Portugal Golden Visa 2026 — €500k EU Residency by Investment

Q: What is the Portugal Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa (ARI — Autorização de Residência para Atividade de Investimento) is a residency-by-investment program granting non-EU nationals legal residency in Portugal in exchange for a qualifying investment. Since the 2023 reform, the eligible routes are €500k into a regulated Portuguese investment fund or €250k cultural donation. Real estate is no longer eligible.

Q: When can I apply for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship?

After 5 years of legal residency, Golden Visa holders are eligible to apply for permanent residency. Portuguese citizenship is a separate, later step. Under the new Nationality Law in force since 18 May 2026, the qualifying residency period for citizenship is 10 years for most foreigners and 7 years for CPLP nationals (Brazil, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea). The clock counts from the date the residence card is issued. Applications submitted before 18 May 2026 are assessed under the previous 5-year rule. Requirements also include basic Portuguese language proficiency (A2 level), clean criminal record, and continued ties to Portugal.

01 · What it is

The Portugal Golden Visa, explained.

The Portugal Golden Visa — officially the Autorização de Residência para Atividade de Investimento (ARI) — is the country's residency-by-investment program. Non-EU nationals invest a qualifying amount into the Portuguese economy and, in return, receive a renewable residency permit that grants them and their family the right to live, work and study in Portugal, plus visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen-area countries.

The program was reformed in October 2023. Real-estate investment is no longer eligible; in its place, the two practical routes today are the €500,000 regulated investment fund and the €250,000 cultural-heritage donation. Both lead to the same outcome — full residency rights — but with very different liquidity and risk profiles.

After 5 years of legal residency (with a minimum presence requirement of 7 days per year), Golden Visa holders qualify for permanent residency. Portuguese citizenship is a separate, later step. The new Nationality Law (Lei da Nacionalidade) — in force since 18 May 2026 — sets the qualifying residency period at 10 years for most foreigners and 7 years for CPLP nationals (Brazil, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea). The residency clock counts from the date the residence card is issued (not from the original application). Citizenship applications submitted before 18 May 2026 are assessed under the previous 5-year rule. The Golden Visa residency rights themselves are not affected by this reform.

02 · Who qualifies

Eligibility in 2026.

The program is open to any non-EU/EEA/Swiss national who meets the following criteria:

Age 18+ with a clean criminal record (no convictions punishable by 1+ year imprisonment under Portuguese law).
Capacity to make a qualifying investment (€500k fund or €250k cultural donation) with verifiable source of funds.
Willingness to spend 7 days per year in Portugal (14 days in two-year renewal periods). This is the lowest physical-presence requirement of any major European residency program.
Valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity.

We have successfully filed applications for clients from the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, South Africa and many other jurisdictions. Our case team works in English and Portuguese — communication is straightforward regardless of where you are based, with bilingual document delivery (PT + EN) by default.

You can also include your family on the same application: spouse or registered partner, dependent children under 18 (or up to age 26 if enrolled in full-time education), and dependent parents over 65. Each additional family member adds a small AIMA fee but does not require a separate qualifying investment.

03 · Investment routes

Two paths. One residency.

Since the October 2023 reform, the two practical routes are the regulated fund (most popular — €500k, fully refundable at the end of the term) and the cultural donation (€250k, non-refundable but with a lower entry point).

From kickoff to residency card · ~6 months filing + AIMA wait.

Every Golden Visa file is unique. We can file your full application within ~6 months of kickoff. The AIMA biometrics appointment is the bottleneck — AIMA's official target is 6 months from filing, but the realistic wait in 2026 is 12 to 18 months due to the AIMA appointment backlog. Your residency clock starts on the date of biometrics, and we book your appointment the day your file is submitted to lock in the earliest available slot.

Month 1

NIF & fiscal setup

We obtain your Portuguese tax number (NIF) in 3–7 business days, set up 1-year fiscal representation, and prepare your Power of Attorney to act on your behalf with Portuguese authorities.

Months 2–3

Investment + docs

You place the investment (fund subscription or cultural donation). We compile your source-of-funds dossier, criminal background certificates with apostille, marriage and birth certificates for family, and translate them into Portuguese.

Month 3

AIMA submission

We file your full application with AIMA (the Portuguese immigration agency) and immediately book the earliest available biometrics appointment. You receive a filing receipt — this is your provisional proof of application.

Months ~12–24

Biometrics + card

You travel to Lisbon for a 30-minute biometrics appointment (fingerprints, photo) when AIMA assigns it. AIMA issues your residency cards by post 8–16 weeks later. Your 5-year residency clock for permanent-residency eligibility starts on the date of biometrics.

05 · What's included

The $5,990 professional fee, line by line.

Included in our fee

NIF acquisition + 1-year fiscal representation (Portuguese tax number, mandatory for any investment)
Bar-registered lawyer Power of Attorney (Ícaro Couto, Ordem dos Advogados nº 67883F)
Full AIMA application preparation: forms, source-of-funds dossier, criminal record certificates, family documents, apostille coordination
Investment due-diligence support: we vet your chosen fund manager, review the subscription agreement, flag red flags
Biometrics appointment booking (the AIMA slot is the bottleneck — we secure the earliest possible)
12 months case management: every email, call and AIMA follow-up included
Family inclusion at no additional professional fee (spouse + dependent children + dependent parents)
Bilingual document delivery (PT + EN) by default. Additional certified translations available on request.

Not included — billed at cost, with receipts:
• AIMA government fees: ~€8,060 per person initial filing + ~€4,030 per person for each 2-year renewal. A family of four pays approximately €30,000–€35,000 in AIMA fees across the 5-year residency period. (Exact 2026 amounts per AIMA's published schedule.)
• The qualifying investment itself (€500k fund subscription OR €250k cultural donation — paid directly to the regulated entity)
• Certified Portuguese translations of foreign documents (~€20–€40 per page)
• Apostille and consular legalization fees in your home country
• Travel costs for your biometrics appointment in Lisbon

Professional fee

$5,990

One-off · USD · Stripe checkout · refundable on filing error per refund policy

Start application → 💬 WhatsApp our team 📅 Book a $49 strategy call

$49 strategy call is credited back if you proceed with our Golden Visa service.

06 · Why Reside in Portugal

Not a real-estate broker. A Portuguese-registered consultancy.

We are BOCEAN IMMIGRATION PORTUGAL, LDA (NIPC 519043731), a Lisbon-based immigration consultancy with a physical office on Avenida da Liberdade. We have served 1,200+ clients with a 98% approval track record. Our fee structure is transparent and fixed — we earn nothing from any fund or developer.

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In-house lawyer

Ícaro Couto — Portuguese Bar Association nº 67883F, issued 21 April 2023 by the Ordem dos Advogados. Procurações forenses, court representation, formal legal opinions — all in-house, never outsourced.

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Real office in Lisbon

Avenida da Liberdade, n.º 67B, 3.º B — Portugal's most prestigious business avenue. We accept appointments in person. Tax-registered Portuguese consultancy, NIPC 519043731, VAT-compliant.

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No commissions, no kickbacks

We do not earn referral fees from any investment fund, developer or cultural-donation entity. Our $5,990 is the only money you pay us. We will recommend whichever fund best matches your risk profile, not the one that pays us the most.

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English-first case team

We work in English and Portuguese. All your legal documents are delivered in English by default, with Portuguese mandatory copies bound together. Communication via email, WhatsApp or scheduled video call in English.

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1,200+ files, 98% approval

Since our founding we've filed Golden Visa, D7, D8 and citizenship applications for clients across 40+ countries. Our approval rate is on the high end of the market — we screen for eligibility before we take you on.

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Transparent pricing

No "request a quote", no hidden professional fees. The $5,990 is what you pay us. Government and translation fees are billed at cost, with receipts attached to your portal. The investment itself goes directly to the regulated entity — never through us.

07 · Frequently asked

Questions we hear from Golden Visa clients.

What is the Portugal Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa (ARI — Autorização de Residência para Atividade de Investimento) is a residency-by-investment program granting non-EU nationals legal residency in Portugal in exchange for a qualifying investment. Since the 2023 reform, the eligible routes are €500k into a regulated Portuguese investment fund or €250k cultural donation. Real estate is no longer eligible.

Who qualifies in 2026?

Any non-EU/EEA/Swiss national over 18 with a clean criminal record. UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, US, UK, Brazil, India and most other passport-holders are eligible. You must make a qualifying investment, hold it for the 5-year visa period, and spend a minimum of 7 days per year in Portugal.

How long does the process take?

Filing the full application typically takes 4–6 months from kickoff: month 1 — NIF obtained; months 2–4 — investment placed and source-of-funds dossier prepared; months 4–6 — AIMA application submitted. After filing, the AIMA biometrics appointment is the bottleneck: AIMA's official target is 6 months, but the realistic wait in 2026 is 12 to 18 months due to the appointment backlog. Your residency card is issued 8–16 weeks after biometrics. Total: typically 12 to 24+ months from kickoff to residency card.

Can I include my family?

Yes. Spouse, dependent children under 18 (or up to 26 if students), and dependent parents over 65 can all be included under the same investment. Each additional dependent has a small AIMA fee but does not require a separate qualifying investment.

When can I apply for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship?

After 5 years of legal residency, Golden Visa holders are eligible to apply for permanent residency. Portuguese citizenship is a separate, later step. Under the new Nationality Law (Lei da Nacionalidade), in force since 18 May 2026, the qualifying residency period for citizenship is:

10 years — for most foreigners (including most EU non-CPLP, US, UK, India, China, Turkey, etc.)
7 years — for nationals of CPLP countries: Brazil, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea

The residency clock now counts from the date the residence card is issued (reversing the 2024 rule that counted from the application date). Citizenship applications submitted before 18 May 2026 remain assessed under the previous 5-year rule. Other requirements: basic Portuguese language proficiency (A2 level), clean criminal record, and continued ties to Portugal.

What's included in the $5,990 professional fee?

NIF acquisition + 1-year fiscal representation, Portuguese-Bar lawyer Power of Attorney, full AIMA application preparation and submission, document apostille coordination, fund-investment due diligence support, biometrics appointment scheduling, plus 12 months of case management. AIMA government fees (~€8,060 per person initial filing + ~€4,030 per person per 2-year renewal) and the qualifying investment itself are billed separately.

What languages do you work in?

Our case team works in English and Portuguese. All legal documents are bilingual (Portuguese + English) by default. We serve clients worldwide — communication is in English unless you prefer Portuguese.

Why choose Reside in Portugal over a real-estate broker?

We are a Portuguese-registered immigration consultancy (NIPC 519043731) with an in-house Portuguese-Bar lawyer (Ordem dos Advogados nº 67883F), not a real-estate intermediary. We do not earn commissions from any fund or developer — our fee is transparent and fixed. We have served 1,200+ clients with a 98% approval track record.

Portugal Golden Visa.
Your EU residency, €500k away.