Residency By Investment

Portugal Golden Visa

Secure a European residence permit through a well-established investment program with minimal stay requirements and a pathway to citizenship in five years.
Minimum Investment
From €500,000
Processing Time
12–18 months
Visa-Free Access
180+ countries

ABOUT THE COUNTRY

A Gateway to Europe's Rich History and Culture

Portugal is a thriving EU and Eurozone member with a legacy that spans continents. With Portuguese spoken by over 300 million people across the world, it offers a stable environment, high standard of living, and a flourishing economy built on business services, tourism, and renewable energy, making it one of Europe's most attractive destinations for investors and families alike.

CAPITAL

Lisbon

TOTAL AREA

91,470 km²

POPULATION

10.4 million

LANGUAGE

Portuguese

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Portugal Golden Visa Residency by Investment 

Portugal launched its Golden Visa back in 2012. Over a decade later, it's still one of the most practical ways for non-EU nationals to secure a foothold in Europe, and in 2025, demand for the program is growing.

You make a qualifying investment in Portugal. In return, you become eligible for a renewable residence permit, one that lets you live, work, and travel across the Schengen Area. You don't have to relocate. You don't have to give up your existing passport.

After five years, you become eligible for permanent residency. Citizenship takes longer now: seven years for EU and CPLP nationals, ten years for everyone else, counted from when your first residence card is issued.

What draws people to this program isn't just access. It's the combination of low physical presence requirements, the ability to bring your whole family along, and a clear route to one of Europe's strongest passports. Very few programs anywhere in the world offer such a deal.

PROGRAM ADVANTAGES

Benefits of Portugal Golden Visa

Schengen Zone Travel

A Portuguese residence permit allows visa-free travel across all 29 Schengen countries, making business trips and personal travel across Europe far simpler.

Minimal Stay Requirement 

Portugal requires only about seven days per year on average, making it one of the most flexible residency programs for globally mobile investors.

Live, Work, and Study in Portugal

Your residency permit allows you and your family to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across Portugal.

Your Family Comes with You

Your spouse, dependent children, and parents can be included in the same application, giving the entire family the same residency rights.

A Real Path to Citizenship

After five years, investors become eligible for permanent residency. Citizenship follows later, with seven years of legal residency required for EU and CPLP nationals, or ten years for others, while keeping your original nationality and gaining access to one of the world's most powerful passports.

No Obligation to Relocate

You are not required to relocate permanently. Maintain your investment and meet the minimum stay requirement while continuing to live anywhere you choose.

INVESTMENT OPTIONS

Portugal Golden Visa Cost 

Applicants must complete one qualifying investment under either the Capital Transfer or Business Investment category.

Capital Transfer

Investment Funds: €500,000 in qualifying venture capital or private equity funds (real estate funds excluded).
Scientific Research: €500,000 (€400,000 in low-density areas).
Cultural Heritage: €250,000 (€200,000 in low-density areas).
Low-density areas are government-designated regions eligible for reduced investment thresholds.

Business Investment

Job Creation: Create 10 permanent jobs (8 in low-density areas).
Business Investment: €500,000 to establish or expand a Portuguese company while creating or maintaining the required jobs, in accordance with Golden Visa regulations. 
*All figures, fees, and investment requirements are based on the latest available information and are subject to change. Please contact our team for the most current program details.

APPLICATION PROCESS

How the Portugal Golden Visa Application Process Works

A clear step-by-step process guides applicants from the initial eligibility assessment to securing Portuguese residency through the Portugal Golden Visa program.

Book a Private Consultation
01

Initial Consultation

We start by getting to know your situation, your goals, your background, and what you're hoping to achieve. That conversation shapes everything. It's also where we work out which investment route makes most sense for you specifically.
02

Onboarding

Once you're ready to go ahead, we formally bring you on board. You'll get a clear, honest picture of the full process, timelines, costs, what's needed from you at each stage, and what to expect.
03

Document Preparation & Investment Support

Our team pulls together everything required for your application. We'll help you select a qualifying investment, guide you through getting your Portuguese NIF, and assist with opening a local bank account. Nothing gets missed.
04

Application Submission

We prepare and submit your full application to AIMA, the Portuguese immigration authority that took over from SEF in 2023. Every document is reviewed and verified before submission. Incomplete applications are the single biggest cause of delays, and we make sure that's not an issue.
05

Biometric Appointment

You and your family members will need to attend an in-person appointment in Portugal to provide biometric data at an AIMA office. We coordinate this and make sure you're fully prepared.
06

Golden Visa Issuance

Approval comes through, and your residence card is issued. We handle the final steps and make sure you understand exactly what comes next; renewal dates, stay requirements, and your path toward permanent residency or citizenship.

ELIGIBILITY AND TIMELINE

Requirements of Portugal Golden Visa

APPLICANT

Eligibility

The eligibility bar is deliberately straightforward. To qualify, you need to: 

  • Be a non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss national 
  • Be at least 18 years old 
  • Clean criminal record, both in Portugal and your home country 
  • Make a qualifying investment within Portugal 
  • Spend an average of 7 days per year in Portugal over the five-year period 
  • Valid health insurance covering Portugal and the wider EU 
APPLICANT

Eligible Dependents

The following family members can be included: 

  • Spouse or legally recognized partner, including same-sex partners and unmarried couples together for at least two years 
  • Children under 18 
  • Adult children; unmarried, financially dependent, and in full-time education 
  • Parents of the main applicant or their partner financially dependent or aged 65 and over 
APPLICANT

Portugal Golden Visa 2026 Timeline

Initial Residence Permit — Years 1 & 2  

Valid for two years from approval. Minimum 14 days in Portugal required. 

Renewal — Years 3 & 4

Renewed for a further two years. Investment must be maintained, biometric verification completed, and fresh criminal record certificate provided. Minimum stay: 14 days per 2-year renewal period. 

Year 5 

Apply for permanent residency, provided your investment and stay requirements have been met throughout. 

Year 7 or 10 (depending on nationality)

Citizenship becomes available separately. EU and CPLP nationals qualify after 7 years; all other nationalities after 10 years. The clock runs from the date your first residence card was issued, not your application date.

Citizenship Pathway 

Citizenship Through Portugal Golden Visa 

The Golden Visa isn't a citizenship program, but it's one of the most reliable routes to European citizenship you'll find anywhere. Hold your residency for the required period, meet the conditions below, and a Portuguese passport is within reach.

7–10 yrs

Residency before citizenship eligibility (7 yrs for EU and CPLP nationals, 10 yrs for all others

A2

Portuguese language (A2) plus a new civic and cultural knowledge test

Requirements To Qualify for Citizenship

Seven years of valid legal residence for EU and CPLP nationals, or ten years for all other nationalities.
Basic Portuguese language ability, an A2 level certificate is required  
Knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols, plus an understanding of civic duties and democratic values
No convictions for serious crimes, including terrorism, violent crime, organized crime, or crimes against state security, carrying an effective prison sentence of more than three years
A demonstrable connection to the Portuguese community  

Timeline Note

One practical point worth knowing: the residency clock for citizenship now runs from the date your first residence card is issued, not from when you submitted your original application. Given current AIMA processing times, this can add 12 to 18 months or more to your real-world timeline.

*Portugal's revised Nationality Law was approved by Parliament on April 1, 2026, signed by the President on May 3, 2026, and published in the Diário da República on May 18, 2026. It has been in force since May 19, 2026. Applications already pending before that date continue under the previous five-year rule. We recommend staying in close contact with your advisor to confirm how these changes apply to your specific case.

WHY UNO CAPITAL

Experience. Integrity. Results.

With decades of combined expertise in investment migration,we deliver structured, compliant, and results-driven solutions worldwide.

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FAQ

Portugal Golden Visa – FAQs

Find clear answers about the Portugal Golden Visa, including eligibility, investment options, timelines, and application requirements.