Portugal Golden Visa 2026: Residence Permit & Citizenship

What is the Portugal Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa Program (ARI) is an immigration program that offers foreign investors a residence permit, the right to work, and the opportunity for long-term citizenship in Portugal in exchange for a specific investment. It is also known as the Portugal Investor Visa and Portugal Golden Visa. Stay informed about the benefits and latest developments of the program.

Minimum investment €200,000
Work permit and business establishment
Family members included
Visa-free travel to Schengen countries
Portuguese passport after 10 years
Right to dual citizenship in Portugal
Processing time of 12 months

Portugal Residence Permit

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Portugal Golden Visa Requirements

As of 2026, changes have been made to the Portugal Golden Visa program. It is no longer possible to obtain a residence permit through real estate investment. The current application requirements are as follows:

Having made the required investment
The applicant being over 18 years of age
Having a clean criminal record
Having no tax or financial debts in Portugal
Being physically present in Portugal for at least 7 days in the first year, and at least 14 days in total in each subsequent two-year period
It is mandatory to maintain the investment for at least 5 years.

Who Can Benefit?

The main applicant’s spouse or partner, children under 18, unmarried adult children who are financially dependent and full-time students, as well as financially dependent parents or parents over 65, can be included in the Portugal Golden Visa program.

Application Process

How to Get a Portugal Golden Visa?

You can complete your application remotely with a Power of Attorney (PoA) to be given to our partner lawyers. Applications are concluded within an average of 12 months. You can evaluate your investments online or face-to-face with the accompaniment of fund consultants.

Right Consultancy and Strategic Investment Decision

By cooperating with expert partner lawyers and investment consultants, you can create the most suitable investment strategy for you. Your lawyer carries out the procedures of acquiring a tax number and opening a bank account in Portugal on your behalf.

Completion of Investment and Golden Visa Application

After your investment procedures are completed, the Portugal Golden Visa application is made.

Preparation of Required Documents

Documents must be issued within the last 3 months, translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator, and notarized. Documents submitted from Turkey require an apostille. Applications are made to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) of Portugal, and the evaluation process begins.

Submission of Biometric Data and Obtaining Temporary Residence

Following the processing of your application, you need to submit your biometric data. As of January 15, 2025, biometric appointments are automatically scheduled, and notification is provided 30 to 90 days in advance. When the application is accepted, a temporary residence permit is granted in Portugal.

Receive Your Portugal Residence Card

When your Portugal residence permit application is approved, your 3-year (renewable) residence card is issued.

Portugal Golden Visa Renewal Process

The residence permit is renewable every 3 years, and after 10 years, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship.

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Portugal Golden Visa Fund & Investment Options

Investment options aim to contribute to the economic and cultural development of the country. In 2023, the Portuguese government removed the option of citizenship by buying a house. However, it is still possible to obtain both a residence permit and citizenship through investment funds. The current investment options are as follows:

Investment Fund Participation: Investing at least €500,000 in Portugal-based investment or venture capital funds. These funds support various sectors such as technology and industry.

Establishing a Business and Job Creation: Creating at least 10 new full-time job positions in Portugal. If the investment is made in a region with low population density, this requirement can be reduced to 5 job positions.

Research and Development (R&D) Support: Transferring capital of at least €500,000 to public or private research institutions.

Protection of Cultural Heritage: A donation of at least €250,000 must be made to projects aimed at the preservation or development of national cultural heritage. However, this amount can drop to €200,000 for projects in less developed regions.

Costs, Expenses

Portugal Golden Visa Prices

For a family of four wanting to obtain a Portugal Golden Visa by investing €500,000 in an approved fund, the total budget of expense items ranges approximately between €575,000 and €591,000.

This cost may vary depending on the number of people in the family, the type of investment, and the scope of the preferred consultancy service. Please contact us for detailed fee information.

Investment Amount (Approved Fund): €500,000
Government Application & Residence Card Fees: €56,864
Lawyer & Consultancy Fees: €10,000 – €20,000
Health Insurance: €1,500 – €2,000
Translation, Notary, Apostille, NIF & Bank Opening: €2,000 – €2,500
Fund Subscription/Management Fee: €5,000 – €10,000
Total (Investment + Expenses): €575,364 – €591,364

Portugal Golden Visa Changes

Significant changes have been made to the Portugal Golden Visa program as of 2026. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) aims to keep the waiting period for biometric appointments between 6 and 12 months as of January 15, 2025. Apart from this, updates by years are as follows:

January 1, 2022: Real estate geographical restriction in effect: Lisbon, Porto, and coastal properties are no longer eligible; only interior/low-density regions. Fund investment lower limit is €500k.
October 6, 2023: “Mais Habitação” (Law 56/2023) published; real estate and €1.5m cash transfer routes were abolished.
October 7, 2023: The new law entered into force; the program is now accessible only through funds (€500k), cultural donation (€250k), research (€500k), company + ≥5 jobs (€500k), or direct creation of ≥10 jobs.
October 29, 2023: SEF was dissolved, all files were transferred to the new agency AIMA.
February 26, 2024: The President approved the new Citizenship Law, which includes counting the waiting period towards citizenship.
March 5, 2024: Organic Law 1/2024 was published in the Official Gazette.
April 1, 2024: The 5-year citizenship counter started running from the date of ARI portal application/fee payment.
January 15, 2025: AIMA launched the automatic biometrics appointment system; target total waiting is 6-12 months.
February 14, 2025: AIMA officially confirmed that the citizenship counter is valid from the “application-fee payment date”.
June 23, 2025: Increasing the residency period from 5 to 10 years was proposed by the government package. The start of the residency period was defined as the date the first residence card was issued.
October 28, 2025: The reform package was approved by Parliament. The law was sent to the Constitutional Court for review before entering into force, and implementation is on hold.
May 3, 2026: The new Citizenship Law, adopted by the Portuguese Parliament and signed by the President, entered into force. The required residency period for citizenship officially came into effect as 10 years for most foreigners. The start of the period was clarified as the date the first residence permit was obtained. The previous 5-year system was abolished, and the new regulation began to be implemented.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a residency permit be obtained by buying a house in Portugal?

With important changes in 2023, the right to obtain a residency permit by buying a house in Portugal has been abolished. However, it is still possible to purchase real estate in Portugal and it continues to be an attractive option for investors. However, this type of investment no longer provides a direct advantage in the process of obtaining residency or citizenship.

How is a bank account opened in Portugal?

You do not need to be physically there to open a bank account in Portugal – many major banks (Millennium BCP, Novo Banco, Santander Totta) allow remote account opening via a power of attorney. Your chosen lawyer or representative contacts the bank and handles this process on your behalf by submitting the necessary documents. Documents generally needed include a passport, NIF number, tax return or profession information, and a power of attorney.

Does the Portugal Golden Visa grant a work permit?

Portugal Golden Visa holders have the right to work in Portugal without needing any additional permits. This covers both working in a salaried position and operating as a self-employed professional. There are various investment options for those who want to start their own business in Portugal: Establishing a Company and Job Creation: Creating at least 10 new full-time job positions in Portugal. Capital Transfer to an Existing Business: Investing at least 500,000 € in an existing business in Portugal and maintaining at least five new full-time job positions for at least three years.

What are the documents required for the Portugal Golden Visa?

Documents required for the Portugal Golden Visa application include a valid passport, application form, biometric photograph, criminal record certificate issued within the last 3 months, valid health insurance in Portugal, bank statement or income proof showing financial sufficiency, Portugal tax identification number (NIF), proof of accommodation (lease agreement or title deed), proof of investment in applications through investment (fund participation certificate, etc.), a form giving SEF access to the criminal record, documents showing no tax and social security debts. All documents must be in Portuguese or English or submitted with a sworn translation, and documents obtained from Turkey must be apostilled.

What are the tax obligations of the Portugal Golden Visa?

In the Portugal Golden Visa program, to be considered a tax resident, you must stay in Portugal for 183 days or more within a calendar year. If you stay in Portugal for less than 183 days a year, you cannot be considered a tax resident and are only subject to tax on your Portugal-sourced income. Your foreign-sourced income is not taxed in Portugal.

Has the Portugal Golden Visa ended?

No, the Portugal Golden Visa program has not ended; however, the real estate investment option has been removed. As of 2026, applications continue.

How is a Portugal NIF number (tax number) obtained?

Our partners can obtain a NIF number for you from the Portugal Tax Office (Finanças). The documents required from you for this are: a copy of your passport, a document proving your residential address (for example, an electricity bill or bank statement), and a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA).

Does Portugal grant citizenship through investment?

Since Portugal allows dual citizenship, you do not need to renounce your existing citizenship. According to the new regulation entering into force in 2026, the required period for citizenship application has been determined as 10 years of legal residency for most foreigners. This period is calculated from the date your residency permit is granted. Although it is sufficient to maintain your investment for 5 years within the scope of the Golden Visa, this period is not enough for citizenship. To apply for citizenship, the 10-year legal residency period must also be completed. To apply for citizenship under the Portugal Golden Visa, the following conditions must be met: Residency period: At least 10 years of legal residency (updated with the new law), Maintaining investment: The investment must be maintained for at least 5 years, Criminal record: Clean criminal record, Tax status: No tax debts in Portugal, Language requirement: A2 level Portuguese knowledge.

Which countries can be visited visa-free with a Portugal passport?

As of 2025, Portugal passport holders can travel visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival to approximately 190 countries, including the Schengen area. Among these countries are important countries from all four corners of the world, such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Norway, USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, UK, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. The Portugal passport ranks among the strongest passports in the world and provides its owner with extensive travel freedom.