How the Portugal Golden Visa works in 2026
Portugal calls the programme the Residence Permit for Investment Activity, or ARI. A non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicant completes one qualifying investment and applies to AIMA for residence. Approval is not automatic: the applicant, investment and supporting documents must all pass the legal and administrative checks.
The decisive 2023 change removed property acquisition and passive capital transfer from new applications. A property can still be part of your life in Portugal, but it cannot be the qualifying Golden Visa investment. The route also does not sell citizenship; it creates a residence path from which permanent residence or naturalisation may later become available under separate rules.
Qualifying investment routes
A 20% low-density reduction applies to the research, cultural and job-creation routes only, never to the fund route. Property purchase no longer qualifies: Lei 56/2023 removed the real-estate routes for new applications from 7 October 2023.
| Minimum | Route | What must qualify |
|---|---|---|
| €500,000 | Qualifying investment fund | Units in a Portuguese non-real-estate collective investment undertaking with at least five years' maturity and at least 60% invested in Portuguese-headquartered companies. |
| €500,000 | Company capital and jobs | Create a Portuguese company or reinforce an existing company and meet the statutory permanent-job creation or maintenance conditions. |
| €500,000 | Scientific research | Capital applied to qualifying public or private research institutions. The threshold can fall to €400,000 in qualifying low-density territory. |
| €250,000 | Arts or cultural heritage | Investment or support through qualifying entities for artistic production or national cultural heritage. The threshold can fall to €200,000 in qualifying low-density territory. |
| No fixed capital minimum | Create at least 10 jobs | Create ten full-time jobs in Portugal. The required number can be reduced under the low-density rules. |
What it costs beyond the investment
Every applicant pays AIMA analysis and card-issuance fees. Legal work, translations, apostilles, banking, investment charges and tax advice vary by route and family. Government fees apply per person, while one qualifying investment can support the family application.
Government fees
€6,946.30 per applicant for the first permit (€632.10 analysis plus €6,314.20 concession) and €3,789.90 per applicant at each renewal, per AIMA's fee table effective 1 March 2026.
Legal and document costs
Scope should state dependants, renewals, translations and excluded work.
Investment charges
Fund fees, performance participation and exit terms can materially alter the result.
Use the Portugal Golden Visa cost calculator for the current AIMA fees and a family-level estimate.
Application process
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01
Choose the route and legal team
Decide which qualifying investment fits the applicant, then appoint Portuguese counsel to test eligibility, conflicts and the evidence required before capital is committed.
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02
Set up the Portuguese file
Obtain the tax number, arrange banking where needed, and assemble identity, criminal-record, health-cover and source-of-funds documents.
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03
Complete the qualifying investment
Transfer the capital or complete the job-creation step and obtain the route-specific declarations and certificates AIMA requires.
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04
Submit through Portal ARI
Upload the application and evidence, pay the analysis fee and respond to any request to correct or complete the file.
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05
Attend biometrics
After validation and appointment availability, attend in person with the requested originals for checking and biometric collection.
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06
Maintain and renew
Keep the qualifying investment, meet the minimum stay and renew the two-year residence card while planning permanent residence or citizenship separately.
See the complete Portugal Golden Visa document checklist and the source-of-funds guide before collecting time-sensitive records.
Residence, family and citizenship
Low minimum stay
A minimum of 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period.
Family reunification
A spouse or partner, dependent children and qualifying dependent parents may be included when the family rules are met.
A separate citizenship test
Golden Visa years count as legal residence, but A2 Portuguese, civics and criminal-record rules apply at naturalisation.
Under Lei Orgânica 1/2026, published on 18 May 2026 and in force since 19 May 2026, Portugal requires 7 years of legal residence for EU and CPLP nationals and 10 years for most other foreign nationals, counted from when your first residence permit is issued. The nationality law sets no separate minimum-presence rule, so Golden Visa years count. Citizenship applications already pending on 18 May 2026 continue under the previous law. Read the detailed renewal and citizenship guide before relying on a timeline.
Choosing a Portugal Golden Visa lawyer
Ask who owns the legal file, who checks the investment against the ARI rules, what happens after submission, and whether the firm receives referral or distribution payments. Compare the same written scope across firms, including dependants, translations, biometrics, AIMA follow-up and renewals.
- Named Portuguese lawyer and current bar details
- Written investment and referral-conflict disclosure
- Itemised scope, exclusions, VAT and third-party costs
- Responsibility for AIMA follow-up and renewals
Portugal Golden Visa FAQs
Is the Portugal Golden Visa still open in 2026?
Yes. Portugal's residence permit for investment activity, known as ARI or the Golden Visa, remains open. Real-estate acquisition and passive capital transfer stopped qualifying for new applications in 2023, but the fund, company and jobs, research, cultural-support and job-creation routes remain.
Can I get a Portugal Golden Visa by buying property?
No. Property purchase no longer qualifies: Lei 56/2023 removed the real-estate routes for new applications from 7 October 2023. Existing holders and renewals keep the old rules. Be cautious of marketing that still presents a home purchase as an eligible route.
What is the minimum investment for a Portugal Golden Visa?
The lowest fixed-sum route is €250,000 for qualifying artistic production or cultural-heritage support, potentially €200,000 under the low-density reduction. The commonly used qualifying-fund route requires €500,000. Creating at least ten jobs has no fixed statutory capital amount.
How much time must I spend in Portugal?
A minimum of 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period (Lei 23/2007, art. 90.º-A). That is a residence-permit rule; tax residence, permanent residence and citizenship have separate tests.
How long does the Portugal Golden Visa process take?
Portugal has a 90-day legal decision period once the in-person stage is done (Lei 23/2007, art. 82.º), but in practice expect 12 to 24 months or more from ARI application to your first residence card (practitioner reports, mid-2026). AIMA publishes no official end-to-end average.
Can my family be included?
Qualifying family members can normally apply through family reunification without multiplying the investment. Each family member still needs their own documents, checks, biometrics and government fees.
Does the Portugal Golden Visa lead to citizenship?
It can. Golden Visa years count as legal residence toward Portuguese citizenship, and the nationality law sets no separate minimum-presence rule. Under Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026, the period is 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals and 10 years for most other foreign nationals, counted from when your first residence permit is issued. Citizenship is a separate application with A2 Portuguese, civics and criminal-record requirements.
Primary sources and review note
This page is general information, not legal or investment advice. Programme rules, government fees and administrative practice can change. Check the current official material and obtain advice for your facts before investing. All sources above were checked on 25 September 2026. The 12 to 24+ month range is a practitioner estimate, not an AIMA figure. Last reviewed 25 September 2026.