The combination of limited physical presence requirements and a path to EU citizenship after five years of residency, as well as the wide selection of investment types, make Portugal Golden Visa one of Europe’s most popular residence by investment policies.
Since the start in late 2012, more than 13,000 applicants have successfully invested more than EUR 7 billion through the program, mostly in real estate but now increasingly in investment funds focusing on a variety of sectors.
Program at a glance
| Program Type | Golden Visa Program |
| Time to citizenship | 5-6 years |
| Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
| Minimum investment | EUR 200,000 |
| Physical presence requirement | 35 days over five years (see details below) |
| Application processing time | 4-15 months |
| Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 187 destinations, including Schengen countries |
| Contribution types available | Bank Deposit, Business Investment, Public Shares Investment, Fund Investment, Job Creation |
General program requirements
Investment options for the Portugal Golden Visa include:
Capital transfer
€500,000 for the acquisition of units of investment funds or venture capital funds of companies incorporated under the Portuguese law.
€500,000 (or €400,000) for research activities of public or private entities that are part of the national scientific and technological system.
€250,000 (or €200,000*) in support of artistic production or in the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage.
Business investment
Creation of at least 10 (or 8*) new jobs
€500,000 for the incorporation or increase of the share capital of a company that is registered in Portugal, creating or maintaining a minimum of five permanent jobs for a period of three years.
*The threshold is reduced by 20% should the funds be committed to a low population density area, defined as less than 100 inhabitants per km² or with a GDP per capita below 75% of the national average.
Program benefits
- Freedom of movement (but not settlement) within Schengen;
- Path to Citizenship;
- Minimal physical presence requirements;
- Permits dual/multiple citizenship;
- Ability to include three or more generations of family members in the application;
- Lower cost of living;
- Safety and security;
- Warm climate;
- Enhanced business access to large economies;
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
After the completion of the fifth year of residency an investor may apply for permanent residency. After the investor receives permanent residency, he can immediately apply for citizenship. To obtain citizenship, the applicant must pass a language test. All investments need to be maintained until receiving permanent residence.
Applications for this program may be directed to:
Agency for Migration and Asylum Integration
Legislation upon which this program is based:
ARTICLE 90-A, PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE ALIENS ACT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ARTICLE 63, PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 3 AND 65-E OF THE REGULATORY DECREE N.84/07 OF 05/11
