Portugal

Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU nationals to obtain residency in Portugal through qualifying investments.

Portugal investment visa refers to the Portugal Golden Visa, which grants residency to investors who meet the investment criteria.

Spouses and dependent family members are eligible to apply for and obtain Portugal Golden Visas. Dependent children under 18 can be included, while children aged 18 or older must be unmarried, financially dependent on the main applicant, and enrolled as full-time students. Parents of the main applicant may also qualify if they are retired.

Portugal Golden Visa benefits include EU residency, visa-free Schengen travel, family inclusion, eligibility for permanent residency after five years, and citizenship after ten years. For the investment fund option, benefits include an annual ROI and the possibility of getting the invested capital back after six years.

To qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa, applicants must be non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, at least 18 years old, and have a clean criminal record. They must make a qualifying investment, maintain it for five years, and spend an average of seven days per year in Portugal.

The Portugal Golden Visa application requires submitting personal documents, proof of investment, and completing the official application process with AIMA.

The official and updated portal for the Portugal Golden Visa (Residency Permit for Investment - ARI) is managed by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo), accessible at aima.gov.pt. Applications are submitted online via the Portal ARI https://ari.sef.pt/account/default.aspx

• Passport: Identification and signature page if a new passport has been issued since the original application.
• Criminal Record: Federal/national record for immigration purposes, in English or with certified translation into Portuguese or English, legalized by the Portuguese Consulate (or apostilled if applicable), from the country where the applicant has lived for over a year (valid for 90 days).
• Residence Permit/Visa: Certified copy of the foreign residency card, legalized by the Portuguese Consulate (or apostilled if applicable) if the applicant resides in a country different from their origin.
• Tax Number: Certified copy of the foreign tax number document, legalized by the Portuguese Consulate (or apostilled if applicable). If no tax number exists, the equivalent number (e.g., social security, ID) or an official document stating its non-existence is acceptable.

The average wait time at AIMA is a major determinant of the wait time for the Golden Visa application, which is subject to frequent fluctuations. As of late 2024, biometrics appointments were taking between 18 and 24 months on average; however, following AIMA's guidelines released in late December to streamline the process, wait times are expected to decrease significantly.

You can apply for Portugal Golden Visa Dubai by contacting representatives and submitting your documents through authorized agents in Dubai, like Citizenship Bay.

Scheduling an AIMA appointment for the Portugal Golden Visa can be done online via the official portal after all required documents are in place.

Portugal Golden Visa biometrics appointments are scheduled by AIMA after your application submission, typically within a few months.

To get Portugal Citizenship by Investment, you must hold a Portugal Golden Visa for at least 10 years, meet minimum residency requirements, demonstrate a basic proficiency in Portuguese, and maintain a clean criminal record.

The path from the Portugal Golden Visa to citizenship typically spans ten years, provided the applicant meets residency and Portuguese language requirements.

You can get permanent residence in Portugal by holding a Portugal Golden Visa for five years, fulfilling minimum stay requirements, and applying for permanent residency through AIMA.

The Portugal Golden Visa investment cost varies by type: investment fund or company creation requires a minimum of €500,000, while a donation to a qualifying cultural or scientific project starts from €250,000.

In addition to the investment amount, the total Portugal Golden Visa cost may range between €10,000 and €30,000 for a family of four over the full five-year period. This estimate includes the following government fees:
Analysis fee: €605.10 per person
Residence permit fee: €6,045.20 per person
Residence permit renewal fee: €3,022.60 per person

No. In 2023, Portugal removed real estate as an eligible investment to tackle the housing affordability crisis. Rising property prices and rents, partly driven by foreign investors, made housing less accessible for locals. The government now encourages investment in areas like job creation, cultural heritage, and renewable energy.

Applicants for the Portugal Golden Visa are not required to take a language exam to obtain a residence permit, but passing the test is mandatory for those seeking citizenship.

Portugal's Golden Visa fund is an approved investment fund that qualifies for residency, including venture capital and government-approved options.

Portugal Golden Visa Investment Fund options include approved venture capital funds and other government-approved investment funds. Each fund offers unique business strategies and investment techniques that appeal to a wide range of investors. Our team can connect you with the top options available.

Portugal Golden Visa 2023 updates reflect amendments that removed real estate investments, fund investments linked to real estate, and capital transfers as eligible routes to obtain the Golden Visa.

Portugal Golden Visa 2024 updates highlight changes by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) to streamline the application process and speed up approvals.

Portugal Golden Visa 2025 updates include amendments to the citizenship law, establishing a legal residence requirement of seven years for EU and CPLP nationals and ten years for all other nationalities. The period for citizenship eligibility is now calculated from the issuance date of the first residence permit, rather than the initial application date.