How to Get Portuguese Citizenship Through the Golden Visa Program

Does Portugal's Golden Visa lead to citizenship?

This is a common question among investors. While the program is not a citizenship by investment scheme, it does provide a route to getting Portuguese citizenship.

This article is part of our Complete Guide to the Portugal Golden Visa. Here, we examine how you can get Portuguese citizenship by investing in the country's golden visa program.

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What is the Portugal Golden Visa?

Portugal’s Golden Visa program offers non-EU/EEA citizens a path to residency through investment.

Since its launch in 2012, the program has attracted billions in foreign investment. It is a popular choice for individuals and families seeking greater travel freedom, better economic opportunities, and an improved quality of life.

After five years, residents can apply for Portuguese citizenship and an EU passport. As a result, many applicants use the program as a path to European citizenship.

Before you start the Portugal Golden Visa Process

To apply for the Portugal Golden Visa, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Make a qualifying investment
  • Maintain the investment for five years
  • Have a clean criminal record

Related article: The Portugal Golden Visa Investment Requirements Explained.

Portugal removed real estate purchases from the program in late 2023, but other options remain. Investment funds are now the most popular choice.

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Steps to Get Portugal Citizenship Through the Golden Visa

The general steps to becoming a citizen in Portugal through the Golden Visa program are:

  1. Make a qualifying investment: choose an investment option that best suits you
  2. Apply for the golden visa: submit your application and supporting documents
  3. Maintain residency for five years: meet the minimum stay requirement (seven days per year on average over five years)

After maintaining your Portugal Golden Visa for five years, you have three options:

  • Apply for permanent residency in Portugal
  • Apply for Portuguese citizenship
  • Continue the golden visa program with another renewal

Related article: The Portugal Golden Visa Application Process Explained.

Once you have permanent residency or citizenship, you no longer need to keep your investment in Portugal.

1000+

Families helped to gain citizenship/residency

$300 million

Amount we have invested in CBI programmes

$450 million

Value of property assets purchased in the last three years

40+

Client nationalities we have helped secure a golden visa

How to Get Portugal Citizenship Through Investment

The Portugal Golden Visa is not a citizenship by investment program. As a result, you can not apply for Portuguese citizenship directly through investment.

However, a golden visa in Portugal does provide a path to becoming a citizen after five years. To do so, you will need to meet certain conditions:

  • Have a clean criminal record
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have held the Portugal Golden Visa investment for five years
  • Pass a Portuguese language test (A2 level) or complete at least 150 hours of Portuguese language lessons at an approved school, which you can do online

You will also need to provide documents such as:

  • Valid passport
  • Portuguese residence permit
  • Birth certificate

Once you become a citizen, you can apply for a Portuguese passport.

Portugal allows dual citizenship. This means you can retain your nationality while enjoying the benefits of a Portuguese passport, as long as your country of origin allows its citizens to hold two passports.

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Changes to the Portugal Citizenship Law

The citizenship laws in Portugal saw some updates in 2024. One of the key changes involved the golden visa’s route to citizenship.

The ‘application waiting period’ now counts towards the five years needed to qualify for citizenship—this is good news for investors.

With this change, delays after applying will not be ‘wasted time’, so to speak. Once the application is submitted, the five-year countdown for citizenship begins.

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The Benefits of Getting Citizenship in Portugal

Once a resident gets Portuguese citizenship, they can:

  • Travel visa-free to over 180 countries
  • Live and work anywhere in the EU
  • Enrol children in EU schools, colleges and universities at reduced fees
  • Benefit from a high quality of life
  • Pass their citizenship to the generations to come

Becoming a citizen via the Portugal Golden Visa offers several benefits for investors. Some of these include:

Fast-track path to citizenship

Firstly, the Portugal Golden Visa provides a fast-track path to citizenship. Golden Visa holders and their family members can apply for a passport after just five years.

The five-year period begins when you pay the application fee, not when the residence permit is issued.

Low minimum stay requirements

Portugal’s Golden Visa program has a low minimum stay requirement. Unlike other programs, such as Greece’s, you only need to stay in Portugal for an average of seven days per year over five years.

Excellent business opportunities

Portugal also has excellent prospects for business owners. According to the EY Europe Attractiveness Survey 2024, Portugal ranks as the 7th most attractive country for Foreign Direct Investment.

Read our article about the program’s benefits to learn more. If you want to know more about living in Portugal, read our Moving to Portugal guide.

Get Your Portuguese Passport with Holborn

The Portugal Golden Visa is a great way to get European citizenship. As a citizen, you will enjoy several benefits, such as:

  • Visa-free travel to over 180 countries
  • Live and work anywhere in the EU
  • Access to high-quality healthcare and education

Download our Portugal Golden Visa factsheet to learn more about the program or speak to one of our specialists.

Holborn Pass is an international leader in investor visas. We provide a bespoke, end-to-end service and expert advice to help you find the right investment and secure your golden visa.

We are part of the wider Holborn Assets Group, a leading, award-winning financial advisory company with over $2 billion in assets under management (AUM).

Book a free consultation with one of our professional advisers to learn how we can help you.

Frequently asked questions

Portugal does not offer direct citizenship by investment.

However, the Golden Visa program grants residency, which can lead to citizenship after five years, provided applicants meet residency and legal requirements.

Yes. After being a Golden Visa holder for five years, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship. To apply for a Portuguese passport, you need to meet language and residency requirements.

There are various ways to become a citizen in Portugal as an American. Some of these include:

  • By marriage
  • By descent
  • By naturalisation
  • With the D7 visa
  • Through the golden visa program

Holborn can help you discover how to get Portuguese citizenship through investment

Being a citizen in Portugal offers several benefits, such as:

  • Visa-free travel to over 180 countries
  • The right to live and work in any of the EU countries
  • Access to top European schools and healthcare

Holborn provides expert guidance to make your path to Portuguese citizenship seamless. We offer advice on investment options and support you throughout the application process.

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