Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa grants a temporary residency permit in Portugal through a qualifying €500,000 investment in eligible funds, with a clear path toward permanent residency and, later, citizenship.
- The program requires only 14 days in Portugal every two years, which makes it suitable for investors who want a flexible Plan B without relocating full-time.
- Only fund investments now qualify, with personal properties excluded, so choosing an asset-backed, CMVM-regulated fund is critical for both eligibility and capital preservation.
- The full Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months, and working with an experienced Portuguese immigration lawyer is essential at every step of the application and renewal process.
- VIDA Capital, an advisory firm, guides investors through the Golden Visa process and provides access to the VIDA Fund; contact VIDA Capital to discuss your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.
Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa Program in 2026
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that attracts foreign capital while offering a route to long-term residency and, later, citizenship. When you obtain your Golden Visa, you receive a temporary residency permit valid for two years. You then renew it for two additional two-year periods, maintaining both your investment and residency requirements throughout the five-year period. At that point, you can apply for permanent residency.
Portugal’s program stands out for its minimal physical presence requirement. You only need to spend 14 days in Portugal every two years, which suits globally mobile investors who want residency security without full relocation. Portugal ranked as the 7th safest country in the world in 2025, which reinforces its appeal for families focused on stability.
The rules changed in October 2023. The minimum investment is now €500,000 in eligible funds regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Authority (CMVM). Personal properties are no longer valid Golden Visa investments. This shift increased demand for carefully structured, asset-backed funds that align with Golden Visa rules.
Family inclusion is a core benefit. You can include your spouse or common-law partner with a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship, economically dependent children, and parents or in-laws who are above 65 or financially dependent. Children must remain full-time students, unmarried, and not working for the duration of the residency program, until the Golden Visa process concludes.
Step 1: Build Your Team and Prepare Key Documents
Secure Specialized Legal Support
An experienced Portuguese immigration lawyer is essential from the beginning. Your lawyer interprets evolving regulations, prepares compliant documentation, and communicates with authorities, which reduces the risk of delays or rejections.
Legal guidance is particularly important because the Golden Visa involves strict eligibility rules, multiple family members, and long-term planning that connects residency, renewals, and later citizenship.
Obtain Your Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF)
The NIF is your Portuguese tax identification number. You need it for almost every financial step in Portugal, including opening a bank account and subscribing to a qualifying fund. Your lawyer can usually obtain your NIF remotely, so you do not need to travel to Portugal at this stage.
Open a Portuguese Bank Account
You must hold a Portuguese bank account to fund your €500,000 investment and manage ongoing expenses and fees. Many banks allow remote onboarding when coordinated by your lawyer, which keeps the pre-application phase efficient.
Many applicants underestimate how much can be completed remotely. With the right legal team, NIF issuance and bank account opening often occur without traveling to Portugal initially.
Step 2: Choose a Qualifying €500,000 Fund Investment
The fund you choose is the cornerstone of your Golden Visa application. Your investment of at least €500,000 must go into qualifying funds that comply with CMVM regulations and meet all Golden Visa criteria.
Many investors prioritize asset-backed funds that hold tangible assets, such as hospitality properties and operating businesses. These vehicles often focus on capital preservation rather than speculative growth. Tangible assets can retain value across cycles, which can reduce downside risk compared with high-volatility or purely financial instruments.
Portugal’s hospitality sector is an example of a growing asset base. The country welcomed about 31 million visitors in 2024, generating roughly €27 billion in revenue, and forecasts point to travel and tourism representing 22.6% of Portugal’s GDP by 2035. Co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup further supports long-term demand for hospitality assets, which many Golden Visa funds target.
|
Investment Type |
Capital Preservation |
Liquidity |
Golden Visa Eligibility |
|
Asset-Backed Hospitality Funds |
High |
Medium |
Yes |
|
Other CMVM-Regulated Funds |
Medium to High |
Medium |
Yes |
|
High-Volatility Investments |
Low |
High |
Varies |
Some funds, including the VIDA Fund, focus on buying existing hospitality assets and giving them a second life through repositioning and operational improvements. VIDA Capital advises investors on accessing this type of strategy, which connects Golden Visa eligibility with exposure to a growing sector. Past returns are not a guarantee of future results.
Step 3: Submit Your Portugal Golden Visa Application
After you complete your investment and assemble documentation, your lawyer submits your online application to Portugal’s immigration authority, AIMA. The application covers you as the main investor and all eligible family members.
Typical documentation includes valid passports, clean criminal records from each country of residence, proof of your qualifying fund investment, and evidence of family ties for dependents. Your lawyer reviews each document to ensure it meets AIMA’s standards.
Once AIMA issues a preliminary approval, you schedule an in-person appointment for biometric data collection for all applicants. At this appointment, you provide fingerprints, photographs, and any additional documents that AIMA requests.
The Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from initial submission to receipt of the first residency cards. Timelines vary with application volumes and the specifics of each case, which makes front-loaded legal preparation especially important.
Step 4: Maintain Your Residency and Meet the 14-Day Requirement
Approval results in a residency card that is valid for two years. This card allows you and your family to live, work, and study in Portugal. It also allows visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Residency rights apply only to Portugal.
You must renew your card during the five-year period before permanent residency. Each renewal requires proof that you still hold the qualifying investment, updated criminal record certificates, and new biometric data. You also must show that you have spent at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year period.
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. This administrative reality often simplifies the renewal process for most applicants.
Greece and Spain require ongoing residence to keep long-term status. Spain has also closed its Golden Visa program, and Greece requires seven years of residence and tax payment before citizenship. In contrast, Portugal’s 14-day stay requirement keeps the Golden Visa attractive as a flexible Plan B.
Step 5: Plan for Permanent Residency and Citizenship
Permanent Residency After 5 Years
After five years of maintaining your Golden Visa status, investment, and stay requirements, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. Permanent residency provides greater long-term security, although you must still respect Portugal’s residency rules to keep this status.
Citizenship After 10 Years
Portugal’s Parliament approved a new framework in October 2025 that extended the timelines for citizenship. Golden Visa holders now need 10 years of legal residence in Portugal before applying for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries in the CPLP and EU citizens have a reduced requirement of seven years. The new framework should apply to all Golden Visa applicants except those who had already filed a citizenship application before the law’s publication.
During your temporary and permanent residency, you hold residency rights only in Portugal, while enjoying visa-free travel within Schengen for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Portuguese citizenship, once obtained, grants the right to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in any EU or Schengen Zone country.
Portugal is currently one of the only European countries that offers a pathway to citizenship through investment fund residency without full-time relocation. This feature, combined with the modest stay requirement, differentiates Portugal from programs such as Greece’s long-residence path and Spain’s now-closed Golden Visa.
Discuss your long-term residency and citizenship plan with VIDA Capital’s advisory team.
Understanding the Costs of the Portugal Golden Visa
Government Fees
Government fees apply at several stages and per family member:
- Application submission fee: €618.60 at the time of online filing
- Initial residency card issuance: €6,179.40 after approval and biometrics
- Each renewal card: €3,023.20
- Citizenship application: €250 at the time of citizenship filing after 10 years of residence
Legal Fees
Legal fees usually range from €16,000 to €20,000 per family, depending on the firm and complexity. These fees cover pre-application structuring, document review and submission, communication with AIMA, renewals, and long-term planning around residency and citizenship.
Fund-Related Fees
Funds charge their own subscription and management fees. The VIDA Fund, for example, charges a 1% subscription fee on the invested amount, which supports fund management, regulatory compliance, and asset oversight.
When planning your budget, include government fees, legal fees, fund subscription costs, and any bank or transfer expenses, from initial application through potential citizenship.
Conclusion: Structuring a Practical Portugal Golden Visa Strategy
The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026 offers a clear route to residency in Portugal, a future path to citizenship, and Schengen mobility through a single €500,000 fund investment. The low physical presence requirement, family inclusion rules, and strong safety profile make Portugal a competitive option for investors seeking a long-term Plan B.
Success depends on three pillars: a specialized Portuguese immigration lawyer, a compliant and well-structured asset-backed fund, and a clear understanding of costs and timelines. With careful preparation, you can preserve capital, build a residency bridge for your family, and position yourself for EU citizenship over the long term.
Contact VIDA Capital to map out your Portugal Golden Visa plan and explore access to the VIDA Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Portugal Golden Visa
What is Portugal’s Golden Visa and how does it work?
Portugal’s Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program for non-EU investors who commit at least €500,000 to eligible investment funds. The program grants a temporary residency permit that can lead to permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years, subject to legal requirements and the new framework. The program requires only 14 days of stay in Portugal every two years and grants visa-free travel within Schengen for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
How long does the Portugal Golden Visa process usually take?
The full process, from initial application submission to receiving the first residency card, commonly takes 12 to 18 months. This period includes setting up your NIF and bank account, completing the investment, filing the application, AIMA review, biometrics, and card issuance. Actual processing can be faster or slower, depending on case complexity and public administration workloads.
Do I need to relocate to Portugal to keep my Golden Visa?
No. You only need to spend at least 14 days in Portugal in each two-year residency period to keep your status. This makes the Portugal Golden Visa suitable for investors who want a solid Plan B without changing their primary country of residence.
How does Portugal’s Golden Visa compare with other European options?
Portugal remains one of the only countries in Europe that offers a path to citizenship through an investment fund route without requiring full-time relocation. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa, and Greece requires you to live there and pay taxes for seven years before citizenship, with stricter residence expectations for long-term status. Portugal’s lighter presence rule and clear long-term framework keep it competitive.
Can I include my family in the same application?
Yes. You can include your spouse or common-law partner with a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship, dependent children, and parents or in-laws who are above 65 or financially dependent. Children must stay unmarried, in full-time education, and not employed until the Golden Visa process concludes and they move on to permanent residency or citizenship steps.
Why do many investors choose asset-backed funds linked to hospitality?
Asset-backed funds that hold hospitality assets combine Golden Visa eligibility with exposure to a sector supported by strong tourism trends. These funds invest in physical assets that can often retain or recover value over time. This structure aligns well with Golden Visa investors who prioritize capital preservation alongside residency goals.
