Portugal’s Golden Visa programme has not closed, however, how you can apply has changed. Read our Portuguese Golden Visa guide to discover the route to Portuguese citizenship by investment.
The Portuguese Golden Visa programme is the adopted name for Portugal’s hugely successful residency programme that grants non-EU nationals and their families the ability to travel freely to countries within the Schengen zone. After five years, it is then possible to apply for a Portuguese passport and become a full European citizen.
While it is no longer possible to gain a Golden Visa application through buying property in Portugal, the Portuguese Golden Visa programme has not ended, all of the incredible benefits remain the same and there are still several ways to apply such as investing in a qualifying Portuguese investment or venture capital funds.
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The Golden Visa scheme is open to anyone with a clean criminal record who is not a Portuguese, EU or EFTA citizen. This means that Portugal Golden Visa has been open to UK citizens since 2021. The scheme is particularly popular with investors from China who account for more than 50% of visa applicants. Investors may also include qualifying family members in their application such as their spouse, dependent children, dependent parents or dependent parents-in-law.
The Golden Visa fund route allows those who invest at least €500,000 in qualifying funds to apply for residency for themselves and their families. The companies that benefit from the capitalisation must be at least five years old at the time that the investment is made and at least 60% of the investments are realised in a commercial company with its HQ in Portugal.
There are several ways to apply for a Portuguese Golden Visa and one of the most popular ways is investing €500,000 in a qualifying fund.
In addition, applicants will need to maintain the investment for at least five years and stay in Portugal for seven days per year until they apply for full citizenship or residency.
In addition to your real estate investment, there are some administration fees that you will need to take into consideration. The application fee during the petition phase costs €533.90 per applicant. During the granting phase, all applicants will need to pay €5,336.40 each for their initial residency permit. You can expect to renew your visa twice after your 1st and 3rd year as a resident. This renewal process costs €2,668.20 per applicant.
Obtaining a temporary residency permit is fast (around 1 year), full citizenship is possible after 5 years.
The Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program in Portugal, allowing non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals to obtain residency by making qualifying investments.
The options are:
One of the benefits of the Golden Visa programme is that you can add numerous family members to your application including:
Yes. Following the UK’s departure from the EU, UK citizens can now apply for Portuguese Golden Visas for themselves and immediate family members.
No, you do not need to take a language test in order to become a resident. However, if you decide to apply for Portuguese citizenship. you will need to pass an A2 Portuguese test, have a clear criminal record, pay all relevant taxes and demonstrate a decent connection to living in the country.
Yes, the Golden Visa is still available for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who meet the investment criteria, although changes have been made to the program, particularly regarding property investments.
To obtain a Golden Visa, you need to make a qualifying investment, such as a capital transfer, investing in approved funds, or job creation. The application process involves submitting the necessary documents through Portugal’s immigration services.
In addition to your investment, there are some administration fees that you will need to take into consideration. The application fee during the petition phase costs €533.90 per applicant. During the granting phase, all applicants will need to pay €5,336.40 each for their initial residency permit. You can expect to renew your visa twice after your 1st and 3rd year as a resident. This renewal process costs €2,668.20 per applicant.
Yes, after maintaining the investment and residency for a certain period (typically five years), you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal.
The value of the Golden Visa depends on your personal and financial goals. It offers the benefits of EU residency, including visa-free travel within the Schengen Zone, but it requires a significant financial commitment.