Chinese applicants · Portuguese Republic
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) for Chinese citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Residence-by-investment route; real-estate and capital-transfer pathways were closed in October 2023, but fund-investment and other options remain.
This page covers the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) specifically for Chinese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to China. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current AIMA — Residence for investment activity service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- Government fees
- Investment plus government fees typically €5,000+ on issuance, additional for family.
- Typical duration
- Initial 2-year residence renewable; very low physical-presence requirement (7 days in year 1, 14 in years 2 and 3).
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Schengen Area
Consular processing: Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou
Tourist entry vs. this route
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Portuguese Republic. The Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Chinese applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
No fixed national clock published
AIMA — Residence for investment activity does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current AIMA — Residence for investment activity service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 2026 · AIMA — Residence for investment activity
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → permanent residence eligibility at 5 years → citizenship eligibility at 10 years for most non-EU/CPLP applicants under the law effective 19 May 2026.
Leads to Autorização de Residência Permanente, then Portuguese citizenship.
Visa overview
Portugal's Golden Visa programme underwent significant reform in October 2023. Direct property purchases and pure capital-transfer routes were removed. The remaining qualifying investments include subscription to qualifying investment funds, job-creation, scientific or cultural investment, and specific property investment in lower-density interior regions via fund structures.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓One of the remaining qualifying investments: fund subscription (typically €500,000+), job creation, scientific or cultural investment.AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) — Portuguese immigration agency ↗
- ✓Clean criminal record.AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) ↗
- ✓Minimum physical presence: 7 days in year 1, 14 days per subsequent 2-year period.AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) ↗
Common blockers
- !Pure property purchase and capital-transfer routes are closed.AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) ↗
- !Fund must be specifically authorised for Golden Visa purposes by the Portuguese regulator.
Typical evidence
- ·Investment evidence (fund subscription, employment contracts created, etc.).AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) ↗
- ·Criminal record.AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) ↗
- ·NIF and bank account.
Application pathway
Choose a qualifying investment
Post-2023 reform, fund subscription is the most common route. Confirm fund is Golden Visa–authorised.
Complete investment and gather evidence
Make the investment through the approved vehicle.
Apply via AIMA
Submit application; biometric appointment.
Maintain minimum presence
Spend the required 7/14 days to keep the permit valid.
Apply for citizenship after 5 years
Golden Visa time counts toward the 5-year residence requirement for Portuguese citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Portugal. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official portalApplicantApply through Portal ARI ↗
Use the AIMA ARI portal to register the investment residence application, upload documents, pay fees and book biometrics.
AIMA · verified
- Official guidanceApplicantCheck ARI eligibility guidance ↗
Use this official guidance to confirm qualifying investment categories and residence rights before filing.
AIMA · verified
Other Portuguese Republic routes covered for Chinese applicants
Not sure Portuguese Republic is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer investor routes that Chinese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Chinese citizens eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)?+
Eligibility for the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) is set by AIMA. Chinese applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Chinese applicants typically file the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)?+
Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by AIMA — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Chinese applicants need a tourist visa for Portuguese Republic as well?+
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Portuguese Republic. The Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How long does the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) take to process from China?+
AIMA — Residence for investment activity does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current AIMA — Residence for investment activity service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: AIMA — Residence for investment activity, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Portuguese Republic?+
Arrival → permanent residence eligibility at 5 years → citizenship eligibility at 10 years for most non-EU/CPLP applicants under the law effective 19 May 2026. The route leads to Autorização de Residência Permanente, then Portuguese citizenship. See Diário da República - Organic Law 1/2026 for the qualifying-residence rules.
Is the Portugal Golden Visa still available?+
Yes, but narrower than before. Real-estate and pure capital-transfer routes closed in October 2023. Fund-subscription, job-creation, and scientific/cultural investment routes remain.
Does the Golden Visa require me to live in Portugal?+
No — one of the headline features is the very low physical-presence requirement: 7 days in year 1 and 14 days in each subsequent 2-year period. This makes it popular with applicants retaining their primary residence elsewhere.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: AIMA
Last checked: 1 August 2026