in Country
The Portugal Golden Visa offers a practical balance between flexibility and long-term security. You obtain Portuguese residency, visa-free travel across the Schengen Zone for short stays, and a potential path to citizenship, while spending only 14 days in Portugal every two years.
With informed planning, a suitable qualifying fund investment, and reliable legal guidance, you can protect your family’s future without relocating. VIDA Capital supports this process through advisory services and the VIDA Fund’s hospitality-focused strategy, helping you align the Golden Visa program with your broader personal and financial goals.
