Independent Portuguese immigration-law guidance before you commit substantial capital.
*Last legally reviewed: 23 July 2026
The Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows citizens from non-European Union countries to legally reside in Portugal. After five years of legal residence, holders may become eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency.
Portugal’s Golden Visa — officially known as the Residence Permit for Investment Activity, or ARI — allows eligible third-country nationals to obtain Portuguese residence by completing and maintaining a qualifying investment.
Golden Visa holders may live and work in Portugal, travel within the Schengen Area for short stays and apply for family reunification for eligible relatives, while complying with a limited physical-presence requirement.
The Golden Visa is a residence-by-investment programme. It does not provide automatic Portuguese citizenship, a guaranteed passport or a guaranteed investment return.
Receive an individual legal review before selecting or completing an investment.
The Portugal Golden Visa remains available in 2026.
Portugal continues to accept Golden Visa applications under the qualifying investment categories established by law.
Real estate acquisition, property rehabilitation and investment structures intended directly or indirectly for real-estate investment do not qualify for new Golden Visa applications. The former unrestricted capital-transfer route is also closed.
Portuguese nationality law changed on 19 May 2026. Under the current general naturalisation rules, nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries may become eligible after seven years of legal residence, while most other Golden Visa applicants may become eligible to apply after ten years.
Citizenship is a separate legal procedure. It is not granted automatically through investment or residence.
For new nationality applications, the relevant period is based on legal residence under the rules in force. The former provision allowing time to be counted from the date of a pending temporary residence application has been revoked.
Nationality procedures that were already pending when the new law entered into force remain governed by the previous legislation.
Portugal Golden Visa at a Glance
| Key point | Current position |
|---|---|
| Minimum qualifying amount | From €200,000 for qualifying cultural support in an eligible low-density territory |
| Standard investment fund route | €500,000 in an eligible non-real-estate collective investment undertaking |
| Scientific research | €500,000 investment in eligible scientific research activities |
| Creation of 10 jobs | Direct creation of ten jobs in Portugal |
| Corporate investment and job creation | €500,000 to create or capitalise a company and create five permanent jobs, or to increase the share capital of an existing company while creating at least five permanent jobs or maintaining ten jobs, at least five of which must be permanent |
| Minimum physical presence | 7 days during the first year and 14 days during each subsequent two-year period |
| Initial residence permit | Valid for 2 years from the date of issue |
| Family reunification | Available for eligible family members, subject to the applicable requirements |
| Permanent residence | Potential eligibility to apply after at least 5 years of temporary legal residence |
| Portuguese citizenship | Potential eligibility to apply after 7 or 10 years of legal residence, depending on nationality and subject to all other legal requirements |
The Portugal Golden Visa is a temporary residence permit for investment activity available to eligible third-country nationals.
The programme is not available to Portuguese nationals or to nationals of the European Union, European Economic Area, Andorra or Switzerland.
Applicants must complete an eligible investment, document the lawful origin and transfer of the funds and satisfy the applicable immigration, criminal-record, public-order and security requirements.
The qualifying investment must normally be completed before the ARI application is submitted.
Once granted, the residence permit allows its holder to reside and work in Portugal. It may also support family reunification and short-stay travel within the Schengen Area, subject to the rules applicable to each person and journey.
Yes.
Portugal continues to accept applications based on:
The reforms that removed real estate and certain capital-transfer options did not terminate the Golden Visa programme itself.
Residence in Portugal
Golden Visa holders have the right to reside in Portugal and may undertake employed or self-employed professional activity, subject to any rules applicable to a regulated profession or business activity.
Limited Physical-Presence Requirement
The programme does not require full-time relocation to Portugal. Golden Visa holders must, nevertheless, comply with the statutory minimum stay periods applicable to each residence-permit cycle: only 7 days per year in Portugal.
Potencial Permanent Residence
After at least five years of temporary legal residence, a Golden Visa holder may become eligible to apply for permanent residence, provided that all remaining statutory conditions are satisfied.
Short-Stay Schengen Travel
A valid Portuguese residence permit generally allows its holder to undertake short stays in other Schengen countries under the applicable Schengen rules.
Family Reunification
Eligible family members may apply for Portuguese residence through family reunification. Each family member must satisfy the requirements applicable to their relationship, age, dependency and individual immigration circumstances.
Potencial Portuguese Citizenship
A Golden Visa holder may later become eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship under the nationality law in force at the time.
Investment, residence and the passage of time do not guarantee naturalisation.
The main applicant must generally:
Eligibility must be assessed individually before an investment is completed.
Depending on the individual circumstances, family reunification may include:
Family eligibility is not automatic.
Each family member must provide the relevant identity, civil-status, dependency, criminal-record and other required documents.
| Investment route | Minimum requirement | Principal legal condition |
|---|---|---|
| Non-real-estate collective investment undertaking | €500,000 | Portuguese-law vehicle with a minimum maturity of 5 years at the time of investment and at least 60% invested in Portuguese-headquartered commercial companies |
| Cultural or artistic support | €250,000 | Eligible artistic production or national cultural-heritage initiative through an entity permitted by law |
| Cultural support in an eligible low-density territory | €200,000 | 20% reduction, subject to confirmation that the project and territory qualify |
| Scientific research | €500,000 | Eligible research activity through an institution integrated into the national scientific and technological system |
| Scientific research in an eligible low-density territory | €400,000 | 20% reduction, subject to territorial and institutional eligibility |
| Job creation | 10 jobs | May be reduced to 8 jobs where the activity qualifies for the low-density reduction |
| Company incorporation or capitalisation | €500,000 | Must satisfy the statutory permanent-job creation or maintenance requirements |
The 20% low-density reduction applies only to the qualifying job-creation, scientific-research and cultural-support routes. It does not apply to the investment fund or company-capitalisation routes.
This route requires a minimum subscription of €500,000 in units or interests of one or more eligible non-real-estate collective investment undertakings established under Portuguese law.
At the time of investment:
Immigration eligibility does not make an investment risk-free.
Capital value, liquidity, distributions and returns are not guaranteed. Applicants should obtain independent advice from appropriately authorised financial and tax professionals before subscribing to any investment product.
How to Qualify: Fund Subscription of at least €500,000
To be eligible under this category, applicants must invest a minimum of €500,000 into a Portuguese-regulated investment fund. These funds are typically focused on sectors such as technology, renewable energy, healthcare, real estate development, and other strategic areas. All qualifying funds are subject to regulation by Portugal’s Securities Market Commission (CMVM), ensuring transparency and legal compliance.
Key Benefits of the Investment Fund Route
To submit the application, it will be needed the evidence of the fund subscription, and a certificate confirming the investment details.
Summary:
The investment fund pathway under Portugal’s Golden Visa program offers a secure and streamlined option for individuals seeking EU residency through capital allocation, without the need to establish or operate a business. It is an ideal solution for those who prefer a strategic and diversified investment.
This route requires a minimum capital transfer of €500,000 either:
Applicants should obtain separate corporate, employment, tax and commercial advice before completing the transaction.
Key Benefits of the Business Investment Route
All documentation—such as proof of capital transfer, business registration, and employment contracts—must be submitted as part of the Golden Visa application process and its subsequent renewals.
Summary :
The Portugal company formation route for Golden Visa applicants is a viable option for international investors who want to establish or support a business while obtaining legal residency in Europe. Whether you plan to start a company in Portugal or invest in an existing one, this route enables you to contribute to the national economy and secure long-term residence rights within the European Union.
An applicant may qualify by transferring at least €250,000 for investment in or support of eligible artistic production or the recovery or maintenance of Portuguese national cultural heritage.
The investment or support must be made through an entity permitted under the applicable legislation.
The minimum amount may be reduced to €200,000 where the activity is carried out in an eligible low-density territory.
Before funds are transferred, the following should be confirmed:
Cultural-support arrangements may be structured as non-refundable contributions. The precise legal and financial nature of the payment must be confirmed in the project documentation.
Summary :
The Cultural Golden Visa route offers a unique and impactful way to obtain Portuguese residency by supporting projects of historical and artistic significance. It’s a meaningful investment for those who value heritage preservation and wish to align their residency strategy with social and cultural responsibility.
An applicant may qualify by creating at least ten employment positions in Portugal.
The requirement may be reduced to eight employment positions where the activity is carried out in an eligible low-density territory.
Relevant evidence may include:
The continued existence of the qualifying employment positions will be relevant to both the initial application and subsequent renewals.
Summary :
The job creation option under Portugal’s Golden Visa program is a powerful way for investors to gain EU residency while actively contributing to the country’s labor market. It is particularly attractive for those who wish to establish a real business presence and play a hands-on role in their investment.
A minimum capital transfer of €500,000 may qualify where it is applied to research activities carried out by a public or private scientific-research institution integrated into Portugal’s national scientific and technological system.
The minimum amount may be reduced to €400,000 where the research activity is carried out in an eligible low-density territory.
The eligibility of the institution, project, territorial location and supporting evidence should be confirmed before the transfer is completed.
Summary :
The scientific research investment option offers a meaningful and strategic path to Portuguese residency for those looking to make a positive, lasting contribution to society. By supporting innovation and academic excellence, investors become part of Portugal’s push toward a knowledge-driven future. With a minimum investment of €500,000 and no requirement to manage operations or create jobs, this route balances social responsibility with convenience.
New Golden Visa applications cannot be based on:
An applicant may still acquire property in Portugal independently for personal or commercial purposes, but the acquisition does not constitute a qualifying Golden Visa investment.
The qualifying investment must be completed before the ARI application is submitted.
The applicant must retain the documents required to demonstrate:
The minimum five-year period for maintaining the investment activity is counted from the date on which the residence card is issued.
Applicants must satisfy the applicable:
An application may be refused where a disqualifying conviction, entry prohibition, security alert or other statutory ground exists.
For renewal purposes, a Golden Visa holder must spend at least:
The initial temporary Golden Visa residence permit is valid for two years from the date of issue. Subsequent temporary renewals are granted for periods of two years, subject to continued compliance.
The precise documentary requirements depend on the applicant’s:
An application commonly requires:
Criminal-record certificates and other supporting documents have limited validity periods.
Document collection, translation, certification and legalisation should therefore be coordinated with the intended submission date.
Applicants should not order all documents before receiving an individual document list for their case.
The first stage is an assessment of the applicant’s:
This review should take place before the applicant commits to an investment.
A Portuguese tax identification number and suitable banking arrangements are normally required to complete and document the investment. The applicant may also need to appoint a tax representative, depending on their residence and the rules applicable at the time.
The applicant completes the selected investment after the relevant immigration-law conditions and required evidence have been reviewed. The immigration-law review does not replace independent financial, investment, corporate or tax advice.
The application, supporting documents and applicable analysis fee are submitted through the competent ARI procedure. The mandatory online pre-registration is completed through the ARI portal. This platform is reserved for registered users only.
AIMA reviews the application and may request:
When the application reaches the relevant stage, the main applicant and participating family members attend an in-person appointment in Portugal for identity verification, biometrics collection and original-document review.
Following approval and payment of the applicable issuance fees, the residence cards are issued.
After issuance, the applicant must:
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal, financial, investment or tax advice.
Eligibility, documents, costs, processing periods and outcomes depend on:
Submission of an online form does not create a lawyer-client relationship.
No investment return, residence approval, permanent residence, Portuguese citizenship or passport outcome is guaranteed.
Any financial or investment decision should be made with advice from appropriately authorised professionals.
Caiado Immigration provides Portuguese immigration-law services and does not guarantee or promote the financial performance of any investment product.
There is no guaranteed end-to-end processing period.
The total duration depends on factors including:
Any processing estimate provided during an initial assessment is indicative only and is not a legal deadline or guarantee.
Residence years are counted by reference to the relevant period of legal residence and the date of issue of the residence permit—not merely from the date of online submission of the Golden Visa application.
For new nationality applications, the previous rule allowing the period to be counted from the date of a pending temporary residence application no longer applies.
The amounts below are the reduced rates currently published for applications presented through a digital channel.
| Stage | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Initial application | Reception and analysis of the ARI application | €632.10 per applicant |
| Renewal application | Reception and analysis of the ARI renewal | €632.10 per applicant |
| Initial residence permit | Issuance of the temporary ARI residence permit | €6,314.20 per applicant |
| Family residence permit | Issuance of a residence permit for a family member joining an ARI holder | €6,314.20 per applicant |
| Temporary residence renewal | Renewal of the ARI residence permit | €3,157.80 per applicant |
| Family residence renewal | Renewal of the residence permit of a family member of an ARI holder | €3,157.80 per applicant |
| Permanent ARI residence | Issuance of the permanent ARI residence permit | €8,840.00 per applicant |
| Permanent ARI residence | Renewal of the permanent residence card | €4,420.70 per applicant |
Where the digital-channel reduction is not applicable, the corresponding standard rates currently published are:
| Stage | Standard amount |
|---|---|
| Reception and analysis | €806.80 per applicant |
| Initial temporary ARI residence permit | €8,060.20 per applicant |
| Temporary ARI renewal | €4,030.90 per applicant |
| Permanent ARI residence permit | €11,284.60 per applicant |
| Renewal of the permanent ARI residence card | €5,643.00 per applicant |
The amounts above do not include:
AIMA fees may be indexed, amended or interpreted differently depending on the channel and procedure used. The amount in force when payment becomes due prevails.
Fees may be adjusted by AIMA without prior notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the official visa fee table on the AIMA website.
After holding temporary Portuguese residence for at least five years, a Golden Visa holder may become eligible to apply for permanent residence.
The current permanent-residence requirements include:
Golden Visa holders and eligible family members who satisfy the permanent-residence conditions may apply for the specific permanent residence status available to ARI holders.
Permanent residence does not have a fixed expiry date.
The physical permanent residence card is issued for five years and must be renewed every five years or when the identification details recorded on it change.
Portuguese citizenship is governed by nationality law and is separate from the Golden Visa programme.
Under the law currently in force:
Applicants must satisfy all other nationality requirements applicable at the time of submission.
These currently include requirements relating to:
Eligibility to apply does not mean that citizenship is automatic.
Investment, residence and the passage of the relevant period do not guarantee naturalisation or the issuance of a Portuguese passport.
Before proceeding, applicants should consider:
Confirmation that an investment may satisfy the immigration requirements does not constitute a recommendation that the investment is financially suitable, profitable or appropriate for the applicant.
A Golden Visa application involves more than submitting immigration forms.
It requires coordination between:
Our Portuguese immigration-law services may include:
Investment, financial and tax advice should be provided by appropriately authorised professionals. Our immigration-law assessment remains independent from investment promoters and product providers.
There is no guaranteed end-to-end processing period.
Timing depends on AIMA’s administrative capacity, appointment availability, requests for further information and the circumstances of the applicant and investment.
Eligible family members may apply through family reunification.
Eligibility depends on the relationship, age, dependency and documentation applicable to each person.
No separate qualifying investment is generally required for each eligible family member.
Government fees, document requirements and individual admissibility assessments apply separately to every participating applicant.
Yes. A Portuguese residence permit generally allows its holder to undertake employed or self-employed professional activity in Portugal, subject to any rules applicable to a regulated profession or business activity.
No. Tax residence depends on the applicable statutory tests and the individual’s actual circumstances.
The qualifying investment activity must be maintained for as long as the Golden Visa residence permit is granted.
The precise obligation should be reviewed for the selected investment route and the applicant’s later residence status.
Potentially. The applicant must have held legal residence for at least five years and satisfy the remaining permanent-residence requirements, including the applicable Portuguese-language, subsistence, accommodation, tax, social-security and criminal-record conditions.
For new nationality applications, the former provision allowing time to be counted from the date of a pending temporary residence application has been revoked.
The applicable period is now based on legal residence under the nationality law in force.
No. Citizenship is a separate legal procedure and is not guaranteed by making an investment, holding a Golden Visa or completing the minimum residence period.
Yes. Portugal continues to accept Golden Visa applications under the qualifying investment routes currently established by law.
Real estate and the former unrestricted capital-transfer route do not qualify for new applications
No. A new Golden Visa application cannot be based on the purchase or rehabilitation of residential or commercial real estate.
Property may still be purchased independently, but it will not constitute a qualifying Golden Visa investment.
The lowest statutory amount is €200,000 for qualifying cultural support carried out in an eligible low-density territory.
The standard cultural-support amount is €250,000.
The investment fund, scientific-research and company-capitalisation routes generally require €500,000, subject to the specific legal conditions.
The legislation refers to the acquisition of units or interests in qualifying non-real-estate collective investment undertakings.
Whether a proposed combination of investments satisfies the legal and documentary requirements should be assessed before the subscriptions are completed.
A Golden Visa holder must spend at least seven days in Portugal during the first year and at least fourteen days during each subsequent two-year period.
The required days may be consecutive or non-consecutive.
Any proposed change, replacement or restructuring of the qualifying investment should be reviewed before it takes place. An unauthorised interruption or change may affect the applicant’s eligibility or ability to renew the residence permit.
Under the current general rules:
All other nationality requirements must also be satisfied.
No. Immigration eligibility does not guarantee a fund’s value, performance, liquidity, distributions or repayment of capital.