Securing EU residency through investment offers significant benefits for high-net-worth individuals and their families, especially in times of global uncertainty. The Portugal Golden Visa program stands out as a practical option, providing a clear path to residency and eventual citizenship.
This guide breaks down the process timeline for 2025, covering each step from initial investment to permanent residency and citizenship, with a focus on the investment fund route in Portugal’s hospitality sector.
What Makes the Portugal Golden Visa a Smart Choice for EU Residency?
Portugal’s Golden Visa program attracts non-EU investors by offering a straightforward way to gain residency and a future path to citizenship. Its flexibility, with minimal time spent in the country, makes it a convenient backup plan for those seeking global mobility without relocating right away.
Key advantages include visa-free travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, the option to include family in one application, and access to Portugal’s healthcare and education systems. Investors only need to spend 14 days in Portugal every two years to keep their residency active, a feature that suits those maintaining their primary home elsewhere.
Portugal ranks as the 7th safest country in the 2025 Global Peace Index and offers a high quality of life. Its tourism industry is booming, with 31 million visitors in 2024 contributing €27 billion in revenue, and non-residents making up 70.3% of overnight stays. Hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside other nations will likely boost the economy further, with an expected impact of over €800 million.
Key Steps in the Portugal Golden Visa Timeline
Navigating the Portugal Golden Visa timeline requires clear planning. The process, from application to receiving your residency card, generally takes 12 to 18 months, depending on the workload at AIMA, Portugal’s immigration agency. Here are the six main stages with their specific requirements.
Step 1: Preparing and Choosing Your Investment
Success with the Golden Visa starts with careful planning. The pre-application phase involves critical tasks that benefit from expert support.
First, you’ll need specialized legal counsel. A lawyer’s guidance is essential for a smooth process. VIDA Capital connects investors with experienced law firms familiar with the program. Your lawyer helps obtain a Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF), often remotely, to simplify the setup.
Opening a Portuguese bank account comes next, also manageable remotely with legal help. This account is necessary for your investment and to show financial capacity to authorities.
Choosing your investment is the most important decision. Since October 2023, a minimum of €500,000 in eligible investment funds is required, as personal properties no longer qualify. This change has driven interest in funds targeting opportunities in Portugal’s hospitality sector.
Step 2: Submitting Your Initial Application
After securing your investment and completing paperwork, your lawyer submits the application to AIMA for you and any included family members. AIMA reviews the submission for completeness, verifies the investment, and runs background checks. Thorough documentation speeds up this stage, highlighting the value of experienced legal support.
Step 3: Biometrics and Approval Card Issuance
Once initially approved, all applicants must attend a biometrics appointment in Portugal to provide data and pay card issuance fees. 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.
Step 4: Renewing Your Residency Card
The initial residency card lasts two years. To maintain status, renewals are required during the five-year period before permanent residency. Each renewal needs proof of sustained investment, the 14-day stay over the prior two years, updated criminal records, and new biometrics. With experienced advisors, renewals are typically simpler than the first application.
Step 5: Applying for Permanent Residency After 5 Years
After five years of maintaining your Golden Visa, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. This status offers more security without periodic renewals, provided you continue meeting the investment and stay requirements. It marks a key milestone toward citizenship.
Step 6: Reaching Citizenship After 10 Years
In October 2025, Portugal’s Parliament updated citizenship rules, extending the residency requirement to 10 years for most applicants. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens qualify after seven years. This change applies to new Golden Visa applicants unless their citizenship application was submitted before the law’s publication. Despite the longer timeline, Portugal remains one of few European countries offering citizenship without mandatory relocation.
What Affects the Portugal Golden Visa Processing Time?
Several factors can influence how long the Golden Visa process takes. Understanding these variables helps set realistic expectations for your application.
- Application volume often delays processing, especially in high-demand areas like Lisbon, due to historical backlogs. AIMA is working to reduce these delays.
- Incomplete or incorrect paperwork can slow things down if AIMA requests additional details. Specialized legal counsel ensures proper submission.
- Seasonal staffing reductions, often in summer, may affect processing speed. Timing your application can help avoid such delays.
- Planning for the longer end of the 12-to-18-month range prepares you for unexpected waits, avoiding conflicts with other commitments.
Why Opt for an Investment Fund with VIDA Capital?
Since October 2023, the Golden Visa requires a minimum €500,000 investment in eligible funds, as personal properties no longer qualify. This has increased interest in managed funds offering both compliance and potential returns.
Investment funds provide a clear, regulated path, especially in sectors like hospitality. VIDA Capital focuses on asset-backed opportunities within Portugal’s vibrant hospitality market, aligning with regulatory standards.
Portugal’s tourism growth surpasses many European counterparts, with visitor numbers and revenue at record highs. By 2035, the World Travel & Tourism Council expects tourism to account for 22.6% of Portugal’s GDP, signaling sustained growth.
The VIDA Fund prioritizes capital preservation through asset-backed investments. Unlike equity-only options, physical hospitality assets hold intrinsic value, offering security for invested capital. This approach suits investors balancing Golden Visa eligibility with financial stability.
Through its ‘Giving Hotels a Second Life’ strategy, the VIDA Fund acquires underperforming hospitality assets and revitalizes them with operational upgrades and repositioning. This aims to create value for investors while supporting sustainable tourism in Portugal.
VIDA Capital, as an advisory firm, eases the Golden Visa process with personalized support, connecting investors in the VIDA Fund with legal experts and managing administrative tasks for efficiency.
Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
What Are the Costs of the Portugal Golden Visa?
Knowing the full cost of the Golden Visa aids in financial planning. Beyond the €500,000 investment minimum, additional fees apply across the process.
- Government fees include €618.60 per family member for application submission, €6,179.40 per person for card issuance at biometrics, €3,023.20 per renewal at years two and four, and €250 for citizenship after 10 years.
- Legal fees range from €16,000 to €20,000, depending on case complexity. Expert counsel is vital for successful processing.
- The VIDA Fund charges a 1% subscription fee on the invested amount, standard for accessing professional management in hospitality assets.
For a single applicant, total costs typically fall between €550,000 and €580,000, with extra fees for family members. This breakdown helps in budgeting for EU residency and citizenship.
How Does Portugal’s Golden Visa Compare to Other Programs?
Portugal’s Golden Visa offers unique benefits compared to other European residency options, especially since several competing programs have changed or ended.
|
Feature |
Portugal (Current) |
Spain (Current) |
Greece (Current) |
|
Citizenship Path |
10 years (5+5 model) |
Program discontinued |
7 years |
|
Relocation for Citizenship |
No |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Minimum Stay |
14 days/2 years |
N/A |
None (for residency maintenance) |
|
Investment Options |
Investment funds only |
N/A |
Various options available |
Spain has discontinued its Golden Visa, removing a key competitor. Greece’s program has no minimum stay for residency if the investment is maintained, but citizenship requires seven years of living there. Portugal stands out as one of the few European countries providing a citizenship path without relocation, paired with minimal stay requirements and family inclusion options.
Common Questions About the Portugal Golden Visa Timeline
How Long Does the Process Take to Get the First Residency Card?
The process from application to receiving your first residency card generally takes 12 to 18 months. Delays can occur based on AIMA’s workload or documentation issues, so planning for flexibility is wise.
How Soon Is the Residency Card Issued After Biometrics?
Card issuance depends on current processing volumes. Most receive their cards after biometrics, but preparing for potential delays avoids frustration.
Does Processing Time Count Toward the 10-Year Citizenship Requirement?
Legal residency for citizenship usually begins at final Golden Visa approval. However, interpretations differ, so consulting legal experts clarifies how this applies to your timeline.
How Does VIDA Capital Ease the Golden Visa Process?
VIDA Capital simplifies the process with expert advice, documentation assistance, and connections to skilled lawyers. As an advisory firm, we bridge investors in the VIDA Fund with legal support, ensuring efficiency and clear communication throughout.
What Are the Minimum Stay Requirements?
You must spend just 14 days in Portugal every two years during the residency period. This low requirement holds through the initial five years and beyond, offering flexibility for those based elsewhere.
Can Family Be Included, and Does It Impact Timing?
Yes, spouses, dependent children who are full-time students and unmarried, and dependent parents or in-laws over 65 can join your application. Family inclusion doesn’t significantly delay processing, as everyone is handled together. All must attend biometrics in Portugal and meet the 14-day stay rule.
Navigate Your Golden Visa Journey with Confidence
The Portugal Golden Visa process spans multiple stages over years, yet it provides a valuable route to EU residency and citizenship for high-net-worth individuals. Grasping the timeline, from preparation to citizenship after 10 years, supports effective planning.
With a focus on investment funds since 2023 and an extended citizenship timeline, choosing the right advisory partner is crucial. VIDA Capital offers guidance on asset-backed investments in Portugal’s hospitality sector, balancing visa eligibility with financial security.
Portugal’s program remains appealing as one of the few in Europe not requiring relocation for citizenship, alongside low stay obligations and family benefits. This makes it a strong option in an uncertain world. Professional support and strategic investments ensure compliance and position you for long-term mobility.
As AIMA addresses past backlogs, processing should become more consistent. Still, the core value of the program holds: a reliable path to EU residency and citizenship through investment in Portugal’s economy.
