A Complete Guide to the Portugal Golden Visa

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency by investment program and one of the most sought-after in the world. It can unlock the door to European residency and even citizenship for non-EU investors.

A golden visa in Portugal offers many benefits. It provides access to a strong and stable economy and visa-free travel. Residents in Portugal also have access to free, high-quality healthcare and education.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about Portugal's investment visa program.

Portugal Golden Visa: the Key Points

Here are some of the key points to know about the Portugal Golden Visa program:

The Portuguese government launched the golden visa program in 2012. It is one of the world’s most popular residency by investment (RBI) schemes
Successful applicants have the right to live, work and study in Portugal
The scheme offers multiple investment options and routes to securing residency
The program has a low minimum stay requirement. Investors only need to spend seven days in Portugal during the first year
Apply to become a citizen and obtain a Portuguese passport after five years

What is the Portugal Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa, also known as the Portugal Residence Permit Program, is a residency by investment program. It offers non-EU citizens a straightforward path to becoming residents by making a qualifying investment in Portugal.

The Portuguese government launched the scheme in 2012. The aim was to stimulate the economy through foreign investment. Between 2012 and 2024, the program raised over €7.5 billion.

The Portugal Golden Visa attracts investors from around the globe. It grants successful applicants the right to live, work and study in Portugal. It also paves the way for EU citizenship after five years.

Track your applications from start to finish in the Holborn App

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The Benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa

More than 100 golden visa schemes exist around the world. However, the Portugal Golden Visa program stands out from the crowd. Since its launch in 2012, it has become one of the world’s most popular investor visas.

One of the main reasons for its popularity is the benefits it offers. Some of the key benefits include:

Residency and Travel Benefits

The right to live, world and study in Portugal
Visa-free travel to the 29 European countries in the Schengen Area

Path to Becoming a Citizen

You may apply for Portuguese citizenship after maintaining your investment and residency for five years. This allows you to:

Enjoy rights as a full EU citizen
Apply for a Portuguese passport

Include Family Members and High Quality of Life

The main applicant can include their spouse, unmarried children under 26 and dependent parents
Portugal has excellent healthcare and schools

Learn more about the Portugal Golden Visa benefits.

Investment Options for the Portugal Golden Visa

Portugal Golden Visa applicants have several investment options to choose from, including:

Investment Funds

Investment funds are becoming increasingly popular for those looking to secure a golden visa in Portugal. It requires a minimum investment of €500,000 in a qualifying fund, such as a private equity fund.

Business and Job Creation

Create at least 10 new full-time jobs in a company based in Portugal. The other option is to invest at least €500,000 in an existing company, maintaining 10 new full-time jobs.

Cultural Donation

Make a minimum donation of €250,000 towards preserving cultural heritage in Portugal.

Invest in Research

Invest at least €500,000 in research activities.

The Portugal Golden Visa underwent sweeping changes in October 2023. One of the biggest changes centred on property investments. Golden visa investors can no longer buy real estate to qualify.

Learn more about the Portugal Golden Visa investment options.

Working with Holborn

We have helped over

1000+

families to gain citizenship or residency

Over

$300 million

invested in CBI programmes through us

More than

$450 million

of property assets purchased in the last three years

We have helped over

client nationalities secure a golden visa

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

Portugal Golden Visa Requirements

According to AIMA, the government agency that oversees the Portugal Golden Visa, there were 4,455 applicants in 2023.

Everyone who applies for a golden visa in Portugal must also meet specific criteria, such as:

Be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
Over the age of 18 and have a clean criminal record
Maintain your investment for at least five years
Applicants must spend at least seven days in Portugal during the first year. This increases to 14 days in subsequent two-year periods

Learn more about the Portugal Golden Visa requirements.

The Portugal Golden Visa Application Process

The Portugal Golden Visa application process can be daunting if you don’t have experience. A lot of documentation is needed, and you need to understand legal processes. Some steps also require legal knowledge and dealing with government agencies.

Working with experienced professionals can help streamline the process. It can also help you avoid potential pitfalls and setbacks.

Timeline Overview

The application process typically follows these steps:

Step 1: Secure investment and gather all the required documents.

Step 2: Obtain a Fiscal Tax Number (NIF) and open a bank account.

Step 3: Submit the application to AIMA.

Step 4: Attend a biometric data collection session.

Step 5: Receive approval and a Portugal residency permit.

The entire process can take over 12 months. Be aware that timeframes depend on several factors, such as application backlogs. Once approved, you must renew your residency permit every two years.

You can track your Portugal Golden Visa applications with Holborn using our app. The app allows you to view all the steps, what stage your application is currently at, and what will happen next.

Stay up-to-date with your application. Download the Holborn Assets App via the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android.

Learn more about the Portugal Golden Visa process and timeline.

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Cost Breakdown for the Portugal Golden Visa

Besides the Portugal Golden Visa program’s investment amount, there are additional fees to consider, such as:

Government Fees: these include the initial application fees and processing costs.
Legal fees: the cost of hiring legal experts to assist with your application. The amount you pay will depend on the law firm and other factors, including the type of investment.
Renewal costs: paid at each renewal period (every two years).

While the minimum investment amounts are clearly defined, the overall cost can vary. For example, the type of investment and other factors can impact the final amount.

Read our full breakdown of the Portugal Golden Visa costs here.

Summary

The Portugal Golden Visa can unlock the door to European residency and citizenship. The scheme is open to non-EU investors and their families and provides several benefits.

Summary of Key Points:

The scheme provides a straightforward route to Portuguese residency.
Benefit from visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area.
Multiple investment options and price points.
A path to becoming an EU citizen after five years.

Holborn Pass is a leader in investor visas. We have worked with investors from around the globe to help them and their families secure a Portugal Golden Visa.

Are you ready to take the next step? Speak to one of our professional advisers and start your journey today.