Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa offers residency in Portugal with a low physical stay requirement of 14 days in every two-year period, which suits globally mobile individuals.
- The program starts with a two-year temporary residency card, renewable for two further two-year periods, after which you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal.
- A new framework introduced in October 2025 means most applicants now need 10 years of residency in Portugal before applying for citizenship, while CPLP and EU nationals usually need seven years.
- Portugal remains one of the only European countries offering a path to citizenship without relocation, while Greece requires seven years of living there as a tax resident, and Spain has ended its Golden Visa program.
- VIDA Capital is an advisory firm that helps structure eligible fund investments in Portugal’s hospitality sector and coordinates with legal partners on Golden Visa applications; contact VIDA Capital to discuss your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.
Understanding Portugal Golden Visa Residency in 2026
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment route designed for individuals who want a secure Plan B in Portugal without relocating full-time. It grants the right to live, study, and work in Portugal and to travel visa-free across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while you maintain your main base elsewhere.
The process begins with a temporary residency permit valid for two years. You then renew this permit twice for additional two-year periods, provided you meet the legal requirements. After five years of temporary residency, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal while keeping the same low physical presence obligations.
A qualifying investment of at least €500,000 into eligible investment funds remains central to the program. You must maintain this investment throughout the residency period to keep your status and to support future permanent residency or citizenship applications.
Travel And Absence Rules For Golden Visa Temporary Residency
Minimum Stay Requirements For Golden Visa Holders
The Portugal Golden Visa requires you to spend at least 14 days in Portugal during every two-year residency period. Authorities usually confirm this through passport stamps and border records, so your physical stays must be clearly documented.
This average of seven days per year allows you to keep your global lifestyle, run international businesses, and still maintain your Portuguese residency path.
How Absences Affect Residency Card Renewals
Each renewal of your Golden Visa card involves confirming that you have:
- Spent at least 14 days in Portugal during the previous two-year period
- Maintained the qualifying €500,000 fund investment
- Provided updated documents, such as clean criminal record certificates and new 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, which simplifies the process for many investors.
Golden Visa Residency And Portuguese Tax Status
Golden Visa residency by itself does not automatically make you a Portuguese tax resident. Tax residency typically depends on factors such as spending more than 183 days per year in Portugal or having your primary home there. Many investors keep their existing tax arrangements while holding a Golden Visa, but tailored advice from a tax professional is essential.
Permanent Residency Via Golden Visa: Absence Flexibility
After five years of temporary residency, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. This status maintains your right to live, work, and study in Portugal with continued flexibility on absences, while you keep meeting the minimum stay requirement and maintain the qualifying investment if required under the rules that apply at the time.
Permanent residents continue to enjoy visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, together with stronger long-term security for you and your family in Portugal.
Portugal Citizenship In 2026: Longer Timelines And Integration
The New 10-Year Citizenship Requirement
Portugal’s Parliament approved a new framework in October 2025 that extended the residency period required for citizenship applications. Most applicants now need 10 years of legal residency in Portugal before qualifying to apply for citizenship, while nationals of CPLP countries and EU citizens generally have a reduced requirement of seven years.
This new law should apply to Golden Visa holders unless they have already submitted a citizenship application before the law is published. Time spent under both temporary and permanent residency counts toward the total, so the initial five Golden Visa years contribute to this longer citizenship timeline.
Physical Presence And Ties To Portugal
The Golden Visa keeps a low stay requirement for residency, but long-term citizenship planning often benefits from stronger links to Portugal. These connections can include learning Portuguese, spending more time in the country, and integrating into local life, which helps demonstrate genuine ties when you later apply for citizenship.
Best Practices To Stay Compliant As A Golden Visa Holder
- Use clear travel records. Precise record-keeping for entry and exit dates helps you prove that you met the 14-day presence requirement in each two-year period.
- Schedule Portugal visits early. Short, planned trips for business, property management, or vacations make it easy to accumulate your required days without last-minute pressure.
- Engage an experienced immigration lawyer. A Portuguese lawyer should guide you through each step, from application and biometric submissions to renewals and permanent residency, helping you avoid errors and adapt to regulatory changes.
- Monitor your fund investment. Regular checks with your advisor confirm that your fund position continues to meet Golden Visa rules throughout your residency period.
Why Portugal’s Golden Visa Stands Out In Europe
Portugal Golden Visa vs. Other Portuguese Visas
Other Portuguese residency options, such as income-based or work-based visas, usually require you to live in Portugal for most of the year. The Golden Visa only requires 14 days in each two-year period, which suits investors who want a strong foothold in Portugal while remaining globally mobile.
Portugal vs. Other European Investment Programs
Portugal is currently one of the only European countries that offers a path to citizenship without requiring relocation. Spain has closed its Golden Visa program, and Greece requires you to live there for seven years as a tax resident to qualify for citizenship and to maintain long-term residency status, which reduces flexibility compared with Portugal’s rules.
|
Program |
Initial Temporary Residency |
Permanent / Long-Term Residency |
Citizenship |
|
Portugal Golden Visa |
14 days per 2 years |
Low stay requirement continues |
10 years of residency for most applicants (after Oct 2025) |
|
Regular Portugal PR |
N/A |
Higher physical presence may apply |
Subject to standard residency and integration rules |
|
Greece Golden Visa |
Minimal presence |
Living in Greece supports long-term residency |
Requires 7 years of living in Greece as a tax resident |
|
Spain Golden Visa |
No longer available |
N/A |
N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions About Portugal Golden Visa Travel And Absence
What if I do not meet the 14-day stay requirement?
Failure to meet the minimum stay requirement can put your Golden Visa renewal at risk, which may lead to loss of temporary residency and impact your path to permanent residency and citizenship. Immediate advice from your immigration lawyer is important if you expect a shortfall in days.
Do days in Portugal affect my Schengen 90/180-day limit?
Time spent in Portugal as a Golden Visa resident counts as residency in Portugal, not as a short-term Schengen visit. The 90 days in any 180-day period rule continues to apply to the time you spend in other Schengen countries outside Portugal.
Do family members need to meet presence rules individually?
Each family member included in your Golden Visa application must independently satisfy the 14-day presence requirement in every two-year period to keep their own residency status valid.
Conclusion: Using The Portugal Golden Visa Effectively With VIDA Capital
The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026 offers a rare combination of low physical presence requirements, long-term residency security in Portugal, and a defined path to eventual citizenship under the updated 10-year framework. Clear planning around travel, absence, and investment maintenance is essential to protect this opportunity.
VIDA Capital acts as an independent advisory partner, helping you align qualifying fund investments in Portugal’s hospitality sector with robust legal support for your Golden Visa journey. Contact VIDA Capital to design a Portugal Golden Visa strategy that fits your mobility, residency, and long-term citizenship goals.
