Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal through a minimum investment of €500,000 in eligible investment funds.
- The program has minimal physical stay requirements of 14 days per two-year period, making it suitable as a long-term European “Plan B.”
- Spouses or partners, economically dependent children who are full-time students and unmarried, and financially dependent parents or parents in-laws over 65 can be included.
- Recent rules limit qualifying Golden Visa options to regulated investment funds instead of personal properties, and the path to citizenship generally requires 10 years of legal residence.
- VIDA Capital advises international investors on asset-backed hospitality funds, including the VIDA Fund, and provides guidance through every Golden Visa step; contact the team to discuss your Portugal plan.
Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa Program and Its Benefits
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that grants temporary residency permits to non-EU investors making qualifying investments in Portugal. The program allows you to live, work, and study in Portugal, while traveling visa-free within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
A key feature is the minimal stay requirement. You only need to spend 14 days in Portugal per two-year period, which helps you secure a European “Plan B” without relocating or disrupting your current lifestyle. The program includes your spouse or legally recognized partner, economically dependent children who are full-time students and unmarried, and financially dependent parents or parents in-laws over 65.
After regulatory changes in 2023, the Golden Visa no longer accepts personal properties as a qualifying route. The focus is now on regulated investment funds, with a minimum investment of €500,000 in eligible funds. Many applicants choose asset-backed funds that prioritize capital preservation and regulatory compliance.
The Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal only, together with short-stay travel within Schengen. Full EU rights to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education become available only after you obtain Portuguese citizenship.
Talk to VIDA Capital about structuring your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.
Pre-Application Essentials: Laying the Groundwork for Your Golden Visa
Finding the Right Legal Partner
Specialized legal support is essential from the beginning. A law firm experienced in Portugal Golden Visa applications prepares your documentation, submits your application, represents you before AIMA, and monitors compliance throughout the program. VIDA Capital can connect you with reputable immigration lawyers who handle Golden Visa cases daily.
Obtaining a Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF)
Your NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is required 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 via power of attorney, so you do not need to travel to Portugal at this stage.
Opening a Portuguese Bank Account
You will then open a Portuguese bank account to fund your investment and cover associated fees. Many banks allow this process to be handled remotely through your lawyer, although some may request a video call or additional documentation for due diligence purposes.
Choosing Your Investment Fund
The fund route requires a minimum €500,000 investment in eligible funds supervised by the Portuguese Securities Market Authority (CMVM). Many investors prefer asset-backed funds holding tangible assets, which can support capital preservation better than purely cash-flow-based strategies.
The VIDA Fund is one example of this approach. The fund focuses on hospitality assets in Portugal, buying existing underperforming properties and operations, then transforming them to give these assets a second life rather than developing new projects. The VIDA Fund is CMVM-regulated and subject to independent audits. Any reference to performance relates to historical returns, past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.
Step-by-Step: Navigating the Golden Visa Application Process
Making Your Qualifying Investment via Investment Funds
After your bank account is open and due diligence is complete, you transfer a minimum of €500,000 to subscribe to your selected eligible fund. The fund manager issues subscription documents and proof of investment, which your lawyer includes in your Golden Visa file.
Submitting Your Golden Visa Application
Your lawyer submits the initial application online for you and all eligible family member. Typical documents include passport copies, criminal record certificates from your country of residence, proof of legal income, and civil documents such as marriage certificates or other proof of relationship for a spouse or partner, and birth certificates for children. For children, you must also show that they are economically dependent on you, enrolled as full-time students, not working, and unmarried throughout the Golden Visa process until the application for the Golden Visa is concluded.
Once AIMA grants pre-approval, your lawyer schedules an in-person biometrics appointment in Portugal for you and each included family member. This visit is when official fingerprints, photos, and signatures are collected.
The Portugal Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from application submission to issuance of the first residency cards. As the approval card issuance usually takes about a year, you will most likely only need to complete a single renewal instead of two within the standard 5-year period.
Post-Approval: Maintaining Residency and Path to Citizenship
Residency Card Issuance
When your application is approved, you receive a temporary residency permit valid for 2 years. This card allows you and your family members to live, work, and study in Portugal and to travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period,
Residency Card Renewals and Minimum Stay
You must maintain your qualifying investment and comply with the minimum stay requirement of 14 days in Portugal during each two-year period. At renewal, you and your lawyer submit updated proof of investment, a clean criminal record, and evidence that you met the stay requirement. You also attend another biometrics appointment. The rules foresee two renewals over the standard 5-year period, although timing of the initial card issuance often results in only one renewal, as noted earlier.
Applying for Permanent Residency After 5 Years
After maintaining temporary residency for 5 years, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. Permanent residency offers greater stability and eliminates the need for further Golden Visa renewals, while you continue counting years of legal residency toward citizenship.
Applying for Citizenship Under the New 10-Year Rule
Portugal’s Parliament approved a new citizenship framework in October 2025. Most applicants must now reside in Portugal for 10 years before qualifying for citizenship, with a reduced requirement of 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens. The new law should apply to all Golden Visa applicants except those who already submitted their citizenship application before the new law was published.
Once you obtain Portuguese citizenship, you gain the right to live, work, and study in any EU or Schengen Zone country, together with access to public healthcare and education across the bloc. Until that point, your residency rights apply only to Portugal.
Discuss your long-term residency and citizenship plan with VIDA Capital.
Understanding Golden Visa Program Costs and Fees
Beyond the €500,000 fund investment, you should budget for government fees, legal services, and fund-related charges.
|
Expense Category |
Description |
Amount (Approximate) |
Payment Date |
|
Government Fees |
Initial Submission |
€618.60 per family member |
With application |
|
Government Fees |
Issuance of Cards |
€6179.40 per family member |
At biometrics appointment |
|
Government Fees |
Renewal I |
€3023.20 per family member |
At first renewal |
|
Government Fees |
Renewal II |
€3023.20 per family member |
At second renewal, if required |
|
Government Fees |
Citizenship Fee |
€250 per family member |
With citizenship request |
|
Legal Fees |
Immigration and document services |
€16,000 – €20,000 |
Varies by firm |
|
Investment Fees |
Fund Subscription Fee |
Varies by fund, for example around 1% of investment |
At investment |
Actual amounts depend on family size, the specific law firm you choose, and the selected investment fund’s fee structure.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Portugal Golden Visa
Relocation Requirements for Maintaining Your Golden Visa
You do not need to relocate to Portugal to maintain your Golden Visa. The requirement is to spend at least 14 days in Portugal in each two-year period. This structure allows you to keep your main base elsewhere while building a long-term “Plan B” in Europe through Portuguese residency.
Current Status of the Portugal Golden Visa in 2026
The Portugal Golden Visa remains active in 2026, with the regulated investment fund route as the primary option. Portugal is currently one of the only countries in Europe offering a realistic path to citizenship without full relocation. Spain closed its Golden Visa program to new applicants in April 2025, and Greece requires at least 7 years of residence and taxes compliance to qualify for long-term residency and citizenship. Greece and Spain also require you to live there to keep long-term residency, whereas Portugal only requires short stays every two years.
Support You Can Expect from VIDA Capital
VIDA Capital is an advisory firm that assist international investors navigate both the investment and immigration aspects of the Portugal Golden Visa. The team helps you identify reputable lawyers, evaluate regulated, asset-backed funds such as the VIDA Fund, and understand the practical steps from NIF and bank account opening through to renewals. The VIDA Fund focuses on buying and transforming hospitality assets in Portugal to give them a second life, and any discussion of performance reflects historical results, which are not guarantee future returns.
Work and Study Rights for Golden Visa Families
Golden Visa holders and eligible family members can live, work, and study in Portugal throughout the residency period. The program does not grant residency or work rights in other EU countries before citizenship. Once you obtain Portuguese citizenship, you can live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across the EU and Schengen Zone.
Conclusion: Using the Portugal Golden Visa as a Long-Term Plan B
The Portugal Golden Visa through investment funds provides a clear structure to secure residency in Portugal, maintain a low physical presence, and progress toward citizenship over the long term. The combination of family inclusion, flexible stay requirements, and asset-backed fund options makes it an appealing choice for globally mobile families who value diversification and stability.
Portugal currently ranks as the 7th safest country in the world, and its hospitality and tourism sectors continue to attract international demand. This environment supports investment strategies that prioritize capital preservation while giving existing assets a second life.
Contact VIDA Capital to explore the VIDA Fund and plan your Portugal Golden Visa journey. The team provides structured, expert guidance on fund selection, legal coordination, and every step from initial planning to long-term residency and, when eligible, citizenship.
