Street scene in central Lisbon, Portugal

Residency by Investment

Portugal Golden Visa

Europe's best-known golden visa: EU residency with a minimal stay requirement and a potential path to citizenship after seven to ten years of legal residence.

Time to residency

10–14 months

Minimum investment

€500,000+

Program Overview

About the Portugal program

In brief

The Portugal program is a residency-by-investment program that grants the right to live in Portugal. The minimum qualifying investment is €500,000+, and approvals typically take 10–14 months. Presence requirement: About 7 days per year on average. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.

Portugal's golden visa remains Europe's most sought-after residency by investment program. Since the 2023 reforms, the primary route is a subscription to a qualifying investment fund; real estate no longer qualifies.

The program's minimal stay requirement — roughly seven days a year — makes it uniquely flexible for global families. The naturalisation clock lengthened in 2026: for applications filed from 19 May 2026 it runs to seven years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and ten years for everyone else, counted from the issue of the first residence permit.

Presence requirement

About 7 days per year on average

Document validity

Permit renewable; permanent residence, and citizenship after 7–10 years of legal residence

Dual nationality

Portugal permits dual citizenship if you later naturalise

How it compares

Portugal against other residency programs

Where Portugal sits among the 8 residency by investment programs we advise on. The gold marker is the peer average.

Minimum investment (lower is better)€500,000

Peer average $428kAbove the peer average

Time to approval (lower is better)10–14 months

Peer average ≈ 14 monthsAt the peer average

Investment is compared on a USD-normalized basis; the label shows this program's own currency. Time uses the upper end of the published range. Figures are indicative.

Key Benefits

Residence in an EU member state with Schengen mobility
A minimal stay requirement of roughly seven days per year
A potential path to permanent residence, and to citizenship after seven to ten years of legal residence
Family members included in a single application

The Life It Unlocks

Seven days a year buys your family a European future.

The lightest presence rule in Europe

Roughly a week a year keeps the residence alive. Your life stays where it is; your European option quietly matures.

Lisbon on a whim

Schengen mobility from day one — the pastel de nata on a Tuesday, the Algarve half-term, no visa desk involved.

The long game, played honestly

Portuguese citizenship remains possible through naturalisation — a longer road since the 2026 reform, and we plan it with eyes open rather than brochure promises.

Investment Pathways

Investment Fund Subscription

From €500,000

Subscription to a qualifying Portuguese investment or venture capital fund. Real estate no longer qualifies.

Held for the duration of the permit

Scientific Research / Cultural Donation

From €250,000

A donation supporting cultural heritage (from €250,000) or scientific research (from €500,000).

Terms move: Portugal's naturalisation timeline lengthened in 2026 (seven to ten years for applications filed from 19 May 2026). The golden visa remains open — the citizenship clock simply runs longer.

Explore your route

From (indicative)

$545,000

Capital treatment

Held for the duration of the permit

Subscription to a qualifying Portuguese investment or venture capital fund. Real estate no longer qualifies.

Who comes with you

Spouse or partner of the main applicant
Dependent children
Dependent parents

Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure

Application Timeline

Your dates

Complete files are typically processed in 10–14 months.

Indicative — based on typical processing of 10–14 months for complete files. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

1
Months 1–2
Investment & preparation
Completion of the qualifying investment, NIF registration, and document preparation.
2
Months 3–6
Application submission
Online submission and payment of processing fees.
3
Months 7–12
Biometrics appointment
In-person biometrics appointment at the migration agency (AIMA).
4
Months 12–14
Permit issuance
Issuance of the golden visa residence permit cards.

Requirements

Qualifying investment maintained for the duration of the permit
Clean criminal record in Portugal and country of residence
Minimal physical presence of roughly seven days per year
Valid health insurance covering Portugal

Family Eligibility

Spouse or partner of the main applicant
Dependent children
Dependent parents

What to Weigh

Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the Portugal program, consider:

Fund investments carry market risk and are not capital-guaranteed — fund selection and diligence matter enormously.
Processing backlogs at AIMA have been significant; realistic timelines run longer than official ones.
The citizenship path requires basic Portuguese (A2), and the clock lengthened in 2026 — seven years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries, ten for everyone else, for applications filed from 19 May 2026.

Does Portugal fit you?

Three questions, scored by the same engine as our Program Finder — with an honest answer, even when it isn't this program.

What are you ultimately looking for?

What investment level are you comfortable with?

How soon do you want this in hand?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still qualify by buying property?

No — real estate was removed from the program in 2023. The primary route today is a €500,000 subscription to a qualifying Portuguese investment fund.

Is the five-year citizenship path guaranteed?

No path to citizenship is guaranteed. After five years of legal residence you may apply for naturalisation, subject to language and integration requirements and the law in force at that time.

How do I choose a qualifying fund?

Funds vary widely in strategy, fees, and exit terms. We work with independent counsel to diligence CMVM-regulated options and match them to your risk tolerance — we take no commissions from funds.