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Updated on July 1, 2025
Portugal Golden Visa
Returnable investments yielding about 10% per year and a simplified path to EU citizenship
€250,000+
Investment amount
12+ months
Obtaining period
5 years
To citizenship
Portugal has been issuing Golden Visas since 2012. Applicants choose between five options, with investments starting at €250,000. Investors who buy units in Portuguese funds can return the money in 6—10 years by selling the asset.
Investors and their family members get 2-year renewable residence permits. Maintaining Portugal residency by investment requires spending 7 days a year in the country. Applying for citizenship becomes available 5 years later.
5 benefits you can secure with the Portugal Golden Visa
1
Visa-free travel
As a Portuguese resident, you will be able to visit the Schengen Area without visas and spend up to 90 days out of 180 there.
As a Portuguese resident, you will be able to visit the Schengen Area without visas and spend up to 90 days out of 180 there.
2
EU citizenship
You may become eligible for citizenship after 5 years from applying for the first Portugal residence permit by investment. A child born in Portugal gains citizenship if a parent has held residency for at least 1 year.
You may become eligible for citizenship after 5 years from applying for the first Portugal residence permit by investment. A child born in Portugal gains citizenship if a parent has held residency for at least 1 year.
3
Investment returns
Units of Portuguese investment funds yield about 10% annually, depending on the assets and strategy. They are redeemable in 6—10 years to recoup investment.
Units of Portuguese investment funds yield about 10% annually, depending on the assets and strategy. They are redeemable in 6—10 years to recoup investment.
4
Business expansion
You and your family members can set up companies in Portugal and operate them throughout the European Union.
You and your family members can set up companies in Portugal and operate them throughout the European Union.
5
Plan B in the EU
The Golden Visa lets you enter Portugal at any time and stay indefinitely. There, you can benefit from low living costs, high safety, and quality healthcare. Children may attend Portuguese schools and universities.
The Golden Visa lets you enter Portugal at any time and stay indefinitely. There, you can benefit from low living costs, high safety, and quality healthcare. Children may attend Portuguese schools and universities.
Is Portugal’s Golden Visa your key to quality living?
Get our detailed guide to learn:
How to obtain residency smoothly
Rights and opportunities that come with your new status
Obligations to fulfil to maintain residency
Answers to frequently asked questions
Trusted by 500+ investorsOne investment, residency for all
The spouse and partner, children, and parents can get residency with the investor under one application
Investment options for the Portugal Golden Visa
The Portugal Investor Visa offers five investment options. The threshold is €250,000 under supporting arts; however, most investors opt for fund units for at least €500,000. Real estate routes were abolished in October of 2023.
1 option
Units of investment funds — €500,000+
An investment fund pools capital into commercial property, Portuguese companies, industrial sites, or European stocks. The holding period is at least 5 years. Investors typically redeem after 6—10 years and receive profits net of fees.
2 option
Supporting arts and culture — €250,000+
The investor makes a contribution to the restoration of national heritage sites or to support cultural activities.
Does the Portugal Golden Visa fit your budget?
The total cost depends on family composition. We can provide a free, individualised calculation for your case, covering additional expenses like taxes, insurance, and more.
Trusted by 500+ investorsCan Portugal’s Golden Visa help you reach your goals?
Compare the key terms and benefits of the Portugal residency by investment with other popular EU options — Hungary, which has an investment fund option, and Greece.
Comparison of EU Golden Visa terms
Terms and features
Investments
Portugal
€250,000+
Hungary
€250,000+
Greece
€250,000+
Terms and features
Other requirements
Portugal
Spend 7 days a year in Portugal
Hungary
Keep investment to renew residency
Greece
Keep investment to renew residency
Terms and features
Obtaining period
Portugal
12+ months
Hungary
5+ months
Greece
4+ months
Terms and features
Annual returns
Portugal
2—20%
Hungary
5—6%
Greece
Up to 10%
Terms and features
RP validity
Portugal
2 years
Hungary
10 years
Greece
5 years
Terms and features
Time to citizenship
Portugal
5 years
Hungary
11 years
Greece
7 years
Terms and features
Family eligibility
Portugal
Spouse or partner, children under 26, parents
Hungary
Spouse, children under 18, parents
Greece
Spouse or partner, children under 21, parents
Terms and features
Portugal
Hungary
Greece
Investments
€250,000+
€250,000+
€250,000+
Other requirements
Spend 7 days a year in Portugal
Keep investment to renew residency
Keep investment to renew residency
Obtaining period
12+ months
5+ months
4+ months
Annual returns
2—20%
5—6%
Up to 10%
RP validity
2 years
10 years
5 years
Time to citizenship
5 years
11 years
7 years
Family eligibility
Spouse or partner, children under 26, parents
Spouse, children under 18, parents
Spouse or partner, children under 21, parents
Our clients’ stories
All cases
Portugal D7 Visa for a British family with rental income
After Brexit, I was devastated. In my twenties, I studied for a year in the Netherlands; in my thirties, I worked in Spain. Back then, it was so easy to move — just choose a country and go! Brexit took that freedom away. I felt especially sad for my son and wanted to give him the same opportunities I had and a path to EU citizenship. When the chance to earn rental income came up, I saw a way forward. My son, mother, and I moved to Portugal on the D7 Visa thanks to Immigrant Invest. I hope this becomes our permanent home and the start of our journey to EU citizenship.
5 main reasons to invest in Portuguese funds
1. Passive income. Investment funds can generate steady annual returns of about 10% on average and often pay dividends yearly or quarterly.
2. Asset diversification. Funds build resilience by spreading capital across multiple assets and sectors, cutting risk and offering greater stability than single-asset holdings during market volatility and downturns.
3. Tax optimisation. If a fund invests in real estate, it sidesteps Portugal’s hefty transaction taxes and incur no annual property or maintenance costs, reducing the overall tax burden.
4. Professional management. Licensed experts with deep market knowledge manage the assets, sparing investors from daily decisions on allocation, timing, or individual holdings.
5. Flexible exit strategies. Most funds allow exits after the 5-year Golden Visa holding period by selling units to other investors, having the fund repurchase shares, or waiting until maturity for full liquidation.
Timeline for investing in Portugal’s Golden Visa funds
Top Golden Visa funds for investment
Eligible Golden Visa funds are registered with the Portuguese Commission for the Securities Market.
Immigrant Invest lawyers rigorously vet each fund — assessing management history, strategy, risk profile and past performance — focusing on low-to-medium risk options that preserve capital while delivering competitive returns.
Portuguese funds selected by Immigrant Invest
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Step-by-step procedure for obtaining the Portugal Golden Visa
Obtaining the Portugal Golden Visa usually takes 12+ months, according to Immigrant Invest’s legal practice. Below is a step-by-step guide to how the process unfolds.
Investment from 350 000 €
Real estate investment 350 000 €
Investing at least EUR 1 million in shares of the Portuguese companies
Investing at least EUR 350 000 in research and development
Investing at least EUR 250 000 in the restoration and refurbishment of national heritage projects
Acquiring at least EUR 500 000 worth of shares in investment funds
Registering a company and creating at least ten jobs
1
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
A certified Compliance Anti Money Laundering Officer checks the information on the investor against international databases. Our check helps to decrease the refusal risk to 1%.
The preliminary Due Diligence is obligatory as we don't sign a contract with an investor without it. If we've discovered a risk of refusal, we offer a suitable solution: add more documents or choose another investment program.
Pass a quick test and learn the nuances that can prevent you from obtaining a residence permit.
2
Up to 2 weeks
Preparation of documents
Immigrant Invest lawyers provide the investor with an individual list of documents required to apply for a Portugal residence permit by investment. They also fill out government forms and help translate and notarise documents.
3
1—2 weeks
Obtainment of a tax number
Applicants are issued a unique nine-digit number, Número de Identificação Fiscal, NIF. The NIF is required to open a bank account in Portugal, buy or rent real estate, register a business, and in many other cases.
4
1—1.5 months
Opening of an account in a Portuguese bank
Investment under the Portugal Golden Visa Program must be made from the applicant’s account in a Portuguese bank.
We help open an account and activate it. When everything is ready, the applicant transfers the money required for investment.
5
1 week to 1.5 months
Investment
Depending on the option the applicant chooses, they purchase investment fund units, create a company and the required jobs, or make the investment directed at supporting arts or science.
The lawyers collect all the supporting documents to prove the investment made.
6
5—6 months
Application
E-copies of the documents are sent for consideration to the AIMA, Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum of Portugal.
7
1—2 weeks
Submission of biometrics
The investor and their family need to come to Portugal to submit original documents and fingerprints for residence permit cards. The appointment for submitting biometrics must be booked in advance in the electronic register.
8
Within 6 months after biometrics
Approval and acquisition of the residence permit cards
AIMA reviews the documents of the investor and their family within 6 months of the biometric submission date.
Once the application is approved, the investor pays the required fee for the residence permit cards.
Cards are issued within 6 months after biometrics and are collected in person by the investor or by a lawyer under power of attorney.
9
Every 2 years
Renewal of the residence permit
The investor and their family members must spend at least 7 days a year in Portugal to maintain residency. The residence permit has to be renewed every 2 years.
The renewal procedure is similar to the initial application: one needs to collect the same documents and submit them online, pass fingerprinting, provide the original documents, and obtain new residence permit cards.
Trust your future to a reliable agent
Immigrant Invest is an official representative of the Portugal Golden Visa program, able to guide an investor through obtaining a Portugal residence permit by investment.
We know all the migration peculiarities and operate strictly under the current legal framework regulating the Portugal Golden Visa rules, namely, the Aliens Act Law No. 23/2007 amended by Act 29/2012 and the related decrees.
99% success rate
Our in-house compliance team runs thorough checks upfront to ensure eligibility and protect you from rejection risks
24/7 support
From the first consultation to residency, we guide every step and answer all, even the trickiest, questions
Total privacy
We protect your trust with strict confidentiality, securing your data and investment details under an NDA agreement
Elena Ruda,
Chief Development Officer at Immigrant Invest
With almost 20 years of experience, direct partnerships, and local presence in Portugal, we ensure a smooth, secure, and transparent journey to EU residency.
Our team of legal and real estate experts will assist you at every step, from the first free consultation to selecting a property and securing your residency.
Your Golden Visa team
Our Greece-based legal and migration experts know the law inside out and ensure a smooth residency process.
Priscila Carvalho
Investment migration expert
Eunice Machado Pais
Investment migration expert
Residency and Immigrant Invest stay with you
Portuguese residents regularly renew their ID cards. Other needs may also arise over time, such as: getting a residence permit for a newborn child or a new spouse, preparing documents for citizenship, or becoming a tax resident. See how we continue to help our clients.
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Our clients’ reviews
All reviewsClients’ names and photos have been changed to comply with a non-disclosure agreement.
Video guide to the Portugal Golden Visa
Watch our breakdown of the benefits, investment options, and timeframes to get a full picture of the Portugal Golden Visa in just under 2 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The general list of documents includes the following:
A passport or another valid travel document.
Health insurance.
Certificates of criminal record from the country of origin and the countries where the applicant resided for more than a year.
Permission to the competent authorities to check criminal records in Portugal.
A sworn statement in which the applicant declares that they will comply with the minimum quantitative and temporal requirements of the investment activity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other EU Golden Visas
Country and statusInvestmentsTime requiredBenefits
€250,000+4+ months
4+ months
Visa-free entry to the Schengen countries
Possibility to live, study, and start a business in Greece
Prospect of citizenship in 7 years
€250,000+5+ months
5+ months
Visa-free entry to the Schengen Area
Relocation to a European country with an affordable cost of living
Tax optimisation with low rates
€182,000+6+ months
6+ months
Visa-free entry to the Schengen countries
Ability to live, study, start a business, and work in Malta
New family members can be added after the investor has received permanent residence
€300,000+9+ months
9+ months
Tax optimisation
Property investment income
Prospect of obtaining citizenship in 8 years
€250,000+4+ months
4+ months
Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries
Creating of a safe haven or moving to Italy
Special tax regime
Facts about Portugal Residency by Investment program
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