Portugal Golden Visa Process Timeline: Complete 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

• Portugal’s Golden Visa grants a temporary residency permit in Portugal for two years, renewable twice, with eligibility for permanent residency after five years and citizenship from year ten under the new 2026 rules.
• The full Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from preparation to receiving the first residency card, so early planning and realistic expectations are important.
• Fund investments of at least €500,000 are now the main eligible route for the Golden Visa, with many investors choosing asset-backed hospitality funds for diversification and capital preservation.
• Government fees, legal support, and fund subscription costs sit on top of the investment amount, and having a dedicated lawyer throughout the process is essential to manage documents, deadlines, and AIMA requirements.
• Investors who want tailored advice on the Portugal Golden Visa and access to the VIDA Fund can contact VIDA Capital’s advisory team at VIDA Capital.

Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa Program and Its Evolving Landscape

Introduction to the Golden Visa

Portugal’s Golden Visa program gives international investors residency in Portugal without requiring relocation. The program grants a temporary residency permit valid for two years, which you can renew twice for additional two-year periods. After maintaining the investment and meeting the minimal presence requirement for five years, you can apply for permanent residency.

New citizenship rules introduced in October 2025 now require a 10-year residency period before Golden Visa holders can apply for Portuguese citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens benefit from a reduced seven-year requirement. These changes do not affect the five-year pathway to permanent residency.

The Golden Visa grants residency rights only in Portugal. It also grants visa-free travel throughout the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once you obtain Portuguese citizenship, you gain full EU mobility, including the right to live, work, and study across EU and Schengen countries.

Why Fund Investments Now?

Regulatory changes in October 2023 made qualifying investment funds the key path for Golden Visa eligibility, with a minimum investment of €500,000. Many investors now favor asset-backed funds linked to Portugal’s hospitality sector, which can provide diversification and exposure to a tourism market that generated strong visitor numbers and revenue in 2024.

The Importance of Strategic Planning

The Portugal Golden Visa process usually takes 12 to 18 months from first preparation to receiving the residency card. This period covers document collection, legal review, investment completion, AIMA processing, biometrics, and card production. Experienced legal counsel is essential to manage these steps and adapt to any regulatory updates.

Phase 1: Pre-Application and Investment (Estimated duration: a few weeks)

Step 1: Choose your legal partner and prepare documentation

A dedicated lawyer is essential from the very beginning of your Golden Visa journey. Your legal partner should understand current AIMA rules and handle most interactions with Portuguese authorities. Typical documents include passports, recent criminal background checks, proof of address, and investment documentation, often with certified translations and apostilles when required.

Criminal background checks must cover all countries where you have lived for more than one year during the past five years and are generally expected to be recent. You can include a spouse through a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship. For dependent children, they must remain full-time students, not employed, and unmarried during the residency period until the Golden Visa application is complete.

Step 2: Obtain your NIF and open a Portuguese bank account

Your lawyer usually helps you obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and open a local bank account, often remotely under power of attorney. The NIF is required for almost all formal transactions in Portugal, including your fund investment. The local bank account then receives the €500,000 transfer that will fund your Golden Visa-eligible investment.

Step 3: Select your fund investment and make the capital contribution

Fund choice shapes both your immigration strategy and your portfolio. Many investors look for asset-backed funds that focus on Portugal’s hospitality sector, which can offer exposure to physical hotel or tourism assets rather than purely equity-based instruments. The investment must be completed and documented before submitting your Golden Visa application, and the fund provides compliance certificates for AIMA.

Secure residency in Portugal and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa by working with an advisory team that understands both fund selection and the immigration process.

Phase 2: Application Submission and Initial Approval (Estimated overall duration: 12–18 months)

Step 4: Submit your online pre-application via AIMA

Your lawyer files the online application through AIMA’s portal, usually for you and any eligible family members at the same time. Each applicant has a dedicated form, document set, and fee. Initial application fees of €618.60 per person are due at this stage.

AIMA reviews the file for completeness and may request clarifications or updated documents. Processing times vary with volume and complexity, which is why accurate, well-prepared files help reduce avoidable delays.

Step 5: Receive AIMA pre-approval and attend biometrics

After pre-approval, AIMA schedules biometrics appointments in Portugal for you and each included family member. This visit is the only mandatory in-person step before you receive your residency card and includes fingerprints and photographs.

At biometrics, you pay card issuance fees of €6,179.40 per person. Appointment availability can fluctuate around busy periods, so your lawyer typically helps you plan travel dates and documentation in advance.

Step 6: Obtain Golden Visa approval and your residency card

Once biometrics are complete, AIMA issues the final approval and initiates card production. Delivery timelines can change, as they depend on government and production backlogs.

The first residency cards are valid for two years and allow you to live, work, and study in Portugal, and to travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. As the approval card issuance usually takes about a year, you will most likely only need to do a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period.

Phase 3: Residency Maintenance and Renewals (Years 2–5)

Maintaining your Golden Visa status

Ongoing eligibility depends on keeping your qualifying fund investment and meeting the residency requirement of at least 14 days in Portugal every two years. Many investors use these visits for family holidays, property visits, or meetings with advisors. You must maintain the investment and presence requirements throughout the five-year period to qualify for permanent residency.

First residency card renewal (around year 2)

For the first renewal, you provide updated criminal background checks, proof that the investment remains in place, and evidence that you spent at least 14 days in Portugal during the first two-year period. Renewal fees of €3,023.20 per person apply, along with updated biometric data.

Second residency card renewal (around year 4)

The second renewal follows similar rules, with proof of continued investment and minimum presence during the previous two years. This renewal extends temporary residency to a total of five years and enables you to apply later for permanent residency if you wish.

Secure residency in Portugal and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa while receiving ongoing guidance on renewals and investment monitoring.

Phase 4: Permanent Residency and Path to Citizenship (Years 5–10)

Applying for permanent residency (from year 5)

After five years of compliant Golden Visa residency, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. Permanent residency removes the need for further Golden Visa renewals and offers a more stable status while you continue toward citizenship if that is your goal.

Following the new path to Portuguese citizenship (from year 10)

The framework introduced in October 2025 extended the required residency period for most Golden Visa holders from five years to ten years before they can apply for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens can apply after seven years. The new law should apply to all Golden Visa applicants except those who submitted their citizenship application before the new law is published.

Portuguese citizenship provides full EU citizenship rights, including the freedom to live, work, and study throughout the EU and Schengen countries, along with access to public healthcare and education. Citizenship application fees of €250 per person apply at the time of filing.

Key Considerations and Costs Beyond Investment

Government fees

Legal fees

Most families work with a single law firm from start to finish. Legal representation often ranges from €16,000 to €20,000 depending on family size and services, including document preparation, AIMA submissions, biometrics support, and renewals.

Fund subscription fees

Golden Visa-eligible funds typically charge a subscription fee of around 1 percent of invested capital. These fees support management, reporting, and regulatory compliance during the life of the fund.

Comparative advantage of Portugal

Portugal remains one of the few European countries where investors can move from residency by investment to citizenship without relocating full-time. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program and generally requires residence to maintain long-term status. Greece requires at least seven years of living in the country and paying taxes to qualify for citizenship. Portugal’s 14-day presence requirement every two years is particularly attractive for investors seeking a Plan B with limited disruption.

Why Choose VIDA Capital for Your Golden Visa Journey?

Asset-backed focus in hospitality

VIDA Capital advises investors on the VIDA Fund, which targets asset-backed opportunities in Portugal’s hospitality sector. The fund buys and transforms existing hospitality assets, giving these properties a second life rather than building from the ground up. This approach pairs Golden Visa eligibility with exposure to physical hotel and tourism assets.

End-to-end advisory support

VIDA Capital provides advisory support across the full Golden Visa process, coordinating with your lawyers and other partners. The team helps you understand each step, organizes key information, and remains available for questions as your application progresses.

Sector insight and track record

VIDA Capital works with a management team that has deep experience in hospitality and fund management, as demonstrated by the VIDA Fund’s existing portfolio. Historical performance is not a guarantee of future results, but this background can help investors assess risk and strategy.

Secure residency in Portugal and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa by speaking with VIDA Capital about the VIDA Fund and your immigration planning.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Portugal Golden Visa Timeline

How long does the complete Portugal Golden Visa process take?

The Portugal Golden Visa process typically runs 12 to 18 months from first preparation to receiving your initial residency card. This period includes document collection, investment completion, AIMA review, biometrics, and card production, with exact timing depending on government workloads and file quality.

What are the main phases of the Golden Visa timeline?

The journey usually includes four phases: pre-application and investment, application submission and approval, residency maintenance and renewals for five years, and finally permanent residency and citizenship eligibility from year ten under the new law.

What happens if there are delays in processing?

Delays can result from AIMA backlogs, document clarification requests, or limited biometrics slots. While government timing is outside investor control, complete documentation and an experienced lawyer help reduce preventable delays.

How did the 2025 citizenship change affect Golden Visa holders?

The October 2025 reform extended the residency requirement for most Golden Visa investors to ten years before citizenship, while keeping a seven-year track for nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens. The change does not affect your ability to apply for permanent residency after five years.

Is there any way to accelerate the Golden Visa timeline?

Portugal does not offer official expedited processing for Golden Visa applications. The most effective way to keep the process on track is to prepare complete documentation, choose a suitable fund early, and work closely with a specialized lawyer.

Conclusion: Planning your Portugal Golden Visa strategy for 2026 and beyond

The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026 offers a structured, predictable path to residency in Portugal and, over time, to EU citizenship. The process centers on a qualifying fund investment, a 12–18 month application timeline, and a five-year period of maintaining your investment and minimal presence in Portugal.

Careful planning, clear expectations around costs and timelines, and strong legal and advisory support can help you and your family navigate each stage with confidence. For investors who see value in a European Plan B without relocation, the Portugal Golden Visa remains a notable option.