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get your free portugal GOLDEN VISA consultation
250,000
Minimum investment amount
12 MONTHS
Application processing time
7 DAYS
Minimum annual stay requirement
5 years
You can apply for citizenship
ABOUT portugal
Portugal is a country of 10.6 million people, located at the western tip of the European continent. It has the North Atlantic Ocean on its West and South and borders with Spain in the North and East. The Azores and Madeira island complexes, located in the Atlantic Ocean, are autonomous regions of Portugal. Lisbon is the capital and Porto is the second-largest city. While the country’s official language is Portuguese, English is widely spoken.
The country offers an excellent lifestyle and a very affordable cost of living by European standards. It has been voted as the world’s best travel destination for three consecutive years, as well as the best country to work for digital nomads. It ranks 2nd most comfortable retirement destination, 4th best destination for expats and 7th safest country in the world. Portugal offers world-class educational and healthcare facilities and a pleasant Mediterranean climate. The country is renowned for its local cuisine and fabulous wines.
Portugal is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area. Its passport ranks 4th strongest in the world, allowing visa-free travel to 188 countries.
PORTUGAL GOLDEN VISA conditions
NON-EU NATIONALS
Applicants must not be nationals of any other EU state or Switzerland.
CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD
A clean criminal record is required, both in Portugal (including the Schengen Area) and in the applicant's current country of residence.
MINIMUM INVESTMENT IN PORTUGAL
The required minimum contribution must be completed. This can be a donation of €250,000 or an investment of at least €500,000.
FAMILY MEMBERS MAY BE INCLUDED
The golden visa applicant may request family reunification for their spouse (including civil and same gender partners), children up to the age of 25 and the parents of both the main applicant and their spouse or partner.
Investment options for the PORTUGAL Golden Visa
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION
The cheapest contribution option is through a donation of €250,000 or more in support of artistic production or to be used in the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage. Note that this is a non-refundable donation.
The contribution is reduced to €200,000 if made in a sparsely populated area.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION
It is also possible to meet the minimum contribution requirement by donating €500,000 towards scientific or technological research carried out by public or private scientific research institutions operating in Portugal.
The contribution is reduced to €400,000 if made in a sparsely populated area.
INVESTMENT IN QUALIFYING FUNDS
The most common investment option is by buying units in qualifying collective investment schemes, such as investment funds and private equity funds.
In order to qualify, these funds must maintain at least 60% of their investments in companies registered in Portugal and must not directly or indirectly invest in real estate. The funds must have a maturity of at least 5 years.
The investor may choose to invest the entire amount of €500,000 in a single fund or in a portfolio of funds, so as to diversify risk.
JOB CREATION OPTIONS
It is also possible to qualify for a golden visa through one of the following job creation options:
- Creation of at least 10 new jobs
- Investment of €500,000 to incorporate a new commercial company or in the capital of an existing company in Portugal, creating 5 permanent jobs for at least 3 years
- Investment of €500,000 in the capital of an existing commercial company in Portugal, employing at least 10 employees, of which at least 5 are permanent jobs, for at least 3 years
PORTUGAL Residency TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Procedures for PORTUGAL Golden Visa Program
COMPLETE YOUR INVESTMENT
The first step is to obtain a Portuguese taxpayer number and to open a local bank account. There is no need for you to visit Portugal for these matters.
The funds for your investment must come from overseas and will normally be sent to your new Portuguese bank account. From there, you will be able to make your investment.
If investing in funds, some funds will provide the possibility of investing directly from your overseas bank account.
Once you have concluded your investment, you will be eligible to submit your golden visa application.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Once you have made your investment, we will prepare your golden visa application.
We will advise you of all the documents required and will arrange for these to be translated if necessary.
Documents issued overseas will need to be legalised by Apostille or certified by a Portuguese embassy or consulate.
We will then submit your application to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). As from 2025, AIMA has introduced an online platform, aimed at processing applications more efficiently and thus reducing waiting times.
MEET WITH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES
Typical processing time for your golden visa application is approximately 12 months.
During this time, AIMA will issue a pre-approval and arrange an appointment with the applicant and all accompanying family members, so that their biometric data may be collected.
All original personal documents will also need to be presented at this meeting.
YOU CAN NOW LIVE IN PORTUGAL!
A few weeks after your meeting with AIMA, the final approval of your golden visa application will be issued and you will receive your residence cards.
Your visa is issued with a validity of two years. At the end of the two years, you will need to renew the visa for a further term of three years.
At the completion of 5 years from the date of your original visa application, you will be eligible to apply for citizenship. This is provided you have spent at least 14 days in Portugal during each 2-year period.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum investment for the Portugal Golden Visa?
The minimum qualifying investment is a donation of €250,000 towards the support of artistic production or the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage.
As this is non-refundable, the most popular investment option is through the purchase of units in qualifying investment funds of a minimum amount of €500,000.
Can I bring my family with this visa?
The Portugal golden visa allows the main applicant to apply for reunification with their family members. This includes their spouse (including civil and same gender spouse), children under the age of 18 (including adopted children) and the parents of both, the applicant and their spouse.
Children aged 18 to 25, who are single, studying and financially dependent on the applicant can also be included.
How long does the process take?
Following the introduction of a new digital application platform in 2025, processing time is expected to be reduced to 12 months.
Can I work or start a business in Portugal with this visa?
Absolutely! The golden visa allows you to live, study and work in Portugal without any limitation. This also includes setting up a local business or company.
Can I travel freely throughout Europe?
As a holder of a Portuguese golden visa, you will be entitled to move freely within other European Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days.
Does the golden visa lead to a Portuguese passport?
At the completion of 5 years from the date on which you first apply for a golden visa in Portugal and provided you have spent at least 14 days in each 2-year period in the country, you will be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship. You will also be required to have a knowledge of the Portuguese language at A2 level.
If you have a child in Portugal while holding a golden visa, your child will automatically acquire Portuguese citizenship.
As a Portuguese citizen, you will have the right to live and work anywhere within the European Union.
