
In a nutshell:
- Portuguese Golden Visa provides a range of relatively affordable investment options for you to choose from in obtaining your residence permit,
- You are only required to spend a minimum of seven days in Portugal per year,
- Portugal Golden Visa Program gives you visa-free access to the Schengen states,
Full Answer
How to get a visa and permit for Portugal?
- Obtain a travel document, the validity of which should exceed the duration of the stay by three months;
- Get health insurance;
- Buy a ticket;
- Have sufficient means to support oneself in the country temporarily;
- Not be registered in the Integrated Information System of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) or in the Schengen information system.
How to get residency in Portugal?
To get a resident permit, you must meet one of the following:
- Have a job in Portugal, employed or self-employed, thanks to a residence visa for work;
- Be enrolled in higher education, research, or volunteering, and have a Study Visa or similar;
- Open a company or a Start-Up in Portugal and have a Business Visa;
- Have your own retirement pension or any regulated passive income and have a D7 Visa;
Does US citizen need a visa for Portugal?
U.S. citizens may enter Portugal for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.
What are the requirements to live in Portugal?
- Residence permits for individuals who suffer from health conditions requiring prolonged medical care.
- Residence permit for individuals who have completed military service in the Portuguese Armed Forces.
- Residence permit for minors, born in national territory to foreign parents who are holders of residence permit.

Who qualifies for Golden visa in Portugal?
Any non-EU/EEA or non-Swiss citizen who makes a qualifying investment in Portugal is eligible for a Golden Visa. Qualifying investments to obtain a Golden Visa typically fall into one of three categories: real estate, business, or capital contributions.
Is the Portugal golden visa worth it?
The Portugal Golden Visa is one of the best know and most popular in the world. Portugal's residency by investment program is well managed, transparent, and offers a clear path to European citizenship by investment.
What does Golden visa mean in Portugal?
The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program (commonly known as the Portugal Golden Visa Program) is a five-year residence by investment program for non-EU nationals. The residence permit gives the right to live, work, and study in Portugal and allows free circulation in Europe's Schengen Area.
Is Portugal getting rid of Golden Visa?
The Portugal Golden Visa changes in 2022 regard real estate and capital transfer investment options. Since January 2022, applicants are be blocked from buying residential property in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve as well as in coastal areas like Setubal and the Silver Coast.
How long can you stay in Portugal if you own a property?
You will still be permitted to spend up to six months of the year in your home on the continent, as long as you abide by the 90/180 rule. If you are looking to stay for a period longer than 90 days without becoming tax resident, you can then apply for an extended authorisation in your chosen country.
Can I get residency in Portugal if I buy a house?
Buying property in Portugal allows you to acquire a Portugal residence permit, as long as you stay in the country for a minimum of 14 days each two years. That means you can buy a property in Portugal and get residency! Moreover, you may apply for citizenship and an EU passport five years after obtaining residency.
How much money do I need to get residency in Portugal?
You may get a temporary residence permit if you have regular passive income from your investments and you wish to settle in Portugal. Usually the permit is granted to those who can prove that they have a monthly regular income of at least €1,070. Your direct dependents may be included in the application.
How many golden visas has Portugal issued?
According to Portugal's Golden Visa figures, 1,182 main applicants were granted the residence permit in 2020. In the same year 2,043 dependents also received the Golden Visa. 1,094 of these main applicants applied via the real estate property purchasing route, investing €588m EUR in 2020.
Does Portugal Golden Visa lead to citizenship?
Yes, if you receive a Golden Visa, you become eligible for citizenship after five years. Unlike other countries, you do not actually need to live in Portugal during that period to acquire citizenship via the Golden Visa route. You only need to spend seven to fourteen days per year in the country.
Is Portuguese citizenship worth?
If you get a Portuguese passport, there are many advantages, including the right to enjoy full citizenship status in the country and travel, work, and live freely anywhere within the European Union (EU). A Portugal passport means you have access to quality healthcare and public schooling in the country.
Does buying a house in Portugal gives you residency?
Buying property in Portugal allows you to acquire a Portugal residence permit, as long as you stay in the country for a minimum of 14 days each two years. That means you can buy a property in Portugal and get residency!
Is it worth getting Portuguese citizenship?
Portuguese citizenship comes with numerous benefits. These benefits include the right to live and work in Portugal, to study in Portugal, and to live, work, and travel within Europe as well. The Portuguese passport is also highly ranked, and gives you visa-free access to many countries around the world.
What is Portugal Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa in Portugal is a program that awards investors with residence permits in Portugal, provided that a qualifying investment is made in...
Are there any Portuguese golden visa new rules I should be aware of?
Portuguese Golden Visa new rules have come into effect. In particular: The minimum investment threshold to qualify for residency has increased The...
How much do I need to invest for the Portugal investment fund golden visa?
To invest for the Portugal investment fund golden visa, you must contribute at least €500K in sectors like real estate for example.
What is the Portuguese Golden Visa renewal process like?
The Portuguese Golden Visa renewal process is relatively straightforward. With your Portuguese Golden Visa, you must renew your permit in year one...
Do dependents qualify for the Portuguese Golden Visa?
Yes, Portugal Golden Visa dependents are also eligible to be part of your Golden Visa application, for a fee.
Spain vs Portugal Golden Visa: what is better?
Spain vs Portugal Golden Visa, what’s better depends on what you’re looking for and how fast you’re looking to get citizenship. For the Portuguese...
Cyprus vs Portugal golden visa: what is better?
Cyprus vs Portugal golden visa, what’s better depends on what you’re after. For Cyprus, you can get a passport in a year, provided that you make a...
What are the benefits of Portugal's Golden Visa?
There are many benefits to Portugal’s Golden Visa. You have permanent free entry and movement throughout the Schengen Area (26 European countries)...
What are the tax benefits of Portugal's Golden Visa?
There are many tax benefits to Portugal’s Golden Visa. These include investors only getting taxed on their worldwide income if they reside in Portu...
What’s the Portuguese golden visa business investment option?
The Portuguese Golden Visa business investment option offers investors the opportunity to generate ten jobs for a Portuguese business or single-mem...
How long do you have to stay in Portugal for a Golden Visa?
One of the advantages of the program is the short stay requirement – applicants are not mandated to live in Portugal. The minimum stay requirement is 14 days, consecutive or nonconsecutive, for each 2-year period. Contact us. The Benefits of Portugal Golden Visa. Minimal Stay Requirement.
When will Portugal start Golden Visa?
Yellow zone – where residential properties will no longer be eligible for Portugal Golden Visa starting from January 1, 2022, with exceptions in some parishes.
When will golden visas come into effect in Portugal?
The new rules of Golden Visa Portugal will come into effect on January 1st, 2022.
What is the Portugal Golden Visa program?
The Portugal Golden Visa program — also called the Residence Permit for Investment Purposes — allows eligible investors to get a Portuguese residency permit¹. This Golden Visa entitles holders and their immediate family to live, study and work in Portugal without restrictions.
Which investment types qualify for the Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa program was launched in 2012, and had a specific aim of pulling foreign investment into the country following the economic crisis.
Costs and fees of Portuguese residency by investment
The costs involved with applying for a Portuguese Golden Visa can be split into several different categories:
Timeline for the Golden Visa in Portugal
Here’s how the Golden Visa application and renewal timeline typically works.
Portugal residency by investment FAQ
Still got questions about the Portuguese Residence Permit by Investment — the Golden Visa? Here are some common questions and answers to help.
How long does a golden visa last in Portugal?
The investment established for the golden visa has to be maintained for a minimum of five years from the date when the Portuguese golden visa is established.
How long does a Portuguese Golden Visa last?
Portuguese golden visa holders receive a temporary residence permit for one year. Subsequent visa renewals last for two-year periods. After five years, golden visa holders can then apply for permanent residence in Portugal; after six years, they can apply for Portuguese citizenship.
What is a golden visa, anyway?
The visa is also commonly referred to as the Resident Permit for Investment, as it fast-tracks Portuguese residency at a cost.
How long does it take to renew a Portuguese Golden Visa?
Each investment type has its own specific requirements for proving this. Processing time for a Portuguese golden visa is typically several months.
What are the requirements for a Portuguese passport?
There are certain criteria that need to be met, such as proof of income and accommodation, criminal record requirements, and basic level knowledge of the Portuguese language.
What is the proof of legal entry into Portugal?
proof of legal entry into Portugal (e.g., Schengen short-stay visa) proof of health insurance (issued within the last three months) criminal record certificate from country of origin/residence (issued within the last three months) evidence of compliance with tax and social security obligations.
Is Portugal a golden visa?
Portugal’s golden visa program offers a substantial level of legal rights, although it comes at a price (Photo: Motoki Tonn / Unsplash)
When will Portugal's Golden Visa be available?
The Portugal Golden Visa will receive an extensive makeover, starting from 1 January 2022. Properties in Lisbon, Porto, and other high-density coastal towns will NOT QUALIFY for any property investments under the Golden Visa scheme.
What is the Golden Visa?
Portugal’s Residence Permit Program — also referred to as the Portugal Golden Visa — is one of the most sought-after immigrant investor schemes in the world. As a five-year residency by investment scheme for non-EU nationals, it has pumped over €4 billion into the Portuguese economy.
What are low density areas in Portugal?
Low-density areas include the interior regions in Portugal, with the exception of coastal areas south of the River Lima and North of the River Sado. Note that investing in property in Madeira and Azores is notably encouraged by the Portuguese authorities. The autonomous territories of Portugal fall under the ‘NUT III areas’.
Is Porto a Golden Visa?
Properties in Lisbon, Porto, and other high-density coastal towns will NOT QUALIFY for any property investments under the Golden Visa scheme
PORTUGUESE GOLDEN VISA PROGRAM EXPLAINED
Propertylisbon has provided our clients with a handbook that contains everything that they may need to know in order to apply for the Portuguese Golden Visa program.
THE PORTUGUESE GOLDEN VISA PROGRAM AND FAMILY MEMBERS
The Portuguese Golden Visa program allows for a family reunion, by allowing the following family members to join the holder of the Portuguese Golden Visa in the country of Portugal :
FEATURED GOLDEN VISA PORTUGAL APARTMENTS
Any and all third-country citizen who engage in a property investment activity in the country of Portugal, as either an individual business person or through a company that is set up in the country of Portugal or in another country that is a member of the European Union and who, in addition, is stably settled in the country of Portugal, provided that these citizens fulfill the quantitative requirements, as well as the time requirements which have been defined by the relevant legislation, may apply for the Portuguese Golden Visa program..
