Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa grants Portuguese residency, with the right to live, study, and work in Portugal, and visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- The typical timeframe from application submission to receiving the first residence card is 12 to 18 months, so early planning with a specialized Portuguese lawyer is essential.
- Residence cards are valid for two years, and because approval card issuance usually takes about a year, most investors complete only one renewal before reaching the five-year point needed for permanent residency.
- Portugal now requires 10 years of legal residency before most applicants can pursue citizenship, while nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens may qualify after seven years.
- VIDA Capital advises investors on Golden Visa-eligible fund investments through the VIDA Fund and coordinates with specialized lawyers, and you can request support through the VIDA Capital contact page.
Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa: Your Path to Portuguese Residency
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU investors to secure Portuguese residency through a qualified investment of €500,000 into eligible regulated funds. Current rules focus on fund investments, and acquiring personal properties is no longer an eligible route for new applicants.
Golden Visa residency allows you to live, study, and work in Portugal, while keeping your primary base elsewhere if you prefer. You also gain visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, although residency rights apply only in Portugal. The minimum physical stay requirement is 14 days in Portugal in each two-year period.
Family members can usually be included, such as a spouse or common-law partner with either a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship, dependent children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried, and parents or in-laws who are either over 65 or financially dependent on the main applicant.
Starting Your Application: From Investment To First Residence Card
Pre-Application Essentials With Legal Support
Selecting an experienced Portuguese immigration lawyer is a critical first step. VIDA Capital can introduce you to trusted law firms that focus on Golden Visa clients and understand current AIMA procedures.
Your lawyer typically obtains your Portuguese tax number (NIF) and helps you open a Portuguese bank account, both of which can usually be handled remotely. After that, you choose and subscribe to a qualifying fund investment of at least €500,000, such as the VIDA Fund, which buys and transforms existing hospitality assets in Portugal’s tourism sector, giving those properties a second life while meeting Golden Visa eligibility rules.
Online Application Submission And Pre-Approval
Your lawyer submits your online Golden Visa application for you and any eligible family members, uploading the required documentation and paying the initial government fees. AIMA, formerly SEF, reviews the file and, once satisfied, issues a pre-approval and invites you to schedule an in-person biometrics appointment in Portugal.
Ongoing AIMA modernization efforts and recent government measures have helped reduce historic backlogs, with applications submitted in mid-2025 already receiving biometrics slots in early 2026.
Biometrics Appointment And First Residence Card
The biometrics appointment takes place in Portugal and includes fingerprints, photographs, and verification of original documents. You also confirm payment of the residence card issuance fee.
After biometrics, AIMA issues the first temporary residence card, which is valid for two years. 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. The official residency period for Golden Visa holders now begins when the first card is issued.
Renewing Your Golden Visa Residence Card To Maintain Status
The First Renewal (Around Year 2)
The first renewal confirms that you have maintained your qualifying investment and met the minimum 14 days of physical presence in Portugal over the previous two years. Your lawyer submits the renewal application, you provide updated criminal records, and you attend a new biometrics appointment.
The Second Renewal (If Required)
Depending on your individual timing, a second renewal may be required before you complete five years of temporary residency. The same core requirements apply, so consistent documentation of your investment and travel days in Portugal simplifies this stage.
Transition To Permanent Residency (After 5 Years)
After five years of legal temporary residency, counting from the issue date of your first residence card, you can apply for permanent residency. You must still meet the minimum stay and investment maintenance rules. The Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal only, although you continue to benefit from short-stay visa-free access throughout the Schengen Area.
Path To Portuguese Citizenship: Understanding The Current Framework
In October 2025, Portugal’s Parliament approved a new framework that set a 10-year legal residency requirement for citizenship for most applicants. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens benefit from a reduced requirement of seven years.
This new framework is expected to apply to Golden Visa investors, except for those who submitted their citizenship applications before the law was formally published. Citizenship also involves language and integrity checks, so legal guidance remains important at this stage.
Portugal remains one of the only European jurisdictions where investors can progress to citizenship without relocating full-time. Spain has closed its Golden Visa program, and Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes for long-term residency and citizenship, which increases Portugal’s appeal as a flexible Plan B.
Managing Delays In The Golden Visa Process
Common Factors Affecting Timelines
Several variables can extend or shorten your Golden Visa timeline:
- AIMA workload, backlogs, and the pace of internal modernization.
- Completeness and accuracy of personal, financial, and family documentation.
- Complex family situations, such as adult dependent children or financially dependent parents.
- Legal changes, including how the five-year residency period and the 10-year citizenship clock are counted.
Experienced legal counsel helps interpret new rules, avoid avoidable errors, and keep your expectations realistic at each stage.
The Value Of Expert Advisory
Specialized lawyers handle submissions, communication with AIMA, and interpretation of evolving regulations. VIDA Capital acts as an advisory partner, helping you select a qualifying fund, coordinating with your legal team, and ensuring that investment, documentation, and immigration steps stay aligned throughout the 12 to 18 month journey to your first card and beyond.
Associated Costs: Beyond Your Golden Visa Investment
Government Fees
Current government fees for the Portugal Golden Visa typically include:
- Initial application submission fee: €618.60 per family member.
- Approval card issuance fee: €6,179.40 per family member.
- Renewal fee: €3,023.20 per family member for each renewal.
- Citizenship application fee: €250 per family member, payable at the citizenship stage.
These values can change, so your lawyer should confirm the latest schedule before each submission.
Legal Fees
Legal fees vary by firm and by family profile, but many Golden Visa families can expect a total range between €16,000 and €20,000 over the full process. This usually covers advice, document preparation, submissions, renewals, and ongoing contact with AIMA.
Investment Subscription Fees
Each eligible fund sets its own fee structure. The VIDA Fund charges a subscription fee of 1% of the invested amount, paid to the fund manager. Other ongoing fund costs depend on the specific strategy and should be reviewed in the fund documentation.
How Asset-Backed Fund Investments Support Your Golden Visa
Investment in the VIDA Fund focuses on capital preservation through tangible hospitality assets that serve Portugal’s growing tourism sector. Forecasts from the World Travel & Tourism Council indicate that, by 2035, travel and tourism could represent 22.6% of Portugal’s national GDP. The fund buys and transforms existing hospitality properties, giving them a second life rather than developing new buildings from the ground up.
VIDA Capital emphasizes security, regulatory compliance, and clear reporting for investors who seek both Golden Visa eligibility and sound fundamentals in an asset-backed, regulated fund structure.
|
Feature |
VIDA Capital’s Approach |
Other Golden Visa Pathways |
|
Investment Security |
Regulated fund with diversified hospitality assets |
Previous focus on buying personal properties, which is no longer an eligible route |
|
Capital Preservation |
Tangible assets and defined risk management |
Greater exposure to individual property market cycles |
|
Advisory Support |
Ongoing, personalized advisory support |
Varies by provider, often purely transactional |
|
Investment Flexibility |
No need to manage properties or tenants directly |
Responsibility for property maintenance and, where applicable, tenant issues |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Residence Card Issuance Time
When does the 5-year residency period for permanent residency and the 10-year period for citizenship begin?
The five-year residency period for permanent residency, and the 10-year period now required for citizenship in most cases, both begin on the date your first Golden Visa residence card is issued. Applicants should work closely with their lawyer to understand how this interacts with future permanent residency and citizenship applications under the post-2025 framework.
How long does it take to get the first Portugal Golden Visa residence card?
For most investors, the journey from online application submission to receiving the first residence card typically spans 12 to 18 months. This includes document preparation, pre-approval, biometrics, and final card production, although individual timelines depend on AIMA workload and the quality of each application file.
Can I renew my Golden Visa residence card online, and what are the requirements?
AIMA introduced an online renewal portal in July 2025, so renewals can usually be initiated online, but in-person biometrics appointments are still required. You must maintain your qualifying investment, spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each prior two-year period, and present updated criminal record certificates.
What is the current fee for issuing the Golden Visa residence card in 2026?
The current issuance fee for each Golden Visa approval card is €6,179.40 per family member, payable around the biometrics stage. Fees may change, so your lawyer should confirm the exact amount before payment.
Is the Portugal Golden Visa program still active and a competitive option in 2026?
The Portugal Golden Visa program remains active and competitive in 2026. While eligible routes now center on regulated investment funds and citizenship generally follows a 10-year residency period, the program continues to offer a relatively low stay requirement, a clear path to permanent residency in five years, and eventual access to EU citizenship without the need to relocate to Portugal full-time.
Conclusion: Building A Clear Plan For Portuguese Residency Through The Golden Visa
A clear view of each stage in the Portugal Golden Visa process, from fund investment and application submission to residence card issuance and renewals, helps you plan your relocation or Plan B strategy with confidence. Understanding the updated 10-year citizenship framework and how the five-year residency period for permanent residency is calculated is equally important.
VIDA Capital serves as an advisory partner for investors who want Golden Visa-eligible, asset-backed exposure to Portugal’s hospitality sector through the VIDA Fund, while working in tandem with specialized lawyers to manage the immigration process. This combined approach can make your path to Portuguese residency more predictable and organized for you and your family.
