Compare Golden Visa Requirements: Top 6 Facts for 2026

Key takeaways for 2026 Golden Visa planning

1. Investment thresholds vary widely across countries, and Portugal sits in the mid-range with a €500,000 fund route that focuses on regulated, asset-backed strategies.
2. Portugal no longer accepts personal properties for Golden Visa eligibility, and now relies on CMVM-regulated investment funds that hold corporate equity in operating companies.
3. Portugal remains one of the only countries in Europe that offers a path to citizenship without relocation, with a 14-day stay requirement every two years to keep residency active.
4. Portugal updated its citizenship rules in 2025, meaning most applicants now require 10 years of legal residency before applying for a citizenship, with shorter timelines for CPLP and EU nationals.
5. Investors can use advisory support from VIDA Capital to access fund-based Portugal Golden Visa solutions, and can contact the team through this VIDA Capital contact form.

1. Investment thresholds: understanding entry costs to residency

How minimum investment levels compare

Investment minimums differ across Golden Visa programs, which directly affects accessibility. Portugal requires a €500,000 subscription to an eligible investment fund, placing it in the mid-to-upper range among residency-by-investment options.

Some countries advertise lower entry amounts, yet they often tie those to stricter stay rules or less predictable policy environments. Portugal focuses on regulated fund investments that prioritize compliance, transparent structures, and capital protection, which appeals to investors who value stability over minimum cost.

2. Investment types: moving beyond personal properties in Portugal

Why Portugal now focuses on regulated investment funds

Golden Visa programs often allow a mix of qualifying assets, such as property, business equity, or government instruments. Portugal followed this model in the past, and personal properties once dominated its application numbers.

Regulation changed in 2023. Personal properties are no longer eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa. The main qualifying route now relies on a €500,000 commitment to a regulated investment fund that invests in operating companies based in Portugal.

For many investors, this shift offers several benefits:

1. Clear compliance with current Portuguese and EU guidelines.
2. Diversification across a portfolio of underlying assets instead of a single property.
3. Professional management under CMVM supervision.

Some funds, including the VIDA Fund that VIDA Capital advises on, focus on hospitality assets. The fund buys existing hospitality properties, transforms them, and gives these assets a second life as improved operating businesses.

3. Residency requirements: building a flexible “Plan B”

Why minimum stay rules matter

Minimum stay requirements determine how flexible a residency program feels in practice. Portugal stands out with an obligation to spend only 14 days in the country every two years to maintain the Golden Visa residency.

This low requirement allows investors to keep their main home, career, and tax residency elsewhere, while still holding Portuguese residency and enjoying visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Other countries take a stricter approach. Greece, for example, requires seven years of effective residence and tax presence to qualify for citizenship, and Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program and generally links long-term status to physical relocation. These differences make Portugal particularly competitive as a “Plan B” solution that does not force a lifestyle move.

4. Path to citizenship: planning for long-term security

Updated timelines and what they mean for families

Citizenship rules changed in Portugal in October 2025. Most Golden Visa holders now need 10 years of legal residency before applying for Portuguese citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries in the CPLP and existing EU citizens have a reduced requirement of seven years.

During that period, Golden Visa holders maintain the same low physical presence rule of 14 days every two years, which still makes Portugal one of the most flexible routes to eventual citizenship in Europe that does not require relocation.

Golden Visa residency grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal only. It does not give residency rights across the European Union. Once an investor secures a Portuguese passport, they gain the wider benefits of EU citizenship, including the ability to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across EU and Schengen countries.

5. Family inclusion: extending Portugal residency to loved ones

Who can join a Portugal Golden Visa application

Family rules play a central role in Golden Visa planning. Portugal offers broad inclusion for close relatives, which helps families secure a collective backup plan.

The main applicant can usually add:

1. A spouse, or a common-law partner with proof of the relationship, such as a marriage certificate or equivalent documentation.
2. Economically dependent children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried for the entire residency period until the Golden Visa application is concluded.
3. Financially dependent parents or parents-in-law, typically aged 65 or older.

All included family members must meet standard background checks and source-of-funds requirements. This structure allows families to work toward Portuguese residency and, later, citizenship within a single coordinated plan.

6. Program evolution and regulation: staying ahead of change

How shifting rules impact Golden Visa strategies

Golden Visa programs continue to change across the world. Portugal raised its fund investment minimum from €350,000 to €500,000 and removed personal properties from the list of qualifying assets. Spain closed its Golden Visa program, and Greece now combines investment with demanding residency expectations for citizenship.

These shifts underline two practical points for investors:

1. Policy stability and legal compliance matter as much as the headline investment amount.
2. Specialist guidance is essential to navigate immigration law, fund selection, and documentation.

Portugal generally offers a clear framework when investors work with an experienced lawyer and a regulated fund. A typical Golden Visa process spans roughly 12 to 18 months from initial application to residence card issuance. As card issuance usually takes about a year, you will most likely only need to do a single renewal instead of two within the 5-year period.

VIDA Capital operates as an advisory firm that helps investors access CMVM-regulated funds such as the VIDA Fund, which focuses on acquiring and upgrading hospitality assets in Portugal. The fund does not build new hospitality assets. It buys existing ones and transforms them to create a second life for these properties while aligning with Golden Visa requirements.

Discuss Portugal fund options for your Golden Visa with VIDA Capital.

Golden Visa programs: a quick comparison table

Frequently asked questions about Golden Visa requirements

Overview of Portugal’s Golden Visa

Portugal’s Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that grants non-EU nationals the right to live, work, and study in Portugal through qualifying investments. The current main route requires a minimum €500,000 investment in an eligible regulated investment fund. Successful applicants receive a temporary residence permit valid for two years, which they must then renew for two further two-year periods while maintaining the investment and minimum stay requirements. After five years of residency, they can apply for permanent residency, and after 10 years, they can apply for Portuguese citizenship, subject to the legal criteria in force at that time.

Relocation requirements for Portugal’s Golden Visa

Portugal does not require Golden Visa investors to relocate. The law only requires an average of seven days of presence per year, (14 days every two year), which allows investor to continue living anywhere in the world and still maintain Portuguese residency, provided they meet the stay rule, investment conditions, and renewal deadlines.

Typical costs beyond the €500,000 fund investment

Golden Visa planning needs to budget for several cost categories beyond the €500,000 fund subscription. These usually include:

1. Government fees for application analysis, initial card issuance, renewals, and later permanent residency or citizenship filings.
2. Legal fees for a Portuguese immigration lawyer, who is essential to manage applications, represent you with authorities, and ensure compliance.
3. Fund-related costs, such as subscription or management fees, which vary by fund.

The VIDA Fund, which VIDA Capital advises on, charges a 1% subscription fee on the invested amount. Total government and legal costs depend on the number of family members and the complexity of each case.

Role of asset-backed funds in capital preservation

Asset-backed funds that qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa often invest in operating businesses supported by tangible assets. In the case of the VIDA Fund, the strategy centers on acquiring existing hospitality properties, improving them, and enhancing operations. This approach links investor capital to identifiable assets and operating cash flows, rather than purely speculative ventures. Any reference to performance must note that historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Citizenship timing for Portugal Golden Visa holders

Under the framework approved in October 2025, most Golden Visa holders will need 10 years of legal residency before applying for Portuguese citizenship. Applicants who are nationals of CPLP countries or EU citizens benefit from a reduced seven-year requirement. The new law should apply to all Golden Visa applicants except those who already submitted their citizenship application before the new law was published.

Key advantages of Portugal’s Golden Visa compared to other options

Portugal is currently one of the only countries in Europe that offers a structured path to citizenship without requiring relocation. The country combines:

1. A clear €500,000 fund-based route.
2. Low physical presence requirements of 14 days every two years.
3. Family-friendly inclusion rules.
4. Access, once citizenship is granted, to the full benefits of EU citizenship.

Greece requires seven years of residence and tax presence for citizenship, and Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program. This positioning keeps Portugal highly relevant for investors seeking a long-term Plan B in Europe.

Conclusion: using Portugal’s Golden Visa as a practical Plan B

How investors can approach 2026 planning

Comparing Golden Visa programs shows that Portugal offers a distinctive blend of regulated fund investments, light stay requirements, and a defined route to eventual citizenship under the current 10-year framework. The program focuses on residency rights in Portugal first, then creates a pathway to EU citizenship through a Portuguese passport for those who meet the long-term criteria.

Investors who value diversification, regulatory oversight, and family inclusion often find the Portugal Golden Visa an effective way to establish a Plan B without uprooting their lives. Fund structures that target asset-backed hospitality strategies, such as the VIDA Fund, align the investment requirement with tangible economic activity inside Portugal.

VIDA Capital acts as an advisory partner for investors who wish to pursue the Portugal Golden Visa through regulated funds. The team can help coordinate legal support, fund selection, and documentation, so that the overall process remains structured and compliant.

Contact VIDA Capital to explore Portugal Golden Visa fund options for 2026.