Portugal Golden Visa: Complete 2026 Application Guide

Retirees, entrepreneurs, and wealthy individuals have the opportunity to claim permanent residency and Portugal Golden Visa: How to Apply in 2026

Retirees and wealthy individuals have the opportunity to claim permanent residency and even citizenship with the Portugal Golden Visa. 

This unique visa opportunity allows third-country nationals to invest in specific projects and funds to obtain residency in Portugal. This is perfect for retirees and people looking to diversify their assets. 

As one of the more affordable countries in Europe with a gorgeous coastline, exquisite cuisine, and beautiful cities, Portugal welcomes newcomers with open arms to the country. With well-known destinations such as Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve, foreigners are quickly realizing the true potential and high-quality life that Portugal has to offer. 

Launched in 2012, the Portugal Golden Visa program is officially known as the residence permit for investment activity (ARI). Over the years, thousands of visas and residence permits have been granted to non-EU citizens to live in Portugal. 

Overall, the application process takes a little over six months to complete. The initial residence permit is valid for two years, which you can renew for another three years. After five years of holding Portuguese residency, you may apply for permanent residency or citizenship. 

If you aren’t sure whether Portugal is the right place for you permanently, you can live there temporarily with the D7 visa or Portugal digital nomad visa. 

By the end of this article, you’ll know the benefits of obtaining the Portugal Golden Visa, the investment requirements, and how to submit your application. 

Is the Portugal Golden Visa Still Available?

Yes, the Portugal Golden Visa is still available. After major changes in February 2023, investment options such as real estate and capital transfer were eliminated from the application process. 

However, the benefits and application process remain the same, continuing to position Portugal as a favorable option for investors who wish to diversify their wealth and passports. 

What is a Golden Visa?

Before jumping into the details about the Portugal Golden Visa, we should first determine what exactly a Golden Visa is. 

A Golden Visa is a program that allows foreign nationals to obtain residency and sometimes even citizenship by making a government-approved investment. These investments can be real estate, businesses, bonds, and other government programs. 

These visas are excellent for retirees and wealthy individuals who want to diversify their assets and residencies.  

Benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa

There are so many more benefits to obtaining the Portugal Golden Visa other than having the chance to live full-time or part-time in a beautiful European country. 

While there are excellent lifestyle benefits, there are also great professional and financial rewards when you get the Portugal Golden Visa. 

Renewable Residency Permit

When your Portugal Golden Visa is approved, you will receive a residence permit for two years initially. You may then renew the permit for an additional three years if you still hold your approved investment. 

There is a minimum stay requirement to keep your residence permit valid. During the first two years, you must be present in Portugal for at least 14 days. When you renew it for the additional three years, you must spend at least 21 days in Portugal during that time. 

Compared to other Golden Visas, these requirements are considered very lenient and “low-stay.” 

After holding Portuguese residency for a total of five years, you may apply for permanent residency. This means you will no longer have to renew your permit as you are considered a permanent resident of Portugal. 

Path to Citizenship

One of the major benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa is the opportunity to obtain Portuguese citizenship. After five years of legally living in the country, you may apply to become a Portuguese citizen. 

To be eligible for citizenship you must meet the following requirements:

• Have held Portuguese residency for five years
• No outstanding taxes owed to Portugal
• Clean criminal record from your home country and Portugal
• Passed a Portuguese language test at an A2 level

Obtaining a second passport can be extremely beneficial, especially if it is stronger than your first passport. 

2026 Update: The Portuguese government is currently deciding whether to increase the time to citizenship from 5 to 10 years. For citizens of CPLP and EU countries, it would increase to 7 years. While it is not enacted into law yet, it is something applicants should be aware of. 

Visa-Free Travel in the Schengen Area

When you hold residency in Portugal, thanks to the Golden Visa, you will get to take advantage of visa-free travel through Schengen countries. 

This means you don’t have to go through border control or checks when crossing into member countries. 

Family Reunification

When you apply for the Portugal Golden Visa, you may also bring your immediate family members with you. 

These family members include your spouse, dependents, and parents. They will also obtain a Portuguese residence permit and can take advantage of all these benefits, too. 

Favorable Tax Rates

While Portugal’s favorable tax scheme, the Non-Habitual Residence (NHR), ended, Portugal Golden Visa holders can still benefit from the local tax system. 

If Portugal Golden Visa holders spend less than 183 days out of the year in Portugal, then they will not be considered tax residents. Therefore, they will likely not owe taxes in Portugal. 

In the case you do decide to spend most of your time in Portugal, you may qualify for the NHR 2.0 program. This offers a flat 20% tax rate for 10 years to qualifying residents who are in scientific research and development, high academia, or innovation. 

Minimal Time Required in Portugal

As previously mentioned, there is a low-stay requirement for holders of a residence permit from the Portugal Golden Visa. 

To keep your residency permit valid, you must spend at least 7 days every year physically present in Portugal. 

Who is Eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa?

To be eligible to apply for the Portugal Golden Visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a non-EU/EA citizen
• Clean criminal record from your country of origin and in Portugal

Of course, you must also make the required investment amount with funds that come from outside Portugal. 

Portugal Golden Visa Investment Requirements

There are multiple investment paths you can take to be eligible to obtain the Portugal Golden Visa. Below, we list each approved investment opportunity to help you see your options. 

Investment Type	Minimum Investment
Investment Funds	500,000€
Company Investment	500,000€ with 5 full-time job creation
Scientific Research	500,000€
Cultural Donation	200,000 – 250,000€
Job Creation	10 jobs

Investment Funds

Applicants simply looking to invest their money to get some returns as well as the Portugal Golden Visa, can invest 500,000€ in a qualifying investment fund, such as the Portugal Golden Visa Fund. 

Investors can expect to receive their returns after six to ten years. They must hold the investment for a minimum of five years, though. 

Job Creation

For entrepreneurs who are interested in applying for the Portugal Golden Visa, there are startup opportunities. 

One of these opportunities includes opening a Portuguese business that creates ten new full-time jobs. However, if you form a business in a categorized low-density area (less than 100 residents per square kilometer), you only need to create eight new full-time jobs to qualify for the visa. 

Business Investment

Another option is to invest 500,000€ to incorporate a commercial company in Portugal that creates five full-time jobs for the next three years. 

Applicants may also invest in companies that are already incorporated and headquartered in Portugal to create these full-time jobs. 

Donations

Additionally, investors can make donations to approved causes to receive the Portugal Golden Visa. The two options are as follows:

• 250,000€ invested to preserve national heritage and art in Portugal
  • 200,000€ in low-density areas 
• 500,000€ invested in research and development activities in Portugal

There are multiple investment options for various amounts. These opportunities are excellent for many people interested in business, real estate, heritage, and more. 

Investment Options No Longer Available

When the Portugal Golden Visa first launched, there were additional qualifying investment options. However, they are no longer available. 

These investment options included:

• 500,000€ in qualifying real estate
• 350,000€ in real estate older than 30 years
• 1.5€ million in capital transfer

A previous version of this article included more information about these investment options when they were available. 

How to Apply for the Portugal Golden Visa

Applying for the Portugal Golden Visa is a fairly straightforward process. However, it does take a little over six months to complete if everything goes smoothly. 

It is recommended to work with a professional immigration lawyer when applying for the Portugal Golden Visa. Getting experienced assistance will ensure you make the right investment and get your visa faster. 

Step 1: Decide on Your Investment

The very first thing you must do when obtaining the Portugal Golden Visa is to decide which investment you would like to make. 

We recommend diving deep into the implications of each investment and how it will fit into your lifestyle. 

If you decide to purchase qualifying real estate, this can tack some time onto your visa process as you will need time to find the property you wish to purchase. 

Step 2: Open a Portuguese Bank Account & Obtain an NIF Number

After deciding which investment you plan to move forward with, you must open a Portuguese bank account and obtain a Portuguese tax identification number (NIF). 

You will need these two things to make your qualifying investment. 

First, you must obtain your NIF number, which will allow you to open a Portuguese bank account. To get your NIF number on your own, you must be present in Portugal and bring a proof of address from your resident country and government ID to a Finanças office. 

However, if you work with an immigration lawyer and grant them power of attorney, they can obtain the NIF number and open a bank account for you. 

Step 3: Make Your Investment

Before making your investment, you must fund your Portuguese bank account with funds that come from abroad. 

To make your qualifying investment, the money must come from your Portuguese bank account, which is supplied with your foreign funds. 

Step 4: Submit Visa Application & Documents

After finalizing your investment, you may submit your application for the Portugal Golden Visa. When working with an immigration lawyer, they will submit it for you. 

Along with the application, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Copy of Passport
• Proof of the Qualifying Investment
• Declaration of Funds Transfer to a Portuguese Bank 
• Health Insurance Policy with Coverage in Portugal
• Certified Criminal Record (Issued in the Last Three Months)
• Certification of Good Standing with Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority
• ARI Application Fee Receipt (774€ per applicant/83€ per dependent and 7,730€ per person)

It’s important to note that all of these documents must be translated into Portuguese and legalized  with an apostille if they do not originate from Portugal. 

Step 5: Attend AIMA Appointment

When you submit your application, you will then schedule an AIMA appointment. Usually you will wait one to two months until your appointment. 

At the AIMA appointment, they will take your fingerprints. This signifies that your application is official and your residence cards will be issued. 

Step 6: Collect Your Portugal Golden Visa & Residence Permits

It will take about four months to receive your official residence cards after the AIMA biometrics appointment. 

When working with an immigration lawyer, they can collect the cards for you if you are not present in Portugal. 

These initial residence permits are valid for two years and can then be renewed for an additional three before you can apply for permanent residency. 

Portugal Golden Visa vs. D7 Visa vs. Digital Nomad Visa

When it comes to obtaining residency in Portugal, there are three attractive options. 

Visa Type	Minimum Finances Required	Best For
Golden Visa	250,000€ investment	Investors
D7 Visa	900€/month	Passive Income/Retirees
Digital Nomad Visa (D8)	3,680€/month	Remote workers

All three of these options grant residency in Portugal and a path to eventual permanent residency and citizenship. However, the entry points differ, making it necessary to understand which visa you qualify for. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Obtaining the Portugal Golden Visa can be a long and sometimes complicated process. Below are some of the most asked questions concerning the process and implications of getting the visa.