Portugal Golden Visa for Families: Secure EU Residency

The Portugal Golden Visa program provides high-net-worth families with a practical way to gain EU residency and a path to citizenship through one unified application.

This program stands out by allowing investors to include spouses, dependent children, parents, and in-laws, ensuring family-wide security with a minimal stay requirement of just 14 days every two years in Portugal. With guidance from VIDA Capital, families can invest in the VIDA Fund, focusing on asset-backed opportunities that prioritize capital preservation while building a European base for future generations.

Why Families Need a European ‘Plan B’ Amid Global Uncertainty

High-net-worth individuals today face growing challenges from economic shifts, political changes, and unpredictable regulations. These issues raise real concerns about future opportunities for children and grandchildren, even with substantial wealth. Access to top-tier education, healthcare, and global mobility often requires more than financial resources, and an EU passport can open those doors.

Many residency-by-investment options limit family inclusion or set strict rules that can divide loved ones during the process. This creates tough decisions between personal security and keeping the family together. Additionally, the lack of clarity in many programs about long-term family status adds stress to an already complex choice.

Investment options tied to these programs often involve risks to capital through intangible assets or unproven projects. Families looking for stability need vehicles that safeguard their funds while meeting residency criteria, especially when covering multiple family members with a significant financial commitment.

How Portugal’s Golden Visa Supports Your Entire Family

Portugal’s Golden Visa program offers a clear solution with its family-focused policies and flexible residency rules. Managed by Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), it allows investors to include their whole family in one application, providing a streamlined path to EU residency and, eventually, citizenship.

With only 14 days required in Portugal every two years, families can maintain their existing lifestyles and commitments while securing a foothold in Europe. This flexibility works well for those with school-aged children, aging parents, or international business demands that prevent relocation.

Portugal ranks as the 7th safest country in the 2025 Global Peace Index, offering a stable environment for family security. Its strong democratic system, quality healthcare, and excellent education options build a solid foundation for long-term planning.

After 10 years, or 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens, families can apply for EU citizenship. This grants full rights to live, work, study, and access healthcare and education across the EU, creating lasting value for generations.

Learn how to secure EU residency and a path to citizenship with the Portugal Golden Visa through VIDA Capital’s expert guidance.

Who Qualifies for Inclusion in Your Golden Visa Application?

Knowing which family members can join your Portugal Golden Visa application is key to effective planning. This program has one of the most inclusive family policies among European residency options, accommodating modern multi-generational needs.

Spouses, Partners, and Dependent Children

Spouses and recognized partners of any nationality qualify for inclusion. Married couples need a marriage certificate, while common-law partners must show proof of their relationship, such as cohabitation records or shared finances.

Dependent children can join if they are unmarried, financially reliant on the main applicant, and under 18 or full-time students under 26. They must remain unmarried throughout the entire Golden Visa process to keep their status. Children in education need proof of full-time enrollment and must not have independent income, allowing families to include those in higher studies or training programs.

Parents and In-Laws

The program also covers parents and in-laws of both the applicant and spouse. They qualify if over 65 or financially dependent on the main applicant, proven through records of support for living costs or healthcare. This policy ensures families can care for elderly relatives on both sides without having to choose.

Tips for a Smooth Family Application

Submitting one application for all eligible family members at the start avoids extra fees and complications of adding people later. Each member needs specific documents, including criminal background checks and financial records. Legal support is vital to manage this process correctly.

The 14-day stay requirement every two years applies across the family, not per person. Members can visit at different times as long as the total days are met, offering flexibility for varied schedules, especially for children or elderly relatives.

Steps to Apply for the Portugal Golden Visa as a Family

Applying for the Golden Visa with multiple family members demands careful organization and expert help to meet all requirements. The journey includes distinct steps tailored for family applications.

Getting Started with Pre-Application Needs

Every family member needs a Portuguese tax identification number (NIF) and a local bank account. These can be set up remotely with legal assistance. Having a lawyer to accompany you in this process is essential to ensure compliance and proper handling of documents.

VIDA Capital connects families with experienced law firms specializing in Golden Visa applications. These professionals understand family dependency rules and help avoid delays. The €500,000 minimum investment, made through options like the VIDA Fund, covers the entire family, not each person individually.

Submitting the Application and Completing Biometrics

The joint application is filed online via AIMA’s platform, with legal counsel ensuring all family documents are submitted together. This keeps processing timelines aligned for everyone. After approval, all members must attend biometric appointments in person, either in Portugal or at a local Portuguese consulate. Coordinating this step can be challenging, especially for large families or those with young children or elderly members.

Receiving Residency Cards and Managing Renewals

Initial residency cards, valid for 2 years, are issued to all family members, granting Schengen travel rights and the ability to live in Portugal. 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. Renewals require maintaining the investment, updating background checks, and meeting the 14-day stay rule, which families can plan around vacations or exploratory visits.

Long-Term European Benefits for Your Family

The Portugal Golden Visa goes beyond temporary residency, laying a groundwork for lasting European integration and family protection. Understanding the progression to permanent status and citizenship helps in strategic planning.

From Residency to EU Citizenship

After five years, all family members can apply for permanent residency in Portugal, removing the need for further renewals and enhancing security. A new law passed in October 2025 sets a 10-year timeline to citizenship for Golden Visa holders, or 7 years for CPLP and EU nationals. Portugal remains one of the few European countries offering this path without requiring relocation.

Improved Mobility and Access to Services

Residency immediately allows visa-free travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This benefits families with business or educational interests in Europe. Permanent residency grants access to Portugal’s highly regarded healthcare system, a key advantage for aging relatives or those with medical needs. Educational access includes public schools and favorable EU student rates at universities across the region, reducing costs for college-bound children.

Building a Generational EU Legacy

Portuguese citizenship, once obtained, can pass to future generations, securing a lasting European connection. This provides an essential backup plan amid global uncertainties, offering options for living, working, and studying in the EU. For families with business goals, EU citizenship also eases access to European markets and opportunities.

Start securing a brighter future for your family with the Portugal Golden Visa through VIDA Capital.

Why Partner with VIDA Capital for Your Family’s Journey?

Choosing the right advisory team for a family Golden Visa application can make the process straightforward and efficient. VIDA Capital combines deep knowledge of Portuguese rules with tailored support for multi-member applications.

Asset-Backed Options for Capital Security

The VIDA Fund focuses on acquiring and revitalizing undervalued hospitality assets, offering families a tangible investment with a focus on capital preservation. Portugal’s tourism sector shows strong potential, with the World Travel & Tourism Council projecting it to account for 22.6% of national GDP by 2035. Co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup adds further economic promise. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns. By giving hotels a “second life,” the VIDA Fund aligns with sustainable growth while delivering transparency that families value.

Tailored Support for Every Family Member

Family applications involve multiple documents and timelines. VIDA Capital provides personalized assistance to ensure each member meets requirements. This includes help with biometric scheduling, travel planning, and support for elderly or young family members. Direct communication options, like WhatsApp, allow quick responses to concerns, accommodating busy schedules across time zones.

Clear Guidance and Compliance Expertise

With multiple applicants, transparency on costs is critical. VIDA Capital outlines all fees, from government charges to fund subscriptions, for accurate budgeting. The team offers honest advice, sometimes suggesting alternative visa paths if they better fit a family’s needs. Their detailed understanding of family dependency rules and documentation prevents common errors that delay applications.

Portugal Golden Visa vs. Other European Programs

Contact VIDA Capital to begin your Portugal Golden Visa journey and secure EU residency for your family.

Common Questions About Family Golden Visa Applications

Can Family Members Be Added Later to My Application?

Adding family members after the initial application means filing separate requests with full documentation and fees for each person. This adds cost and complexity compared to including everyone from the start. Plan to include all qualifying members in the first submission to streamline the process and avoid future hurdles.

What Documents Do Family Members Need?

Each family member must provide criminal background checks from countries of residence over the past five years, medical certificates, birth certificates, and proof of relationship to the applicant. Spouses need marriage certificates or partnership evidence. Dependent children require proof of unmarried status and, if students over 18, enrollment records. Parents or in-laws need evidence of financial dependency or age over 65. All documents must be apostilled and translated into Portuguese, and legal guidance helps ensure accuracy.

How Long Until Family Members Get Residency Permits?

The Portugal Golden Visa process generally takes 12 to 18 months from submission to receiving residency cards. Family applications are processed together, with cards typically issued at the same time. 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, easing the administrative load over time.

Does Each Family Member Need to Meet the Stay Requirement?

All family members must contribute to the 14-day stay requirement every two years, but it’s cumulative for the family. Visits can occur at different times, as long as the total days are met. Each person should spend some time in Portugal during this period to maintain individual status, and families should track visits for renewal compliance.

What If My Child Marries During the Residency Period?

If a dependent child marries during the Golden Visa period, they lose eligibility under the family application. They would need to apply independently or seek another visa. This rule applies until permanent residency is secured after five years. Families should consider timing and plan around significant life events like marriage to avoid status issues.

Your Family’s European Future with VIDA Capital

The Portugal Golden Visa program offers families a practical solution for security and mobility in an uncertain world. With VIDA Capital’s expert advice and the VIDA Fund’s focus on asset-backed investments, families can protect their capital while establishing a European foundation. The inclusive family policies, light residency demands, and defined path to EU citizenship meet key needs for high-net-worth families.

Portugal stands out for its safety, welcoming environment, and growing tourism sector, supported by stable governance. Including spouses, children, parents, and in-laws in one application ensures no one is left behind. Long-term advantages, like mobility, healthcare, education access, and generational planning, make this program a valuable choice for families.

Contact VIDA Capital today to start your Portugal Golden Visa journey and build a lasting European legacy for your family.