The Portugal Golden Visa program allows investors to gain visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area and become eligible for EU citizenship after five years. By investing in a qualifying fund, participants can secure residency with a minimal stay requirement of just seven days per year over five years. The program also grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, offering a flexible pathway to European residency.
The Portugal Golden Visa offers visa-free access to the Schengen Area due to the country’s EU membership. It also provides a streamlined pathway to Portuguese residency, with the possibility of obtaining EU citizenship or permanent residence after just five years.
To qualify as the main applicant (investor), you must:
Possess a valid passport and legally reside in a country.
Be 18 years of age or older (no maximum age limit).
Have a minimum liquid net worth of €500,000 (bank accounts, stocks, cashable investments, etc.).
Be able to document the legal source of funds.
Have a foreign EUR bank account capable of transferring funds to Portugal.
Invest €500,000 in a Venture Capital fund for 10 years or until citizenship is granted (a financing option of €168,000 is available).
Pass a due diligence check.
All nationalities are eligible, except:
EU citizens.
Russians and Iranians who live in Iran and earn income in Iran.
Applicants from certain countries (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Syria, etc.) face special banking restrictions.
The investor’s legal spouse is eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa and can:
Reside, work, and study in Portugal.
Travel visa-free to 27 Schengen countries.
Apply for citizenship after 5 years of residency.
Children qualify as dependents under the following conditions:
Children under 18 are automatically eligible.
Adult children over 18 can qualify if:
They are unmarried.
They are full-time students.
They are financially dependent on the main applicant.
Parents of the main applicant or their spouse can qualify if:
They are over 65 years old.
They are financially dependent on the main applicant.
Schengen Countries
The minimum investment amount required.
The estimated processing time.
To qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa, applicants must meet at least one of the approved investment criteria along with additional program requirements.
Option 1: Capital Contribution for Portugal Golden Visa
Applicants must have a minimum liquid net worth of €500,000 (cash, bank accounts, stocks, cashable investments, etc.).
Investment requirement: €500,000 in a Venture Capital fund for 10 years or until citizenship issuance.
Option to participate in a €168,000 walk-away financing package, which includes:
All document processing
Initial legal fees
Venture Capital investment
Applicants must have a foreign EUR bank account capable of transferring funds to Portugal.
Special banking requirements apply for applicants from certain countries (e.g., Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, etc.).
Option 2: Business Investment for Portugal Golden Visa
Qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa by making a business investment through one of the following:
Establish a new company or inject €500,000 into an existing Portuguese business, provided it generates at least five local jobs for a minimum of three years.
Alternatively, create at least 10 new jobs in Portugal to meet the program requirements.
Additional Requirements and Benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa
A minimum stay of seven days is required in the first year of residency.
In each following two-year period, applicants must spend at least 14 days in Portugal.
The program offers a favorable tax system alongside a high quality of life.
The Portugal Golden Visa is a five-year residency-by-investment program, offering visa-free access to all EU Schengen countries. This residency allows individuals to live, work, and study in Portugal, with a clear pathway to citizenship or permanent residency after five years.
One of the program’s key advantages is its minimal physical presence requirement—only seven days in the first year and 14 days every two years thereafter. This flexibility makes it an excellent option for business professionals who want to maintain their primary residence elsewhere while benefiting from Portuguese residency.
Additionally, spouses and dependents can be included in the application by paying the necessary fees, granting them access to Portugal’s top-tier education system, healthcare, and overall high quality of life.
To apply for the Portugal Golden Visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be at least 18 years old
Make a qualifying investment in Portugal
Have no criminal record with a custodial sentence exceeding one year
Commit to maintaining the investment for a minimum of five years
If all requirements are met, residency can be granted within approximately 24 months. However, applicants must continue to meet all eligibility criteria throughout the process to maintain their Portuguese residency status.
There are two pathways to obtaining Dominican citizenship through investment:
Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) Contribution
Real Estate Investment
The Portugal Golden Visa must be renewed every two years. After five years, if the investment has been maintained and all requirements are met, applicants become eligible to apply for permanent residency or citizenship.
To become eligible for Portuguese citizenship, you must:
Yes. If you have held residency status for at least one year, any children born in Portugal will automatically be granted Portuguese citizenship.
Yes. You can transfer funds from your IRA or 401(k) into a qualified investment fund in Portugal, allowing you and your family to secure a Portugal Golden Visa.
