Portugal Residency by Investment
One of Europe's oldest countries, positioned on the blissfully elegant shores of the Atlantic ocean, Portugal boasts a rich historical and architectural heritage. Luminosity, radiance and culture beams through whitewashed villages and lush vineyards.
Capital option: from €500,000
Donation options: from €250,000
Citizenship path: after 5 years of temporary residency
Visa-free access: 173 countries
Family inclusion: Spouse, children, dependent parents
The Portugal Golden Visa Program
Portugal boasts a rich and diverse culture, Mediterranean climate, and a safe and stable setting, which is an ideal location for raising families, conducting business or simply enjoying travel. Investors find many opportunities in Portugal's secure and fast developing market with access to the entire Schengen zone.
Country highlights:
- Most welcoming country for expats, by InterNations
- 4th most peaceful country in the world, by Global Peace Index, Institute for Economics & Peace
- World's Leading Destination, by World Gold Awards
- Europe's Leading Destination, by World Gold Awards
Program benefits:
- Visa waiver to enter, live and work in Portugal
- Visa-free travel within the Schengen member states
- Qualification for permanent residency and citizenship of Portugal after 5 years of temporary residency
- Qualification for citizenship of newborns when one of the parents has valid residency for a minimum of 1 year and the birth occurs in Portugal
- Family reunification allowed to spouse or de facto partner, dependent children and dependent parents
Portugal Golden Visa qualifications
Portugal's Golden Visa Program is offered in accordance with the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).
Aimed at attracting foreign direct investments to the country, the program yields a residency permit in Portugal to non-EU investors who meet the following requirements:
- Invest in one of the available options by transferring funds to Portugal from abroad
- Submit the required documentation per applicant, including clear criminal record (when applicable)
- Pay Government fees and all remaining expenses associated with the selected investment
- Attend appointment allocated in Portugal for physical submission of application and collection of biometrics (valid Schengen visa required, when applicable)
- Meet or exceed the minimum stay requirement (14 days per each 2 year period once residency cards are issued)
Atlantic elegance, European opportunity
From the historic streets of Lisbon and Porto's wine cellars to the golden Algarve coastline and lush Douro Valley, Portugal offers an exceptional blend of culture, lifestyle and strategic European positioning.
Routes to the Golden Visa
Establishing the program in 2012 and being the first country to offer a Golden Visa, Portugal remains one of the most popular options for investors seeking European residency, having surpassed the €5 billion mark in foreign direct investment.
Over the years, the program has offered investors a diverse range of qualifying options while also evolving to focus on key strategic areas of economic development. Under the latest iteration of the program, investors can choose from the following investment options to qualify for the Golden Visa:
Capital Option
€500,000 — Acquisition of participation units in venture capital or investment funds.
Capital and Employment Option
€500,000 — Incorporation of a company in Portugal that creates 5 permanent jobs, or investment in an existing company with the creation of 5 permanent jobs or maintenance of at least 10 jobs.
Donation Options
- €500,000 — Investment in research activities
- €250,000 — Investment in arts or the reconstruction of national heritage projects
Job Creation Option
10 jobs — Investment on the creation of new regulated labor contracts.
Fees & expenses
The fees associated with this program cover service for the main applicant and all qualifying family members throughout the first application for temporary residence. Additional fees are applicable depending on the investment option selected.
Translation, notarization, and authentication of documents at all stages of the process are the responsibility of the investor.
All application fees and taxes charged by the Portuguese government and by entities external to VisaVoy are subject to change without prior notice.
Family reunification
- Spouse or de facto partner of the main applicant
- Dependent children
- Dependent parents of the main applicant
Common questions about Portugal's Golden Visa
Portugal's Golden Visa allows foreign investors to become residents of the country, granting the freedom to live, work, and study in Portugal and to move within the Schengen Zone. After 5 years holding a temporary residency status, investors and their families can apply for Portuguese citizenship.
To maintain your Golden Visa residency, you must spend 7 days in Portugal in the first year, and 14 days in subsequent years. They do not need to be consecutive.
As a rule of thumb, if you spend less than half of the year in Portugal, you are considered a non-tax resident, and are in consequence only taxed on income obtained in Portugal. If you become a tax resident in Portugal, there is the option to become a non-habitual resident of Portugal and be exempt from paying taxes on worldwide income in Portugal. However, Portuguese-sourced income would be taxed at a flat rate of 20% during the first 10 years, with the ability to pass your wealth to a spouse or dependent without any incurring inheritance taxes.
How the Portugal Golden Visa process works
VisaVoy coordinates the end-to-end process in collaboration with licensed professionals in Portugal, ensuring all steps are completed accurately and in compliance with program requirements.