How to get Portugal citizenship by investment: options, requirements, and timeline

An application for Portugal citizenship can be submitted after 5 years of holding a residence permit. This applies to those who legally study or work in Portugal and to wealthy people who have got a residence permit by investment under the Golden Visa program.

The Portugal Golden Visa Program best suits investors ready to contribute substantially to the country’s economy. The initial investment may be returnable in 5 years.

There are different investment options:

• €250,000+ in the culture, art or reconstruction of the national heritage;

• €500,000+ in fund shares;

• €500,000+ in research programs;

• €500,000+ in a business with the creation of at least 5 jobs;

• in a business with the creation of at least 10 jobs.

The investor will also need to pay mandatory fees. These include the application fee, medical insurance, the residence permit card issuance fee, and fees and commissions related to bank account maintenance.

Under some of the investment options, other taxes and commissions may apply, i.e. under the fund share option.

Under the Golden Visa Program, a Portugal residence permit is available to investors and their close relatives, such as spouses, children, and elderly parents.

It usually takes 8—10 months to obtain Portuguese residence by investment, provided the applicant has legal support helping them through the process.

The status must be renewed every 2 years. The investor must spend 7 days a year in Portugal to maintain their status.

The most common ways for wealthy adults and entrepreneurs to get residence permits in Portugal are the D7, D8, startup, and other national D visas.

To obtain Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation, the visa D holders must:

1. Obtain a Portugal residence permit.

2. Maintain the status for 5 years, observe the conditions for the mandatory periods of stay in the country, and renew the residence permit card every 2 years.

3. After five years, apply for Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation.

The D7 Visa is suitable for individuals with a stable passive income. Foreigners obtain a D7 Visa if they receive dividends, interest, royalties, pensions, and rentals.

The minimum required income depends on the minimum wage in Portugal. In 2024, this is €820 per month. Income requirements also vary depending on the number of dependents the applicant wishes to include, as follows:

• main applicant — 100% of the minimum wage: €820 per month or €9,840 per year;

• spouse or parents of the main applicant — 50% of the minimum wage per person: €410 per month or €4,920 per year;

• dependent children — 30% of the minimum wage per person: €245 per month or €2,940 per year.

A D7 visa holder must spend at least 1.5 years in a row or 16 months in total for 2 years to maintain the status.

Another requirement directly follows from the need to live in the country: the applicant must rent or buy housing where they and their family will live.

The D8 visa, also known as the Digital Nomad Visa, is issued to freelancers, remote employees of foreign companies, self-employed, and individual entrepreneurs.

Digital Nomad Visa applicants confirm a monthly income of at least €3,280. They also need to buy or rent residential properties in Portugal.

The Digital Nomad Visa gives the right to get a Portugal residence permit for 2 years with the opportunity to renew the status. Digital nomads must reside in the country to keep their permits.

The Startup Visa is intended for entrepreneurs launching innovative projects in Portugal. To get a visa, one should:

• apply to an agency which funds programmes for entrepreneurs — the IAPMEI;

• present an innovative business project and open a startup in collaboration with a Portuguese business incubator.

A Startup Visa leads to getting a Portugal residence permit. The first card is issued for two years and can be renewed for three years. Relatives may obtain residency for family reunification.

Portugal citizenship by marriage. Spouses of Portuguese citizens can apply for citizenship after 3 years of marriage. Portugal recognises unregistered marriages, so proven non-marital partnership also counts.

Portugal citizenship by origin. Several categories of persons can apply for citizenship in Portugal at any time. For example, citizenship can be obtained by people, at least one of whose grandparents is a citizen of Portugal.

Sephardic Jews are a separate category. Direct descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Portugal and Spain in the 15th century may qualify for Portuguese or Spanish citizenship by descent.

Portugal citizenship by birth. Anyone born in Portugal gets Portugal citizenship automatically if at least one parent is a Portuguese citizen. Even persons born outside of Portugal are eligible to get citizenship if one of the parents is a Portuguese citizen and the child was registered at a Portuguese consulate.

Children of Portugal resident permit holders also get citizenship by birth. In this case, it does not matter how long the parents lived in Portugal.

If the child was born in Portugal and the parents are foreigners who do not hold a residence permit, they can still get citizenship if at least one of the parents has lived in Portugal for a year.

To be eligible for applying for citizenship, the applicant must fulfil several Portugal citizenship requirements:

1. Resident status for at least 5 years.

2. No criminal record.

3. 18+ years old.

4. Portuguese language knowledge certificate, confirming A2 level.

5. Not a threat to national security.

As a general rule, citizenship can be obtained from 18. Minor children of the investor can also obtain Portuguese citizenship if their parents have held resident status for at least 5 years.

Children under 12 do not have to take a language proficiency test. Children over 12 who study the language at school may also not take the exam.

Required documents for applying for citizenship in Portugal:

• an application form filled out in Portuguese;

• two identical passport photographs, in colour, with a blank background, updated and in favourable conditions for identification. In case the registration is to be carried out at the AIMAl office in Odivelas, Aveiro or Braga;

• valid passport or certified copy;

• evidence of stable and regular resources sufficient for the investor’s own existence and their relatives;

• supporting documents for accommodation in Portugal, if applicable;

• certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin and the country where the applicant has lived continuously for more than 1 year;

• residence permit for at least five years;

• proof of knowledge of basic Portuguese.

There is no need to confirm that the applicant has no criminal record in Portugal. This information will be automatically provided to the Migration Service by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Portugal.

After the residence permit has been maintained for 5 years, one may apply for a permanent residence permit in Portugal or directly for Portugal citizenship. The naturalisation period for Golden Visa holders starts when they pay the government fee during the application process.

Obtaining Portugal citizenship typically takes 7—12 months. The application can be made at different places upon the applicant’s choice:

• the registry office at the place of residence;

• the offices of the National Center for the Integration of Immigrants in Lisbon and Porto;

• the registration centres of the Institute of State Registration and Notaries;

• consulates and representations of Portugal all over the world;

• by mail to the Central Registry Office.

If not all the necessary documents have been provided at once, the Central Registry Office will request the missing documents. The applicant has 20 days to complete the application.

1. Obtaining citizenship without permanent residence. The investor does not need to reside permanently in Portugal to obtain citizenship.

A holder of a residence permit obtained under the Golden Visa Program must spend only 7 days a year in the country to be eligible to apply for citizenship in five years.

A D7 visa holder must spend 1.5 years in a row or 16 months in total for 2 years.

2. High return on investment. Some Golden Visa investment options allow the investor to return the investment after 5 years and even benefit from it.

3. Access to social services. Citizens have access to Portugal’s comprehensive social welfare system, including healthcare, education, and social security benefits.

4. The ratio of price and standard of living. Portugal is known for its high living standards. In the Legatum Prosperity Index, Portugal is ranked 26th out of 167 countries.

However, Portugal remains one of the cheapest countries in the EU. Portugal ranks 29th out of 43 in the price ranking in European countries — compared to neighbouring Spain, prices are lower on average by 12,7%.

5. 172 countries are available visa-free. Portuguese passport holders enjoy access to countries worldwide, including the Schengen Area states and Canada.

The list of 172 visa-free countries for Portuguese citizens includes states that allow Portuguese passport holders entry without a visa, visa upon arrival, or eTA visa.

The states that issue a visa on arrival or online are included in the list because to visit them, Portuguese citizens do not have to go to the consulate, queue up, or make appointments, that is, handle all the visa hassles people want to avoid so much.

1. Obtaining Portugal citizenship by investment is not possible. However, foreigners can go through a multi-step process that involves getting a residence permit through programs like the Golden Visa, D7, or D8 visas and then fulfilling specific requirements over five years to obtain a passport.

2. The Golden Visa Program allows one to obtain residency by investing in funds or other qualifying options; it doesn’t automatically grant citizenship. However, after holding residency for five years and meeting the necessary criteria, individuals may become eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation.

3. Portugal citizenship offers numerous benefits, including visa-free access to over 170 countries, a high quality of life at relatively low costs, a warm climate, comfortable conditions for expats, and a high level of safety.

4. The citizenship application process typically takes 7—12 months. It involves submitting various documents and meeting specific requirements, such as having a clean criminal record, knowledge of the Portuguese language, and stable financial resources.

5. Overall, Portugal offers several pathways to citizenship, including citizenship by naturalisation, marriage, origin, or birth. Each pathway has its own set of requirements and conditions, providing flexibility for individuals seeking Portugal citizenship.