29

Schengen countries

€250,000

Minimum requirement

24+ months

Estimated processing time

The Portugal Golden Visa allows qualifying applicants and their eligible family members to obtain residence in Portugal while maintaining a low physical presence requirement. 

Applicants must spend 14 days in Portugal during each two-year residence period to maintain and renew the permit. 

The program may also provide a route to permanent residence after five years of legal residence, subject to meeting the applicable requirements, including language and other conditions. Portuguese citizenship may also be available after a longer period of legal residence, subject to nationality law requirements in force at the time of application. 

Portugal continues to attract investors, entrepreneurs, retirees, and families seeking European residence, Schengen Area access, education options, lifestyle flexibility, and long-term international planning opportunities. 

Benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa Program

One of the key benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa is the ability to include eligible family members in the same application. Family members may include a spouse or legal partner, children under 18, unmarried dependent children over 18 in full-time education, dependent parents over 55, and parents over 65, subject to meeting the applicable requirements. This makes the program particularly attractive for families seeking a European residence option that can support education, lifestyle, mobility, and long-term planning across generations.

The Portugal Golden Visa is designed for flexibility. Applicants are not required to relocate permanently to Portugal. To renew the residence permit, Golden Visa holders must spend 14 full days in Portugal during each two-year period. This low physical presence requirement allows applicants to maintain a primary residence, business, or family base elsewhere while securing Portuguese residence and access to the Schengen Area.

The Portugal Golden Visa may provide a route to permanent residence after five years of legal residence, subject to meeting the relevant requirements, including a basic Portuguese language certificate. Portuguese citizenship may also be available after a longer period of legal residence, subject to the nationality law requirements in force at the time of application. Under current rules, most non-CPLP nationals may apply for naturalization after 10 years of legal residence, while certain nationals may be subject to different timelines. Portuguese citizenship, if granted, provides the rights of EU citizenship, including the right to live, work, study, and establish a business across the European Union.

Portugal is part of the Schengen Area. Golden Visa holders may travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This can be highly valuable for families, entrepreneurs, and globally mobile individuals who regularly travel across Europe for business, education, lifestyle, or family reasons.

Who Can Get a Portugal Golden Visa

To apply for the Portugal Golden Visa, the main applicant must generally: 

  • Be over 18 years old 
  • Be a non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss national 
  • Make and maintain a qualifying investment 
  • Hold a clean criminal record 
  • Meet due diligence and source of funds requirements 
  • Have no outstanding debts to the Portuguese authorities 
  • Hold valid health insurance 
  • Meet the minimum physical presence requirements 
  • Provide the required civil, financial, and supporting documentation 

All applications are subject to review by the relevant Portuguese authorities. 

A spouse or legal partner over the age of 18 may be included in the Portugal Golden Visa application, subject to providing the required documentation and meeting the relevant eligibility and due diligence requirements. 

Eligible children may be included in the application. 

This may include children under 18, as well as unmarried dependent children over 18 who are in full-time education and financially dependent on the main applicant, subject to the applicable requirements. 

Dependent parents may also be included in the application. 

This may include dependent parents over 55 and parents over 65, subject to meeting the relevant family dependency and documentation requirements. 

Program Requirements

To be eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa, applicants must make one qualifying investment and meet all other program requirements. The following options may be available:

Option 1: Venture Capital or Investment Fund 

Invest €500,000 into qualifying Portuguese investment funds or venture capital funds. 

The fund must meet the applicable legal requirements and cannot be connected to real estate. 

This is currently one of the most commonly used Portugal Golden Visa routes for applicants seeking a structured investment pathway. 

Option 2: Cultural or Artistic Support 

Make a qualifying capital transfer of €250,000 to support artistic production or the recovery or maintenance of Portuguese national cultural heritage. 

This amount may be reduced to €200,000 in low-density areas, subject to availability and approval. 

Option 3: Scientific Research 

Make a €500,000 capital transfer for investment in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions in Portugal. 

Option 4: Job Creation 

Create at least 10 full-time jobs in Portugal. 

Option 5: Business Investment 

Invest €500,000 or more to establish a Portuguese commercial company or increase the share capital of an existing Portuguese company, combined with the creation of at least five permanent jobs. 

Other Portugal Golden Visa Requirements and Benefits 

Applicants must maintain the qualifying investment for the required period and meet the minimum physical presence requirement. 

To renew the Portugal Golden Visa, applicants must spend 14 full days in Portugal during each two-year residence period. 

Portugal offers a high standard of living, strong infrastructure, access to education and healthcare, and a stable European base for internationally mobile families. 

Tax planning should always be considered separately. Applicants should seek professional tax advice before relocating, changing tax residence, or making any investment decision. 

Speak to an Expert

Latitude is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals are specialists in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients understand how the Portugal Golden Visa compares with other European and global residence options, including Malta, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Panama, and other jurisdictions. Every applicant’s circumstances are different. A private consultation can help determine whether the Portugal Golden Visa aligns with your nationality, family profile, investment preferences, tax considerations, timeline, and long-term objectives.

Latitude is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals are specialists in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients understand how the Portugal Golden Visa compares with other European and global residence options, including Malta, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Panama, and other jurisdictions. Every applicant’s circumstances are different. A private consultation can help determine whether the Portugal Golden Visa aligns with your nationality, family profile, investment preferences, tax considerations, timeline, and long-term objectives.

Speak to an Expert

Application Process

  • Months 1-24+

    From Client Onboarding To Your Portugal Golden Visa

    We begin with an initial consultation and pre-application assessment to understand your objectives, family profile, nationality, investment preferences, timeline, and source of funds position. Following successful initial screening, Latitude will provide a Client Agreement for review and signature.

    After onboarding, the legal process in Portugal begins. This may include obtaining a Portuguese tax identification number, opening a Portuguese bank account, reviewing qualifying investment options, undertaking investment compliance, and preparing the required documentation.

    Applicants must provide civil and financial documents, including passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates where applicable, criminal record certificates, proof of funds, source of funds documentation, and other supporting evidence.

    Once the investment and supporting documentation are ready, the application is submitted electronically to AIMA, Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum. The initial application is managed remotely. Due to processing backlogs, it can take 18–24+ months before applicants and their families are invited to attend their biometric appointment in Portugal.

    Upon receiving an invitation from AIMA, Latitude coordinates the client’s biometric appointment in Portugal. Once the application is approved and the residence permit is issued, the applicant and eligible family members receive Portuguese residence cards.

    Residence permits are generally granted for two years and must be renewed, subject to maintaining the qualifying investment and meeting the physical presence requirement.

  • From Year 2 Onwards

    Renewing Your Portugal Golden Visa

    The Portugal Golden Visa must be renewed every two years.

    To renew, applicants must maintain the qualifying investment and spend 14 full days in Portugal during each two-year residence period.

    Latitude can assist with the renewal process, helping clients prepare documentation, track timelines, and meet ongoing requirements.

  • Year 5

    Applying for Permanent Residence

    After five years of legal residence, Portugal Golden Visa holders may be eligible to apply for permanent residence, subject to meeting the applicable requirements.

    These may include a basic Portuguese language certificate and other conditions required under Portuguese law.

    If permanent residence is granted, the applicant may no longer be required to maintain the original qualifying investment, subject to the rules in force at the time.

  • Year 10

    Applying for Citizenship

    Portuguese citizenship may be available after a longer period of legal residence, subject to the nationality law requirements in force at the time of application.

    Under current rules, most non-CPLP nationals may apply for naturalization after 10 years of legal residence. Certain nationals, including nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries, may be subject to different timelines.

    Applicants should expect to meet requirements related to Portuguese language, integration, clean criminal record, and other legal criteria.

    Citizenship, if granted, provides access to a Portuguese passport and the full rights of EU citizenship, including the right to live, work, study, and establish a business across the European Union.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Portugal Golden Visa is a Residence by Investment program that allows eligible non-EU nationals to obtain Portuguese residence through a qualifying investment. 

It provides the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, visa-free travel within the Schengen Area, and a potential long-term route to permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship, subject to meeting the relevant requirements. 

The main benefits include Portuguese residence rights, Schengen Area travel access, family inclusion, low physical presence requirements, access to Portugal’s high quality of life, and a potential long-term route to permanent residence or citizenship. 

The program is especially attractive for individuals and families who want a flexible European base without immediately relocating full-time. 

The minimum investment may start from €200,000 for cultural or artistic support in eligible low-density areas, subject to availability and approval. 

Other common routes include €500,000 into qualifying venture capital or investment funds, €500,000 for scientific research, €500,000 for business investment combined with job creation, or the creation of at least 10 full-time jobs. 

No. Real estate is no longer a qualifying investment route for the Portugal Golden Visa. 

Applicants who wish to pursue the program must consider other qualifying routes, such as investment funds, cultural support, scientific research, job creation, or business investment. 

The fund route requires a €500,000 investment into qualifying Portuguese investment funds or venture capital funds. 

The fund must meet the relevant legal requirements and cannot be connected to real estate. 

Applicants should conduct careful due diligence on any fund before investing and should seek independent legal, tax, and financial advice. 

In certain circumstances, U.S. investors may be able to use retirement account structures, such as a Self-Directed IRA or Solo 401(k), to invest in a qualifying Portugal Golden Visa fund. 

This is a complex and highly specialized structure. It should only be considered after independent legal, tax, financial, and retirement account advice. Latitude does not provide tax, investment, financial, or retirement planning advice, but may introduce clients to independent third-party service providers where appropriate. 

Processing times vary and can be affected by AIMA capacity, document readiness, investment completion, due diligence, and biometric appointment availability. 

As a general guide, it may take 18–24+ months before applicants are invited to attend biometrics, although timelines can vary significantly. 

No. The Portugal Golden Visa has a low physical presence requirement. 

Applicants must spend 14 full days in Portugal during each two-year residence period to renew the permit. 

Yes. Portugal Golden Visa holders have the right to live, work, and study in Portugal. 

Yes. Eligible family members may be included, subject to meeting the relevant requirements. 

This may include a spouse or legal partner, children under 18, unmarried dependent children over 18 in full-time education, dependent parents over 55, and parents over 65. 

Yes. After five years of legal residence, Portugal Golden Visa holders may be eligible to apply for permanent residence, subject to meeting the relevant requirements. 

A basic Portuguese language certificate is typically required. 

Yes, but the timeline and requirements depend on the nationality law in force at the time of application. 

Under current rules, most non-CPLP nationals may apply for naturalization after 10 years of legal residence. Certain nationals, including nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries, may be subject to different timelines. 

Applicants must also satisfy requirements relating to language, integration, criminal record, and other legal criteria. 

No. Citizenship is never guaranteed. 

Any application for Portuguese citizenship is subject to eligibility, documentation, language, legal residence, due diligence, and final government decision-making. 

Yes. Portugal is part of the Schengen Area. 

Golden Visa holders may travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. 

 The Portugal Golden Visa is generally renewed every two years. 

To renew, applicants must maintain their qualifying investment and meet the minimum physical presence requirement of 14 full days in Portugal during each two-year period. 

Required documents typically include passports, criminal record certificates, proof of health insurance, civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates, proof of investment, source of funds documentation, and other supporting evidence. 

Exact requirements depend on the applicant’s family profile, nationality, investment route, and circumstances. 

Portugal may be attractive for families seeking a safe European base, Schengen Area access, international education options, healthcare access, lifestyle flexibility, and long-term planning opportunities. 

The ability to include eligible family members can make the Portugal Golden Visa suitable for multi-generational planning. 

Portugal may appeal to entrepreneurs and investors seeking access to Europe, lifestyle flexibility, business opportunities, and long-term residence planning. 

Applicants interested in business investment, job creation, or fund investment should seek professional advice before choosing a route. 

A basic Portuguese language certificate is generally required for permanent residence and citizenship applications. 

Applicants do not need to be fluent, but they should expect to demonstrate basic knowledge of Portuguese if they later pursue permanent residence or citizenship. 

Residence by investment programs can change over time. Investment routes, thresholds, eligibility rules, timelines, and renewal requirements may be amended by the government. 

Applicants should seek up-to-date advice before making decisions and should not assume that current rules will remain available indefinitely. 

The Portugal Golden Visa may be suitable if you are seeking flexible European residence, Schengen Area access, family inclusion, and long-term optionality. 

However, the best route depends on your nationality, family composition, investment preferences, tax position, source of funds, timeline, and long-term plans. A private consultation can help determine whether Portugal is the right fit or whether another residence or citizenship option may be more suitable. 

Speak to one of our global experts and begin your journey today

The Latitude Group is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals are specialists in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients compare global residence and citizenship options and understand which routes may support their mobility, family security, education, lifestyle, business, and long-term planning objectives. Speak with a member of our team to explore whether the Portugal Golden Visa is right for you and your family.

  • Visa-free travel: 29 Schengen Area countries
  • Minimal physical presence
  • Potential pathway to Portuguese permanent residence and citizenship

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