Key Takeaways
- Portugal’s Golden Visa grants a two-year temporary residency permit, typically followed by one renewal, with a minimum stay requirement of 14 days in Portugal during each two-year period.
- After five years of temporary residency and continued compliance, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal, which ends the legal obligation to maintain the qualifying investment.
- New rules passed in October 2025 require most applicants to complete 10 years of residency in Portugal before applying for citizenship, while nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens have a seven-year requirement.
- Portugal remains one of the only options in Europe that offers access to citizenship without relocation, while countries like Greece require seven years of living there, and Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program.
- VIDA Capital helps investors use regulated investment funds such as the VIDA Fund to meet Golden Visa rules and invites you to discuss your plans through a direct consultation: Contact VIDA Capital.
Understanding Portugal Golden Visa Renewal Conditions for Temporary Residency
Portugal structures the Golden Visa around a temporary residency permit that is valid for two years and can be renewed. This permit allows you to live, work, and study in Portugal and to travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
The core residency requirement is a minimum of 14 days spent in Portugal during each two-year permit period. This low physical presence requirement makes the Golden Visa suitable for investors who prefer not to relocate. A qualified Portuguese immigration lawyer is essential for handling each step of the application and renewal process and for monitoring changing rules.
Your renewal journey usually involves one main renewal within the five-year period, because approval card issuance often takes close to a year. Each renewal requires proof that you have maintained your qualifying investment, updated criminal record certificates, valid passports, biometrics, and evidence that you met the 14-day stay rule.
Government fees currently stand at €3,023.20 per renewal for each family member. Legal fees vary by firm and family size and often fall in the €16,000 to €20,000 range for the full process. To keep Golden Visa status, you must maintain a qualifying investment of at least €500,000 in eligible investment funds, such as the VIDA Fund, which focuses on acquiring existing hospitality assets in Portugal and giving these properties a second life. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
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, which simplifies ongoing planning while keeping the same investment and presence rules.
Discuss your renewal strategy and fund-based Golden Visa options with VIDA Capital.
The Pathway from Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency in Portugal
Completion of five years of temporary residency provides the right to apply for permanent residency in Portugal. This step improves long-term security for you and your family while keeping your life base wherever you choose.
Eligibility for permanent residency depends on maintaining your investment during the five-year period, meeting the 14-day stay requirement for each two-year permit, and keeping a clean criminal record. A Portuguese lawyer will coordinate the application and ensure that your previous renewals and documentation remain compliant.
Permanent residents can live, work, and study in Portugal without needing further Golden Visa renewals and keep access to public healthcare and education in Portugal. Visa-free travel within Schengen for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period remains available. Once permanent residency is granted, the legal requirement to maintain the original qualifying investment ends, although some investors choose to remain in funds such as the VIDA Fund as part of a wider capital preservation strategy. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
This permanent residency applies only to Portugal but serves as an important platform for a later citizenship application under the new 10-year residency framework.
Comparing Paths to EU Citizenship: Portugal Golden Visa vs. Other Programs
Portugal’s Updated Citizenship Path
Portugal’s Parliament passed amendments in October 2025 that extended the general residency requirement for citizenship to 10 years, counted from the date of your first residence permit. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens benefit from a reduced seven-year requirement. The new rules should apply to all Golden Visa holders except those who have already submitted their citizenship application before the new law is published.
Portugal remains one of the only European options that offer a route to citizenship without relocation. Golden Visa holders still need to meet program rules, including the 14-day stay requirement every two years, but they are not required to reside in Portugal full-time to maintain residency.
Citizenship brings a Portuguese passport and full EU rights. After naturalization, you can live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in any EU or Schengen Zone country, alongside broad visa-free travel.
Comparative Analysis of European Programs
|
Feature |
Portugal Golden Visa |
Greece Golden Visa |
Cyprus Investment Program* |
|
Investment type |
Investment fund (from €500,000) |
Property investments and other options |
Not applicable (program suspended) |
|
Minimum stay requirement |
14 days every 2 years |
No minimum stay for residency |
Not applicable |
|
Citizenship timeline |
10 years (7 for CPLP/EU nationals) |
7 years of living in Greece with tax residency |
Not applicable |
|
Need to relocate for citizenship |
No relocation required |
Relocation and tax residency required |
Not applicable |
*The Cyprus Investment Program has been suspended and is included for illustrative comparison only.
Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program for investors. Greece keeps a residency-by-investment route, but applicants seeking citizenship must live there for seven years and pay taxes as residents. Portugal stands out as it currently offers access to citizenship without the need to relocate, while keeping physical presence requirements low.
Navigating Policy Changes: Recent Amendments and Future Outlook
Golden Visa rules in Europe continue to change, and the October 2025 amendments in Portugal marked a shift from a five-year to a ten-year residency requirement for most citizenship applicants. This adjustment has long-term implications for succession planning and second-passport strategies.
The core structure of Portugal’s program remains stable. A minimum investment of €500,000 in eligible investment funds continues as the primary route for Golden Visa eligibility, and the program usually spans 12 to 18 months from initial application to permit issuance. Regulated investment funds play a central role in how Portugal attracts international capital while maintaining oversight.
VIDA Capital acts as an advisory partner, helping investors coordinate with experienced Portuguese immigration lawyers, select qualifying funds, and keep documentation aligned with current regulations. The VIDA Fund operates under Portuguese regulation and focuses on hospitality assets, which gives applicants both program compliance and exposure to a defined segment of the Portuguese economy. The VIDA Fund does not build new hospitality assets; it buys existing properties and gives these assets a second life through operational and physical improvements.
Speak with VIDA Capital about structuring a Golden Visa strategy that reflects the latest 2026 rules.
The Long-Term Value of Portugal’s Golden Visa for Families
Portugal’s Golden Visa continues to appeal to families who want a flexible residency option in Europe. The program allows qualifying family members to live, work, and study in Portugal, includes a low stay requirement of 14 days every two years, and provides visa-free Schengen travel for short stays.
Family inclusion covers a spouse or qualifying partner, economically dependent children, and qualifying parents or in-laws. For older children, eligibility normally requires full-time study, financial dependence, and no employment or marriage at any time during the residency program until the Golden Visa application for that child is complete. For partners, you can submit either a marriage certificate or other accepted proof of relationship, such as documentation for a common-law partnership.
Investment in the VIDA Fund gives exposure to Portugal’s hospitality sector, which is supported by strong tourism numbers, including 31 million visitors in 2024 and tourism revenues of around €27 billion. The fund focuses on acquiring underperforming hospitality assets and giving them a second life through focused management and upgrades. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Frequently Asked Questions on Portugal Golden Visa Renewal and Expiration
What are the current minimum stay requirements for Portugal Golden Visa renewal?
Golden Visa holders must spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year permit period. These days can be consecutive or split across multiple trips, as long as the total meets 14 days before each renewal.
How do the recent changes affect the timeline for Portugal Golden Visa citizenship applications?
Most Golden Visa holders now need 10 years of residency from the date of the first residence permit before applying for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens have a reduced seven-year requirement. The new law should not affect applicants who submit their citizenship requests before the law is formally published.
Is the qualifying investment still required after obtaining permanent residency?
Once permanent residency is granted after five years, the legal obligation to maintain the original Golden Visa investment ends. Some investors choose to keep their investment in funds such as the VIDA Fund as part of a broader portfolio strategy, understanding that historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Can dependents also apply for permanent residency and citizenship?
Family members included from the start of the Golden Visa application follow the same residency timeline as the main applicant. If they maintain valid permits, meet stay requirements, and keep the same level of compliance, they can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years (or 7 years for eligible nationalities).
What happens if a Golden Visa renewal deadline is missed?
Missing a renewal deadline can interrupt your residency and delay or even block progression toward permanent residency and citizenship. Ongoing coordination with your Portuguese lawyer and advisory partners such as VIDA Capital, helps you track key dates, collect documents early, and file renewals in good time.
Conclusion: Structuring a Clear Path From Golden Visa to Citizenship
Portugal’s Golden Visa in 2026 offers a defined route from temporary residency to permanent residency and, under the updated rules, to citizenship after a 10-year residency period for most applicants. The program combines low physical presence requirements with a fund-based investment model that fits many international investors.
VIDA Capital supports this process as an advisory firm, connecting investors with the VIDA Fund and specialist lawyers who handle each procedural step. The VIDA Fund focuses on buying existing hospitality assets in Portugal and giving them a second life, aligning Golden Visa compliance with exposure to a key sector of the Portuguese economy. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
