Portugal Golden Visa
Residency through investment in investment funds, cultural heritage, or job creation.
For: High-net-worth investors.Estimated Timeline
12-18 months (due to processing backlogs)
The Application Process
Step by step, from start to approval.
Choose Investment
The real-estate route was eliminated in October 2023. Today the most common path is a €500,000 contribution to a qualifying Portuguese investment fund: most are venture, private equity, or growth funds with a 6 to 8-year horizon. Other routes exist for cultural support, research grants, and job creation.
- Investment fund (€500k): the fund must be CMVM-regulated, hold at least 60% of capital in Portuguese companies, and have a minimum 5-year maturity.
- Cultural / heritage donation (€250k): supports approved restoration or artistic production projects, lower threshold but very narrow eligibility.
- Research grant (€500k): donation to public or accredited scientific institutions for R&D in Portugal.
- Job creation: incorporate a Portuguese company that creates at least 10 permanent jobs (8 in low-density areas), no fixed minimum capital but typically €500k+ to fund hiring.
- All routes require origin-of-funds proof: bank statements, tax returns, or auditor letters tracing the money back at least 12 months.
Open Bank Account
Once you've selected the fund or project, you open a Portuguese bank account, transfer the investment amount, and execute subscription documents. The bank also issues the proof-of-investment letter that AIMA needs.
- Account opening can be done remotely with a power of attorney or in person on a short trip; allow 2 to 4 weeks.
- Funds must arrive from outside Portugal: a SWIFT transfer from your home-country bank is the cleanest path.
- The fund manager produces a subscription confirmation and a letter listing the portfolio's compliance with Golden Visa rules.
- Many applicants engage a local lawyer to coordinate account opening, fund subscription, and the AIMA filing as a single workstream.
Online Application
The full file is submitted to AIMA through the dedicated Golden Visa portal. It includes the investment proof, passport, criminal-record certificate, NIF, health insurance, and proof of clean tax record both in Portugal and the home country.
- Government fees at filing are around €600 per applicant (analysis fee), plus larger amounts at approval (around €6,000 main applicant, €3,000 per dependent).
- AIMA acknowledges receipt and assigns a case number; the file then enters the queue.
- Backlog has been the dominant factor in timelines: from submission to first biometric appointment, expect 12 to 24 months at present.
- Recent court decisions allow days counted from initial submission to qualify for the 5-year residence rule, even if the card is issued later.
Biometrics
When AIMA calls you in, you travel to Portugal for biometric capture. The card is delivered by post 1 to 4 months later, valid for 2 years and then renewable for successive 3-year periods.
- Stay requirement is minimal: 7 days in the first year, then 14 days per 2-year renewal period. Most investors keep their main residence abroad.
- After 5 years of legal residence (counted from initial filing under recent jurisprudence), you can apply for permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship, subject to A2 Portuguese and clean criminal record.
- Family members included on the file (spouse, dependent children, dependent parents) attend their own biometrics and receive their own cards.
- Maintain the investment for the full 5-year period: early divestment cancels the visa unless replaced with another qualifying investment.
Core Requirements
What you need to qualify for this visa.
Investment of €500,000 in qualifying investment funds or scientific research
OR €250,000 in cultural heritage preservation
Real estate investments are no longer admitted
Stay in Portugal for at least 7 days per year (1 week to qualify for citizenship)
Clean criminal record and funds must originate from outside Portugal
Do You Qualify?
Answer a few quick questions to see if you meet the key requirements for this visa.
Can you invest at least €200,000 in cultural projects or €500,000 in eligible investment funds?
Other Portugal visa pathways
If this option is not the right fit, here are the alternatives we work with for Portugal.
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