Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa provides a two-year temporary residence permit that can be renewed, leading to eligibility for permanent residency after five years of legal residence in Portugal.
- Civil law changes in October 2025 extended the citizenship timeline to 10 years of residence for most applicants, with a reduced seven-year requirement for nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens.
- Golden Visa residents must keep a qualifying €500,000 fund investment, meet a low stay requirement of 14 days every two years, and travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Portugal remains one of the few European countries that offers a path to citizenship without relocation, in contrast to countries like Greece and Spain, where long-term residency and citizenship require living there.
- Investors can work with VIDA Capital to access advisory support and the VIDA Fund for asset-backed hospitality investments that qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa by contacting the team here: Speak with a VIDA Capital advisor about your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.
What The Portugal Golden Visa Offers In 2026
Core Rules And Terminology
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that grants non-EU nationals a temporary residence permit, initially valid for two years. This permit allows holders to live, work, and study in Portugal while meeting a low physical presence requirement of 14 days in each two-year period. Permanent residency becomes available after five years of temporary residency, if the investment and stay rules are met.
Civil law changes passed in October 2025 extended the residence period required for citizenship. Most applicants now need 10 years of residence in Portugal before applying for citizenship, while nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens qualify after seven years. The Golden Visa, therefore, offers a staged journey: temporary residency, permanent residency, and then possible citizenship.
Why Portugal Appeals To Global Investors
Portugal combines stability, safety, and a growing tourism economy. Portugal ranked as the 7th safest country in the world in the Global Peace Index 2025. Tourism continues to expand, with 31 million visitors recorded in 2024 and tourism revenues above €27 billion.
Portugal will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to generate more than €800 million in economic impact. Forecasts from the World Travel & Tourism Council indicate that travel and tourism could reach around 22.6% of national GDP by 2035. These trends support demand for well-located hospitality assets.
Key Benefits For Families
Golden Visa holders gain 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. Residency rights apply only in Portugal, not across the European Union. The program allows inclusion of your spouse or partner, dependent children, and dependent parents in one application.
Document-wise, couples can present a marriage certificate or other proof of a long-term relationship. Children included in the application must be full-time students, financially dependent, and not working. They also cannot marry at any point during the residency program until after the Golden Visa process is complete.
The low stay requirement of 14 days in every two-year period is attractive for investors who want a “Plan B” without relocating to Portugal.
Discuss how the Portugal Golden Visa could fit into your family’s long-term plan with VIDA Capital.
The Golden Visa Residence Journey: From Temporary To Permanent
Years 1–2: Initial Temporary Residence Permit
The journey starts once the Portuguese authorities approve your Golden Visa application and issue your first residence card, valid for two years. You must invest at least €500,000 in an eligible investment fund and keep this investment active. You also must spend at least 14 days in Portugal during this two-year period.
The full Golden Visa process, from initial application to receiving the first residence card, usually spans 12 to 18 months. A Portuguese lawyer is essential during this phase to prepare documentation, file the application, and represent you before the authorities.
Years 3–4: First Renewal
Near the end of the initial two-year period, you renew your temporary residence for another two years. Renewal requires:
- Proof that your qualifying investment, such as participation in the VIDA Fund, is still in place
- Evidence that you met the 14-day minimum stay in Portugal
- Updated criminal record checks and biometric data
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.
Years 5–6: Final Temporary Period Before Permanent Residency
Golden Visa holders normally complete a further two-year period of temporary residency before they can apply for permanent residency. During this time, you continue to maintain your investment and meet the 14-day stay requirement. Your lawyer coordinates updated documents, renewals if needed, and compliance checks.
Permanent Residency After Five Years
After five years of legal residence under the Golden Visa, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. Permanent residency removes the need for further Golden Visa renewals and offers stronger long-term security, while still requiring that you maintain residence in Portugal.
Permanent residents can live, work, and study in Portugal, and keep visa-free Schengen travel for short stays. Full rights to live, work, and study across the EU and Schengen countries become available only once you obtain Portuguese citizenship.
Citizenship: Legal Residence Length And New Rules
Longer Citizenship Timelines From October 2025
Legislation approved in October 2025 changed the citizenship framework. Most non-EU nationals now need to reside in Portugal for 10 years before they can apply for Portuguese citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens can apply after seven years.
The new rules apply to Golden Visa holders unless they submitted their citizenship application before the new law was published. The law distinguishes between maintaining residency for Golden Visa purposes, with 14 days every two years, and actually residing in Portugal for citizenship, which requires much closer ties and presence.
Key Citizenship Requirements
Candidates for Portuguese citizenship must demonstrate:
- Legal residence in Portugal for the required 7- or 10-year period
- A2-level Portuguese language skills
- Clean criminal records and no outstanding tax debts in Portugal
- Evidence of integration and ties to the Portuguese community
Investment through the Golden Visa must be maintained throughout the residency period that leads to citizenship.
Citizenship Benefits For Families
The Henley Passport Index for 2025 shows the Portuguese passport providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 192 destinations. Citizens can live, work, and study in any EU or Schengen Zone country and access public healthcare and education in those states.
Portugal is currently one of the only countries in Europe that offers access to citizenship without requiring you to relocate there during the residency phase. This sets it apart from countries such as Greece, which requires at least seven years of living there and paying taxes for citizenship, and Spain, where the Golden Visa program has been discontinued.
Using Investment Funds To Qualify: How The VIDA Fund Fits
The €500,000 Fund Investment Rule
Program changes in October 2023 confirmed that only specific investment fund routes qualify for the Golden Visa and that personal properties are no longer eligible. The minimum qualifying investment is €500,000 in an approved fund that meets all legal and regulatory criteria.
Why Asset-Backed Hospitality Investments
Asset-backed strategies in Portugal’s hospitality sector give investors exposure to physical hotel assets, which can retain underlying value through different market cycles. Portugal’s hospitality market remains fragmented, with many independently owned assets that can benefit from professional management and repositioning.
The VIDA Fund focuses on acquiring existing hospitality assets and giving them a second life through light refurbishment, modern design, and operational improvements. The strategy aims to increase profitability while helping renew Portugal’s tourism infrastructure. The team behind the fund has collectively managed more than €4 billion in assets and completed over 100 private equity transactions. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Owner-Operator Approach And Fees
The VIDA Fund uses an owner-operator model. The fund acquires hospitality assets, then manages and improves them directly. This structure helps align decision-making with long-term performance and clearer reporting for investors in the fund.
The fund charges a 1% subscription fee on the invested amount, paid to the fund manager. This supports due diligence, acquisition work, and ongoing asset management.
Request details on the VIDA Fund’s Golden Visa eligibility, risk profile, and fee structure from a VIDA Capital advisor. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Costs, Legal Support, And Program Comparison
Government And Legal Costs To Plan For
Key government fees currently include:
- €618.60 per family member for the initial application
- €6,179.40 per family member for each residence card issuance
- €3,023.20 per family member for each renewal, with most families likely needing only one renewal due to card issuance timelines
- €250 per family member for the citizenship application
Legal representation for a family often ranges between €16,000 and €20,000, depending on complexity and family size. A specialized Portuguese lawyer guides you through documentation, application submission, residence card renewals, and ongoing compliance, and is essential for a smooth Golden Visa process.
Portugal Versus Other European Options
|
Feature |
Portugal Golden Visa |
Greece Program |
Spain Program |
|
Minimum Investment |
€500,000 (investment funds) |
€250,000 (personal properties) |
Program discontinued |
|
Stay Requirement To Keep Residency |
14 days every two years |
Residence in Greece required to keep long-term residency |
Program discontinued |
|
Path To Citizenship |
10 years residence for most applicants, 7 years for CPLP and EU nationals |
7 years living in Greece and paying taxes |
10 years physical residence through standard immigration routes |
|
Schengen Mobility As Resident |
Visa-free Schengen travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period |
Visa-free Schengen travel |
Visa-free Schengen travel, outside the former Golden Visa |
Frequently Asked Questions On Legal Residence Length
How long until permanent residency through the Portugal Golden Visa?
You can apply for permanent residency after five years of legal residence under the Golden Visa, as long as you keep your qualifying investment and meet all stay and compliance rules during that period. Application processing then takes several months.
What is the minimum stay requirement to keep my Golden Visa active?
You must spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year residence period. These days can be consecutive or spread across multiple trips. Authorities may request evidence such as passport stamps during renewals.
Can my family gain residency and citizenship with me?
Your spouse or partner, dependent children, and dependent parents can be included in your Golden Visa application. Children must remain full-time students, financially dependent, and unmarried during the entire residency program. Family members follow the same timeline as the main applicant for permanent residency and citizenship.
How does the Golden Visa help with citizenship if the timeline is now 10 years?
The Golden Visa gives a structured way to secure and maintain legal residence in Portugal with low physical stay requirements. You can move from temporary to permanent residency after five years, then continue to build up the residence period needed for citizenship under the 7- or 10-year rules, with legal and tax support tailored to your situation.
Conclusion: Planning Your Portugal Golden Visa With VIDA Capital
The Portugal Golden Visa remains a practical way to secure residency in an EU country, with a clear route to permanent residency after five years and to citizenship over a longer 7- or 10-year horizon. Understanding the legal residence length, stay requirements, and new citizenship rules is essential for effective family planning.
VIDA Capital focuses on guiding investors through this journey, from fund selection to coordination with Portuguese legal counsel. The VIDA Fund offers an asset-backed approach in Portugal’s hospitality sector, giving existing assets a second life while helping investors meet Golden Visa criteria. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
