Chinese applicants · Portuguese Republic
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) for Chinese citizens
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 general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 6 months – 18 months
- 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
6 months – 18 months
Post-2023 reform: fund/investment subscription + AIMA review typically runs 6–18 months. Real-estate routes were removed.
Verified 1 June 2026 · AIMA — Residence for investment activity →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship eligibility (10 years of residence, or 7 for EU/CPLP nationals).
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.
- ✓Clean criminal record.
- ✓Minimum physical presence: 7 days in year 1, 14 days per subsequent 2-year period.
Common blockers
- !Pure property purchase and capital-transfer routes are closed.
- !Fund must be specifically authorised for Golden Visa purposes by the Portuguese regulator.
Typical evidence
- ·Investment evidence (fund subscription, employment contracts created, etc.).
- ·Criminal record.
- ·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.
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 and is not nationality-restricted beyond the general criteria, though Chinese applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: Schengen Area. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
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?+
The typical published decision window is 6 months – 18 months. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: AIMA — Residence for investment activity, verified 1 June 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Portuguese Republic?+
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship eligibility (10 years of residence, or 7 for EU/CPLP nationals). The route leads to Autorização de Residência Permanente, then Portuguese citizenship. See IRN — Portuguese nationality 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.