Portuguese Republic · investor · Leads to settlement
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)
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.
- Processing time
- Historically 12–24+ months including backlog.
- 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
In short
As of 1 August 2026, the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) for Portuguese Republic is an unsponsored Portugal immigration route. Sources: official Portuguese Republic government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/portugal/golden-visa#answer
What is the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) in Portuguese Republic?
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) is an unsponsored Portugal route. Indicative government fees are Investment plus government fees typically €5,000+ on issuance, additional for family; indicative processing time is Historically 12–24+ months including backlog; typical duration is Initial 2-year residence renewable; very low physical-presence requirement (7 days in year 1, 14 in years 2 and 3). This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against AIMA on 1 June 2026.
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.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
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.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or 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
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: Investment plus government fees typically €5,000+ on issuance, additional for family.. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in PortugalHow 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 June 2026