Golden Visa Portugal vs Greece: Complete EU Residency Guide

Key Takeaways

• Portugal’s Golden Visa now focuses on CMVM-regulated investment funds, while Greece centers on property purchases with varying minimum amounts by region.
• Portugal requires an average of seven days per year in-country, which supports a flexible “Plan B,” while Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes to qualify for citizenship.
• Portugal now generally requires 10 years of legal residence for citizenship (seven years for CPLP nationals and EU citizens), yet it remains one of the few European programs that does not require full relocation to work toward citizenship.
• Both programs grant residency only in Portugal or Greece and visa-free travel within Schengen, but only citizenship later grants broader EU rights; family members can often be included under clear, structured rules.
• VIDA Capital advises investors seeking Portugal’s fund route, connecting them with the VIDA Fund’s asset-backed hospitality investments. To explore your options, contact VIDA Capital.

The Quest for EU Residency: Portugal vs. Greece Golden Visa Overview

Many international investors seek EU residency for mobility, security, and a structured path toward long-term options in Europe. Portugal and Greece both offer Golden Visa programs, but their investment routes, residency expectations, and citizenship timelines differ in important ways.

Portugal now concentrates its Golden Visa program on regulated investment funds that channel capital into productive business activities. Greece maintains a property-focused approach with different thresholds by region. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program, which makes Portugal and Greece two of the main remaining European options for this type of residency-by-investment strategy.

Key comparison points include investment security, lifestyle flexibility, time required for citizenship, family coverage, and clarity of long-term rules. These factors help investors match each program to their objectives for mobility and capital preservation.

Comparison Table: Portugal vs. Greece Golden Visa at a Glance

Investment Opportunities: Asset-Backed Funds vs. Property

The investment structure is a major difference between Portugal and Greece. Portugal offers a regulated fund route that can diversify risk, while Greece focuses on direct property ownership and the related market exposure.

Portugal Golden Visa Investment Pathways

Portugal’s Golden Visa currently relies on CMVM-regulated investment funds with a minimum subscription of €500,000. These vehicles operate under clear regulatory oversight and must direct capital into qualifying Portuguese business activities.

VIDA Capital advises investors who wish to use the VIDA Fund for their Golden Visa. The VIDA Fund focuses on asset-backed hospitality investments across Portugal. The strategy gives existing hospitality assets a second life by acquiring underperforming hotels and similar assets, then upgrading and repositioning them into higher-margin operations.

This approach offers exposure to Portugal’s tourism growth while maintaining collateral in tangible assets. Portugal’s travel and tourism sector is projected to represent 22.6% of national GDP by 2035. The VIDA Fund operates as an integrated owner-operator, which supports active management of each hospitality asset throughout the holding period. Any reference to historical returns of the VIDA Fund should be treated as illustrative, as past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.

Investors who want a regulated, asset-backed route to Portuguese residency often view this fund structure as a practical balance between risk management and long-term growth potential.

Greece Golden Visa Investment Pathways

Greece bases its Golden Visa mainly on property acquisitions. Minimum thresholds currently range from €250,000 in some regions to €800,000 in high-demand areas such as parts of Athens and certain islands.

Direct property ownership can create concentration risk. Prices, rental demand, and liquidity vary across local markets, and exit timing can strongly influence overall results. Investors also remain directly responsible for maintenance, tenant issues, and transaction processes, unlike the delegated management model of a regulated fund.

For investors comfortable with managing a property portfolio and local market cycles, the Greek structure may be acceptable. Others may prefer the diversification and governance features found in Portuguese funds.

Residency Requirements & Path to Citizenship: Flexibility vs. Commitment

Time spent in-country and the route from residency to citizenship are central to any long-term plan. Portugal and Greece apply different rules that materially affect lifestyle planning.

Portugal’s Minimal Stay and Updated Citizenship Rules

Portugal allows Golden Visa holders to keep residency with an average of seven days per year of physical presence, calculated as 14 days every two years after the first year. This makes it possible to maintain a primary base elsewhere while building a long-term position in Portugal.

Golden Visa investors receive a temporary residence permit valid for two years, then renew it for two additional two-year periods, provided they maintain the investment and residency requirements. After five years, they may apply for permanent residency. Citizenship now follows a longer timetable. Portugal’s Parliament updated the nationality framework in October 2025, and most applicants must now complete 10 years of legal residence before qualifying for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens generally face a reduced requirement of seven years.

The new rules should apply to Golden Visa holders except those who submitted a citizenship application before the new law is officially published. Throughout this period, a basic A2 Portuguese language exam, a clean criminal record, and evidence of ties to Portugal remain part of the assessment.

Greece’s Residency and Citizenship Expectations

Greece does not impose a minimum number of days in-country to keep Golden Visa residency, yet the citizenship route is more demanding. Applicants must live in Greece for seven years, become tax residents, and meet standard naturalization conditions, including language and integration tests.

These requirements limit the Greek Golden Visa as a purely remote “Plan B” option, since citizenship depends on sustained presence and local tax obligations.

Broader Implications: Mobility, Tax, and Family Inclusion

Beyond investment and timelines, mobility rights, tax exposure, and family coverage often drive final decisions between Portugal and Greece.

Global Mobility and Schengen Access

Both the Portugal and Greece Golden Visas grant residency only in their respective countries. Holders may travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, which supports frequent travel across much of Europe for business or leisure.

Citizenship substantially expands these rights. Portuguese or Greek citizenship grants full EU freedom to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in any EU or Schengen Zone country. Portugal stands out as one of the only European programs that provides a path to citizenship without requiring relocation, provided investors meet its modest stay rules over the longer 10-year horizon.

Tax Considerations for Golden Visa Holders

Holding a Portugal Golden Visa does not, by itself, create Portuguese tax residency. Tax obligations generally arise when individuals spend extended periods in the country or relocate their primary economic interests. This allows many investors to maintain existing tax strategies while holding Portuguese residency.

Greece links its citizenship route to living in the country and paying taxes there for several years. Any investor considering the Greek program should review personal tax circumstances with qualified advisors in both jurisdictions involved.

Family Inclusion: Structuring a Multi-Generation Plan

Portugal offers broad family coverage. Main applicants can include a spouse or partner (with either a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship), dependent children, and dependent parents or in-laws who are over 65 or financially dependent. Children included in an application must remain full-time students, must not work, and must stay unmarried for the duration of the residency process until any Golden Visa-based application is complete.

Greece generally includes a spouse and dependent children, but offers more limited routes for parents and extended family. For families seeking a coherent, multi-generation residency and eventual citizenship strategy, Portugal often provides more flexibility.

Application Process & Associated Costs

Clarity on steps and costs helps investors plan and reduces friction during the process. Legal support is essential in both countries, but especially in Portugal, where documentation and timing are critical.

Navigating the Portugal Golden Visa Process with VIDA Capital

The Portugal Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months and involves several key stages, where having a dedicated Portuguese lawyer is essential:

• Obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and open a local bank account, which can often be done remotely with legal representation.
• Select and subscribe to a qualifying CMVM-regulated fund, such as the VIDA Fund, with a minimum investment of €500,000.
• Submit the online Golden Visa application with all supporting documents for the main applicant and eligible family members.
• Attend biometric appointments in Portugal once the application is pre-approved.
• Receive the two-year residence cards and keep them valid through ongoing investment and minimum stay compliance.

Government fees currently include an initial application fee of €618.60 per family member, card issuance of €6,179.40 per person, and renewal fees of €3,023.20 per person for each two-year period. Legal fees often range from €16,000 to €20,000 per family, and fund subscription fees vary; the VIDA Fund charges a 1% subscription fee.

As the approval card issuance usually takes about a year, most investors only complete one renewal during the five-year period before applying for permanent residency. VIDA Capital offers advisory and concierge-style coordination, working alongside specialised law firms to help investors navigate each step efficiently.

Greece Golden Visa Application Process and Expenses

Greece structures its application process around property acquisition. Investors must select a qualifying property, conduct due diligence on title and zoning, complete the purchase, and then file the residency application. Biometric appointments follow, and successful applicants receive residency cards tied to their property ownership.

Costs include government application and card fees, legal representation, and transaction-related expenses such as transfer taxes, registration, and notarial services. These charges come in addition to the minimum property investment thresholds.

Investors who want a structured comparison or a second opinion on how the Portugal route fits their situation can schedule a consultation with VIDA Capital.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Golden Visas

Is the Portugal Golden Visa program still active?

Yes. As of 2026, the Portugal Golden Visa remains active. The main route is a €500,000 subscription to CMVM-regulated investment funds, including vehicles like the VIDA Fund that focus on asset-backed hospitality investments. These structures must comply with Portuguese regulations and contribute to local economic activity.

Which Golden Visa offers better capital preservation: Portugal or Greece?

Portugal’s fund route tends to emphasize capital preservation through diversified, asset-backed funds that are professionally managed and regulated. The VIDA Fund, for example, concentrates on operating hospitality assets in Portugal and backs investor exposure with tangible properties, though historical results never guarantee future performance. Greece relies on individual property ownership, which exposes investors to local market cycles, liquidity challenges, and direct management responsibilities.

What are the key differences in citizenship between Portugal and Greece?

Portugal now generally requires 10 years of legal residence for citizenship, or seven years for CPLP nationals and EU citizens, along with a language test and integration requirements. Residency can be maintained with relatively low physical presence, making it possible to progress toward citizenship without full relocation. Greece requires seven years of living in the country as a tax resident, plus language and integration tests, so its route demands a more substantial lifestyle and tax commitments.

Can family members be included in both Golden Visa applications?

Yes. Both programs allow family inclusion, but Portugal offers wider coverage. Portugal can include a spouse or partner, dependent children, and dependent parents or in-laws who are either over 65 or economically dependent. Greece usually covers spouse and dependent children, with more limited options for parents. Families seeking multi-generation residency and eventual citizenship often find Portugal’s rules more accommodating.

Why work with VIDA Capital for the Portugal Golden Visa?

VIDA Capital is an advisory firm that connects investors with regulated, asset-backed investment opportunities that qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa, particularly through the VIDA Fund’s hospitality strategy. The team coordinates with specialized legal counsel, supports documentation and timelines, and maintains direct relationships with investors throughout the process. This structure helps investors align their residency objectives with a clear, professionally managed investment plan.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right European Strategy

Portugal and Greece both offer credible paths to European residency, but they serve different investor profiles. Portugal focuses on regulated investment funds, minimal stay requirements, and a longer yet flexible citizenship timeline that does not require relocation. Greece leans on direct property ownership and demands full-time residence and tax payment to reach citizenship.

For investors who prioritize asset-backed investments, diversified risk, modest physical presence requirements, and broad family inclusion, Portugal’s Golden Visa remains a strong candidate for a long-term European “Plan B” that can evolve into permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship under the updated rules.

Portugal continues to rank among the leading global residency-by-investment programs. The country also consistently appears near the top of global safety indexes, including a recent ranking as the 7th safest country worldwide.

VIDA Capital helps investors use the Portugal Golden Visa effectively by pairing them with the VIDA Fund’s hospitality portfolio and experienced legal partners. To explore whether this route aligns with your objectives for mobility, security, and structured EU access, contact VIDA Capital.