Portugal Golden Visa Fees: Your Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Key Takeaways

• Portugal’s Golden Visa grants Portuguese residency, with visa-free travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and can create a future path to Portuguese and then EU citizenship.
• Golden Visa costs fall into three main groups: government fees, legal fees, and investment fund fees linked to the mandatory €500,000 fund subscription.
• Government fees include application, residency card issuance, renewals, and an optional citizenship application fee once the extended residence timelines are met.
• Legal support is essential to navigate AIMA rules, prepare documents, and manage the process, which usually spans 12 to 18 months from application to card issuance.
• VIDA Capital can help you understand total costs, select Golden Visa-eligible funds such as the VIDA Fund, and connect you with specialized legal partners. Contact VIDA Capital to discuss your Portugal Golden Visa plan.

Understanding Portugal Golden Visa Fees: An Overview

How the Portugal Golden Visa Works and Why Fees Apply

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU nationals to obtain Portuguese residency through a qualifying investment. The program can create a future path to Portuguese citizenship, and later EU citizenship, once residency time and language requirements are met under the current 10-years rules.

Fees arise at several stages. Government fees cover application processing and residency card issuance. Legal fees cover specialist advice and representation. Investment-related fees cover the setup and management of your chosen eligible investment fund throughout your residency period.

Key Fee Categories You Will Encounter

Golden Visa costs sit in three main categories:

• Government fees for application, residency cards, and renewals
• Legal fees for document preparation and representation
• Investment-related fees, including subscription and management charges on your €500,000 minimum fund investment

Clear knowledge of each group helps you build an accurate budget for your Portugal Golden Visa journey.

Secure Portuguese residency and a potential path to future EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa. VIDA Capital provides structured advisory support focused on asset-backed fund investments linked to Portugal’s hospitality sector.

Government Fees for Your Portugal Golden Visa Residency Card

Initial Application Submission Fee

The first government fee is due when your Golden Visa application is submitted online. The current fee is approximately €618.60 per person when submitted via the digital portal. The same fee applies to each family member, including your spouse and eligible dependents.

Residency Card Issuance Fee

At your biometrics appointment, you pay the residency card issuance fee. This fee is approximately €6,179.40 per person for digital processing. Each person who receives a Golden Visa residency card must pay this amount. The fee covers production and issuance of your first two-year temporary residency permit.

Residency Card Renewal Fees

Your Golden Visa residency card is valid for two years at a time and must be renewed while you maintain your investment and minimum stay requirement of 14 days in Portugal every two years. Each renewal currently costs approximately €3,090.40 per person when processed digitally. 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 before applying for permanent residency.

Citizenship Application Fee (Optional, After Longer Residence Periods)

Pursuing Portuguese citizenship is optional and only possible after meeting residence and language requirements. The citizenship application fee is currently about €250 per applicant. Portugal’s Parliament approved a new framework in October 2025 that extended the required residence period to 10 years for most applicants. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens face a reduced residence requirement of seven years. The new rules should apply to Golden Visa holders unless they submitted a citizenship application before the new law is published.

Calculating Government Fees: An Example for a Family

Example Calculation for Main Applicant and Spouse

This example shows estimated government fees for a couple during the first five years.

Important: These amounts are estimates and may change with government updates, so you should confirm exact figures with your lawyer or official sources.

Understanding Legal Fees for Your Golden Visa Application

Why Legal Expertise is Essential

The Golden Visa process is document-heavy and involves strict rules from AIMA, the Portuguese immigration authority. Specialized immigration lawyers can coordinate the full application, respond to authorities, and reduce the risk of delays or refusals. Having a lawyer to accompany you in each step of the Portugal Golden Visa process is essential.

Services Covered by Legal Fees

Legal fees usually cover:

• Initial eligibility review and strategy
• Portuguese tax number (NIF) acquisition
• Bank account opening
• Document collection, certification, and translation
• Online application submission and follow-up with AIMA
• Support before and after biometrics appointments

Many of these steps can be handled remotely with power of attorney, which reduces the number of in-person visits you need to make to Portugal.

Estimating Legal Costs

Comprehensive legal support for a family often ranges from €6,000 to €12,000, depending on family size and case complexity. Fees vary by firm and service scope. VIDA Capital can introduce you to experienced Golden Visa law firms that focus on transparent pricing.

Investment-Related Fees: Beyond the €500,000 Investment

The Mandatory €500,000 Investment

Current rules require a minimum investment of €500,000 into eligible investment or venture capital funds. Personal properties in Portugal are no longer an eligible route for the Golden Visa.

VIDA Capital advises clients on asset-backed fund options in the Portuguese hospitality sector. The VIDA Fund buys and transforms existing hospitality assets, giving them a second life rather than building new projects.

Fund Subscription Fees

Subscription fees are paid when you commit capital to a Golden Visa-eligible fund. Many funds charge between 1% and 3% of the invested amount. The VIDA Fund charges a subscription fee of 1% of the total investment, paid to the fund manager, which places it at the lower end of the typical market range.

Annual Fund Management Fees

Ongoing fund management fees commonly range from 1% to 2% per year. These charges support portfolio management, asset monitoring, and reporting. Your fund must stay compliant with Golden Visa rules for the full residency period, so consistent professional management is important.

Other Potential Fund-Related Fees

Some funds also charge performance fees, often 10% to 20% of profits, and may apply exit fees when you redeem your investment. The VIDA Fund follows a transparent fee policy and provides a clear schedule of all charges before you subscribe, so you understand net return expectations. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Comprehensive Fee Overview: Budgeting for Your Portugal Golden Visa

Bringing All Costs Together

Understanding all three fee categories gives a realistic picture of the total cost of a Portugal Golden Visa. Your budget should cover fixed government charges, professional support, and fund fees linked to your investment.

Estimated Total Costs for a Typical Application

Important: These ranges are illustrative and may differ based on your family profile, chosen fund, and legal partner, so you should confirm detailed budgets with your advisors.

Speak with VIDA Capital for a tailored Golden Visa cost breakdown and advisory support.

Key Considerations and Best Practices for Golden Visa Applicants

The Value of Expert Legal Support

Specialist legal guidance protects you from avoidable errors, missing documents, or timing issues that can extend the process. A well-managed application helps keep the overall Golden Visa timeline in the typical 12 to 18 month range from initial submission to card issuance.

Prioritizing Transparency to Avoid Hidden Fees

You benefit from working with advisors who set out every cost in writing, including government fees, legal fees, fund subscription charges, and management fees. VIDA Capital emphasizes clear explanations of VIDA Fund costs and government-related expenses so you can plan with confidence.

Budgeting for Contingencies and Unforeseen Costs

Many applicants reserve an extra 10% to 15% of their estimated budget to cover unexpected costs. Government schedules may change and you may need extra legal work, translations, or travel. A contingency buffer helps keep your plan on track.

Conclusion: Building a Confident Path to Portugal Golden Visa Residency

A clear view of Golden Visa fees allows you to approach Portuguese residency with realistic expectations. Government charges, legal fees, and fund costs add to the core €500,000 investment, but structured planning helps you manage each stage.

Portugal’s Golden Visa remains a competitive option among European residency programs. Spain has closed its Golden Visa route, and Greece requires at least seven years of residence and tax presence to reach citizenship. Portugal still allows you to maintain residency with short stays of 14 days every two years and to progress toward citizenship over a longer 10-year residence period under the new framework, without full relocation.

The Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal, not across the European Union, but it does allow visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once you obtain Portuguese citizenship, you gain the broader rights to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across the EU and Schengen Zone.

Contact VIDA Capital to map out your Portugal Golden Visa budget and investment strategy. The team focuses on advisory support and fund solutions linked to hospitality assets that align with Golden Visa rules.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portugal Golden Visa Fees

Are all these fees paid upfront?

Golden Visa fees are spread across the process. You first pay the application submission fee. Card issuance fees are paid at biometrics, and renewal fees arise every two years while you keep your permit active. Fund subscription fees are usually paid when you invest, and fund management fees are charged each year during the life of the investment.

Do Golden Visa fees apply to all family members?

Most government fees, including application, card issuance, and renewals, are charged per person. Legal fees are often quoted for the full family, but may increase with additional dependents. Fund subscription and management fees usually apply to the total investment amount, not per person, which often makes family applications more efficient from an investment-fee perspective.

Is medical insurance an additional fee I need to budget for?

Proof of Portuguese health insurance is no longer a specific requirement for the Golden Visa application. Many applicants still choose to hold international or local health coverage for practical reasons during stays in Portugal, but it is not a formal program condition.

Why do published fees vary across sources?

Differences arise because government fees can change and some sources use older figures or quote amounts for non-digital submissions. Legal and investment fees also vary by provider and service level. You should always verify current government charges and professional fees with your chosen lawyer and advisors before applying.

Can I expect any fee changes in 2026?

Portugal can adjust official fees over time and may continue refining Golden Visa rules after the October 2025 citizenship framework changes. Applicants who monitor AIMA updates and work with experienced legal counsel are better placed to react quickly to any fee updates that affect future applications or renewals.