For high-net-worth individuals who have completed five years with Portugal’s Golden Visa program, securing permanent residency marks a key step toward long-term stability in Europe.
This guide walks you through the process of transitioning from temporary to permanent residency, ensuring compliance while optimizing the benefits of your investment. Portugal stands out as one of the few European countries offering a route to EU citizenship without requiring full relocation, making it a strong Plan B for investors and their families.
Why Permanent Residency in Portugal Benefits You
Moving to permanent residency after five years with a Golden Visa shifts your status from temporary to indefinite, granting broader rights in Portugal. Unlike temporary residency, which demands regular renewals and ongoing investment, permanent residency frees you from these obligations, allowing continuous rights to live, work, and study in the country without frequent administrative hurdles.
This change brings significant relief for families building a future in Europe. With permanent residency, you can withdraw your initial €500,000 investment and redirect those funds as needed. This financial freedom, paired with unrestricted residence rights, helps you fully settle into Portuguese life while maintaining global flexibility.
For those who chose VIDA Capital’s hospitality investments through the VIDA Fund, this shift reflects the success of a well-planned residency approach. The stability of tangible hotel assets over five years highlights the benefit of opting for secure options. Keep in mind that historical returns do not guarantee future results.
Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility for Permanent Residency
Confirming eligibility is the first step to securing permanent residency after five years with the Golden Visa. You must have maintained your qualifying investment and met minimum stay requirements throughout this period. The five-year countdown starts from the issuance date of your first temporary residence permit, not when you applied, so track this date carefully.
As a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen with Golden Visa status, continuous legal residency for five years is essential. You must be at least 18 and have a clean criminal record in Portugal and your home country to qualify for this transition.
Minimum Stay Requirements
Your physical presence in Portugal must meet specific criteria during the five-year period: 14 days across each two-year renewal period. These minimal requirements make Portugal appealing to global investors balancing international commitments. Full-time residence is not necessary, only adherence to these stay durations.
Investment Continuity
Maintaining your €500,000 qualifying investment for the full five years is mandatory. You need to provide evidence and a formal declaration of compliance when applying. For VIDA Fund investors, this means keeping your hospitality investment intact and documented across all renewals. VIDA Capital supports this by tracking compliance and supplying the necessary records for your application.
Family Member Inclusion
Dependents from your initial Golden Visa application can also seek permanent residency if they’ve met the stay and investment rules. This applies to spouses, dependent children under 26 who are unmarried full-time students, and dependent parents over 65. Each family member must prove their residency compliance, though only the main applicant bears the investment requirement.
Step 2: Gather Essential Documentation for Your Application
Preparing a complete set of documents is critical for a smooth permanent residency application. You’ll need your valid temporary residence permit, passport, and two recent photos to confirm your identity and current status. Ensure your residence card remains active during the process to avoid complications.
Criminal Record Verification
Your criminal record certificates must be current. They should be issued within the last 3 months from both Portugal and your country of residence or citizenship. Additionally, a signed authorization for AIMA to access your Portuguese criminal record is required. Partnering with experienced legal counsel, accessible through VIDA Capital, ensures these documents meet all standards.
Financial and Tax Records
Proof of financial compliance is necessary for your application. Submit payment receipts and recent proof from Portuguese tax and social security authorities, issued within 45 days. For VIDA Fund investors, expect to include subscription agreements and annual statements verifying your €500,000 investment over five years. All documents must be current and properly legalized per Portuguese rules.
Documents for Family Applications
Family members applying alongside you need to submit relationship proof, such as marriage certificates or evidence of common-law partnership for spouses, birth certificates for children, and dependency records for parents. Children must remain full-time students and unmarried, while parents must show ongoing financial reliance. All documents require translation into Portuguese and certification.
Step 3: Submit Your Application Through AIMA
Timing your application correctly helps maintain legal status. Submit it 30 to 90 days before your current residence card expires, including updated documents and biometrics to AIMA, the agency handling immigration since replacing SEF. Starting early within this window allows time for any additional requests.
Biometrics and In-Person Steps
Updated biometric data, like fingerprints and photos, is required for your permanent residency card. This process mirrors earlier Golden Visa steps but may include deeper verification or interviews by AIMA to review your residency and investment history.
Importance of Legal Support
Navigating this process with skilled legal representation is vital due to its complexity. VIDA Capital connects you with trusted immigration lawyers who handle AIMA interactions, document submissions, and biometrics scheduling. Our team also supports by providing investment records promptly, easing the workload and boosting approval chances. Ready to make Portugal your permanent home? Let VIDA Capital guide you through the Golden Visa process.
Step 4: Handle Fees and Finalize Your Permanent Status
Understanding costs is essential for your application. Government fees for permanent residency mirror Golden Visa renewal costs, but always confirm the latest amounts near your submission date. These cover processing, card issuance, and family inclusions. Your legal counsel will ensure accurate payments and documentation.
Processing Duration and Updates
Processing times depend on AIMA’s workload and your application’s completeness. Permanent residency reviews may take longer due to thorough checks. Your lawyer will track progress and keep you informed, while VIDA Capital assists with any investment-related queries to avoid delays.
Investment Freedom After Approval
Once granted permanent residency, maintaining your original investment isn’t required. You can liquidate your €500,000 investment and reallocate funds as desired. For VIDA Fund investors, this may align with the fund’s 6.5-year lifecycle, targeting doubled returns, though past performance isn’t a future guarantee. This flexibility is a major advantage.
Obtaining Your Residency Card
After approval, you’ll receive a permanent residency card, confirming your indefinite right to live, work, and study in Portugal. This card also supports visa-free Schengen travel for tourism, offering a solid base for those considering citizenship later.
Step 5: Know the Difference Between Residency and Citizenship
Permanent residency provides lasting rights in Portugal but differs from citizenship. It allows indefinite living, working, and studying in Portugal, plus Schengen travel, but doesn’t include EU-wide rights or voting. Citizenship extends these privileges across the EU, with added benefits like a Portuguese passport.
Updated Citizenship Timeline
The path to citizenship has changed. As of October 2025, it requires 10 years of legal residence, or 7 years for CPLP nationals. Your five years of temporary residency count toward this, placing permanent residency as a midpoint. This timeline starts from your first permit issuance.
Language and Naturalization Criteria
Citizenship demands integration steps. You’ll need A2-level Portuguese proficiency, a civic knowledge test, and a strict criminal record check. The CIPLE A2 exam evaluates basic language and cultural skills. Start preparing during permanent residency to ease this transition.
Planning Your Long-Term Goals
Permanent residency offers a chance to assess whether citizenship fits your family’s future. Citizenship provides full EU rights and global mobility, while residency meets the needs of those focused on stability in Portugal. Weigh these options as you move forward.
Common Questions About Permanent Residency
Below are answers to frequent queries about transitioning to permanent residency after a Golden Visa.
- Can family members apply with me? Yes, dependents from your original Golden Visa can apply if they’ve met the stay requirements. This includes spouses, children under 26 who are unmarried full-time students, and parents over 65 who remain dependent. Each must prove residency compliance, with only the main applicant tied to the investment.
- Do I keep my investment after permanent residency? No, you can withdraw your €500,000 investment once approved, offering financial flexibility. For VIDA Fund investors, this may sync with the fund’s 6.5-year target to double returns, though past results don’t predict future gains.
- What rights differ between residency and citizenship? Permanent residency allows indefinite rights in Portugal and Schengen travel for tourism, but not EU-wide work or study. Citizenship grants EU-wide rights, voting, and a Portuguese passport for maximum mobility.
- Is a language test needed for residency? No, language skills aren’t required for permanent residency. For citizenship, A2-level Portuguese is mandatory after 10 years, so consider learning during residency.
- How does VIDA Capital assist? We provide full support, from investment compliance records to connecting you with trusted immigration lawyers. Our team coordinates with legal counsel to manage both residency and investment aspects, minimizing your administrative tasks.
- Which agency handles applications? AIMA, the current immigration authority since replacing SEF in 2025, manages processing, biometrics, and approvals. Your lawyer handles all AIMA interactions, with additional entities like tax authorities possibly involved for compliance.
- How long does processing take? Times vary based on AIMA’s workload and application completeness. Submit 30 to 90 days before your current card expires. Permanent residency may take longer due to detailed checks, with your lawyer providing updates.
Conclusion: Build a Lasting Future in Portugal
Shifting from a temporary Golden Visa to permanent residency marks a significant achievement, turning short-term residence into enduring stability. For investors who’ve completed Portugal’s Golden Visa program, this step solidifies your place in one of Europe’s most welcoming countries.
VIDA Capital remains your partner throughout, offering the same dedicated support that guided your initial investment and compliance. Our expertise in immigration advisory and asset-backed hospitality investments ensures a smooth process, letting you focus on your broader goals.
With the option to liquidate your investment upon approval and indefinite rights in Portugal, you gain flexibility for your European plans. Whether aiming for citizenship after 10 years or maintaining residency, you’ve secured access to a stable jurisdiction.
