Portugal Golden Visa

Frequently asked questions

• Who can get a Portugal Golden Visa?

  An adult investor with proven legal income earned outside Portugal can get a Portugal Golden Visa, also known as a Portugal residence permit by investment. The applicant must have no criminal record and valid medical insurance.

  A spouse, children under 26, and parents can get Portuguese investment visas with the investor. Adult children must financially depend on the investor. For example, if they are students at a university, the investor pays tuition fees.

• How much to invest in getting a Portugal Golden Visa?

  The Golden Residence Permit Program offers investors five options. Supporting arts and the Portuguese national cultural heritage requires the least investment amount — €250,000.

  The most popular investment options is buying investment fund units for €500,000.

• Is it possible to return the investment?

  Some options provide investors with opportunities to return the money. For example, they can exit the investment in the fund units in 6 to 10 years. In the meantime, the investor can receive passive income and benefit from the asset value growth.

• Can your company guarantee that I will get a Golden Visa?

  No one can guarantee that you will get Portugal residency by investment. Moreover, if a company guarantees success, you probably deal with scammers.

  Immigrant Invest conducts a preliminary Due Diligence to reduce the rejection risk to 1%. A certified Anti Money Laundering Officer examines investors’ documents considering the nuances of Due Diligence in the particular country. If there are any risks revealed, we search for a solution. For example, to add specific documents or choose another program.

• Do I have to pay taxes in Portugal?

  One must pay taxes in Portugal if one earns income there or owns a property.

  You can become a tax resident in Portugal if you spend more than 183 days in a year in the country. This will lead to paying taxes on most of your income there at the rates for tax residents.

• What duties arise after getting a residence permit in Portugal?

  The investor must spend at least 7 days a year in Portugal to maintain residency. It is also important to renew the residence permit card on time every 2 years.

  The investor pays taxes on income derived from sources in Portugal and globally if becoming a Portuguese tax resident.

  The investor doesn’t have to live in Portugal permanently, take language proficiency tests, or serve in the Portuguese army.

• What family members can I include in my Portugal Golden Visa application?

  The list of an investor’s family members eligible for the Portugal Investor Visa includes the following:

  • spouse or partner;
  • children under 18;
  • adult children under 26, financially dependent on the main applicant, and living with them or studying in a university, unmarried;
  • parents who are financially dependent on the investor.
• Can I apply for a Golden Visa in Portugal through a fund investment?

  One may purchase units of a Portuguese investment fund or a venture capital fund for €500,000 to get a Golden Visa.

  At least 60% of the fund’s money must be invested in Portuguese companies, and the maturity of units at the moment of the investment must be at least 5 years.

• What documents are required for the Portugal Golden Visa?

  The general list of documents includes the following:

  1. A passport or another valid travel document.
  2. Health insurance.
  3. Certificates of criminal record from the country of origin and the countries where the applicant resided for more than a year.
  4. Permission to the competent authorities to check criminal records in Portugal.
  5. A sworn statement in which the applicant declares that they will comply with the minimum quantitative and temporal requirements of the investment activity.
  6. Evidence of proper tax filing by submitting a no-debt issued up to 45 days in advance by the Tax and Customs Authority and the Social Security or, if this is impossible, a no-record return from these entities.

  Also, an investor must submit documents connected with the investment — there’s a list for each option. Additional documents may be required.

• What is the cheapest option for the Portugal Golden Visa?

  The minimum cost of the Portugal Golden Visa is €250,000. This option involves supporting the arts and restoring cultural heritage. It is non-refundable.

• What are the benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa?

  Some benefits of the Portugal investment visa include:

  • visa-free travel within the Schengen Area;
  • creation of a “safe haven”;
  • relocation to Portugal;
  • working or doing business in a European country;
  • access to quality healthcare and education;
  • EU citizenship in 5 years and automatic citizenship for newborn children.
• Can unmarried or same-sex couples apply for a Portugal Golden Visa?

  Yes. An investor’s partner can be included provided the couple is in an unregistered partnership of at least 2 years. Same-sex couples must be in a registered marriage or unregistered 2-year relationship.

• Can I use cryptocurrency to invest?

  No, cryptocurrencies are not accepted directly, either for making the investment or as proof of income. All investments must be made in euros from a verifiable bank account, typically one opened in Portugal.

  However, if cryptocurrency has been converted into fiat currency, such as euros or dollars, in advance and legally declared, those funds can be used — provided the source of the funds is documented. This can be done, for example, with exchange statements, tax records, and similar documents.

• What happens if my Golden Visa application is rejected?

  The rejection decision can be appealed. There are two available routes:

  • administrative appeal submitted to the AIMA. In this case, the application is reviewed based on the objections raised and any new supporting evidence;
  • judicial appeal filed with the Portuguese administrative court. This option takes longer and requires a lawyer’s involvement, but it remains available if the administrative appeal does not succeed.
• Is the Portugal Golden Visa ending in 2026?

  No. Parliament chose to restructure rather than cancel the Golden Visa. It continues, but real estate and capital transfer routes were removed in 2023. Investors can still qualify through fund subscriptions, cultural and scientific donations, and business investment.

• Can I still qualify through real estate investment?

  No. In October 2023 Portugal abolished all direct and indirect real estate options. The minimum entry now starts at €250,000 for cultural support or €500,000 for fund units.

• How long does a Portugal Golden Visa application take under AIMA in 2026?

  As of now, new cases require 12—36 months: roughly 6—18 months to pre‑approval and a further 6—18 months for biometrics and card issue. AIMA is hiring extra staff and digitising workflows to clear the queue.

• How many days per year must I stay in Portugal to keep my Golden Visa active?

  Residence permit holders need only 7 days of physical presence in Portugal each year.

• Does the Portugal Golden Visa still lead to Portuguese citizenship after 5 years, and what are the key requirements?

  Yes. Golden Visa holders can apply for citizenship after 5 consecutive years of legal residency, provided they:

  • maintain their residence permit and meet the minimal stay rule of 7 days per year;
  • demonstrate basic Portuguese language proficiency at A2 level;
  • hold a clean criminal record and fulfil general naturalisation criteria.
• What is the new rule for Portugal Golden Visa?

  Since Law 56/2023 entered into force in October 2023, Portugal stopped accepting new Golden Visa applications under several routes, particularly the real estate route.

  Currently, there are 5 options available to investors:

  • purchase of real estate fund units;
  • supporting arts and culture;
  • investing in research and development;
  • investing in business and creating at least 5 jobs;
  • opening a company and creating at least 10 jobs.

  Starting February 16th, 2026, the Golden Visa renewal moved fully online: investors submit applications for residency extension via the specialised Renewal Portal.

• Is the Golden Visa Portugal worth it?

  The Portugal Golden Visa is good choice for investors who prioritise:

  • EU residency with low physical-presence requirements;
  • Schengen travel convenience;
  • family inclusion under one investment framework.

  Other benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa include path to permanent residency and citizenship after 5 years and the opportunity to recover the investment under the fund units purchase option.

• How long does the Portugal Golden Visa take?

  To obtain the Portugal Golden Visa, investors usually need at least 12 months. The actual timeline depends on the application quality and AIMA capacity and backlog.

• Can I get residency in Portugal if I buy a house?

  No, Portugal does not grant residency for property purchases. This pathway was cancelled in October 2023.

  Buying a home in Portugal can still make sense for lifestyle reasons, but residence would then need to come via other Golden Visa routes, such as purchasing investment fund units.

• Can I add dependents to my Portugal Golden Visa?

  Yes, family members of the investor can be included in the Golden Visa application. Eligible dependents include:

  • spouse or recognised partner;
  • minor children, including adopted and step-children;
  • adult children up to 26 who are financially dependent and live with the investor or study at university;
  • parents of any age of the main applicant or a spouse, who are financially dependent on the investor.
• What requirements should you meet to obtain Portugal residence by investment?

  The Portugal Golden Visa is granted to investors who:

  • are over 18;
  • come outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland;
  • have no criminal record;
  • have money for the investment coming from the legal source outside Portugal;
  • have no debts in Portugal;
  • purchase medical insurance.
• Does the Portugal Golden Visa affect US taxes?

  Getting a Portugal Golden Visa does not change the core US rule: US citizens and US tax residents remain taxable on worldwide income.

  Opening a Portuguese bank account and holding other reportable foreign assets can trigger certain reporting obligations, including FBAR and FATCA. For tax details, consult your US tax advisor.

• How much time do US citizens need to spend in Portugal to keep the Golden Visa?

  To maintain and extend the status, Americans holding the Portugal Golden Visa must spend at least 7 days per year in Portugal.

  In practice, applicants usually plan one short trip to comfortably meet the requirement, keeping evidence of entry/exit, such as boarding passes and accommodation invoices.