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.