Portugal · Golden visa · Open
Portugal Golden Visa: What Still Qualifies in 2026
The Portugal golden visa, officially the ARI (residence authorization for investment activity), is still open in 2026, but buying property no longer qualifies. What remains are routes such as non-real-estate investment funds and scientific research funding, each from €500,000, plus lower-cost options such as cultural contributions that secondary sources put at €250,000. It is a high-cost route that mainly suits investors who want residence with a very light physical stay.
Rules, thresholds and fees change. Read AIMA's official investment-fund form and take advice from a licensed Portuguese lawyer before investing.
At a glance
Portugal Golden Visa (ARI Investor Residence) (Autorizacao de Residencia para Atividade de Investimento (ARI))
- Who it’s for
- Non-EU investors who make a qualifying investment such as a regulated fund, scientific research funding, a cultural contribution or job-creating business investment
- How it’s calculated
- No income threshold is the main test; you need clean criminal and tax records and proof of the qualifying investment
- Investment
- €500,000 minimum
- Initial stay
- 2-year residence permit (per secondary sources), with a minimum physical stay far lower than most residence routes
- Renewal
- Yes, in 2-year periods while the investment is maintained (per secondary sources)
- Path to permanent residence
- 5 years for permanent residence; citizenship takes 10 years under the 2026 nationality law, counted from the first residence card
- Family can join
- Yes
- Health insurance required
- Yes
- Processing time
- Often a year or more in practice; AIMA backlogs apply (secondary sources, not official)
- Fees
- Government application and card fees add up to several thousand euros per person according to secondary sources, plus legal, fund and tax advice costs; confirm with AIMA.
- Tax
- Holding the visa does not create tax residence by itself; becoming resident means worldwide income is taxed. Investment returns have their own tax treatment, so get advice before you invest.
Key requirements
- Investment in one of the qualifying routes; AIMA's published forms cover EUR 500,000 in non-real-estate funds (at least 60% in Portuguese companies, five-year maturity) and EUR 500,000 (EUR 400,000 in low-density areas) in scientific research
- Secondary sources list a EUR 250,000 cultural contribution (EUR 200,000 in low-density areas) and a job-creation route with at least 10 jobs
- Direct real estate purchase no longer qualifies (removed in October 2023)
- Proof of the capital transfer from a bank in Portugal and fund or institution certificates
- Clean criminal record from your home country, valid for three months on filing
- Tax and social security clearance (issued within 45 days), a Portuguese tax number and health coverage
- Minimum stay per secondary sources: 7 days in the first year, then 14 days in each following two-year period
Official and secondary sources · Last checked Oct 7, 2026. Rules change — confirm with the consulate or a qualified advisor. Not legal advice.
Who qualifies
The golden visa is for non-EU citizens who make a qualifying investment in Portugal and keep it for the required period. You need a clean criminal record, tax and social security clearance and health coverage. The visa does not require you to live in Portugal full time, which is why it attracts investors, but it is not designed for people who want to work or retire on a modest budget; the D7 visa fits that case.
Investment requirement
AIMA publishes forms for each investment type. We read two of them:
- Investment funds (subalinea 7). At least €500,000 in units of non-real-estate collective investment funds under Portuguese law, with at least five years of maturity and at least 60% invested in Portuguese companies.
- Scientific research (subalinea 5). At least €500,000, or €400,000 in low-density territories, transferred to research institutions in the national scientific system. The investment cannot be directed at real estate and must be kept for five years.
Secondary sources also describe a cultural contribution of about €250,000 (or €200,000 in low-density areas), a job-creation route and a new "solidarity" real estate option tied to affordable rentals. We could not confirm these on official pages, so verify them. Direct property purchases stopped qualifying in October 2023.
Documents you'll need
- A valid passport and proof of legal entry.
- Evidence of the investment: a bank declaration of the transfer to Portugal, fund unit ownership certificates and a statement from the fund manager or research institution.
- A criminal record certificate from your home country, translated and issued within three months.
- A Portuguese tax number and proof of tax and social security compliance (issued within 45 days).
- A sworn declaration that you will meet the minimum amount and five-year holding period.
- Proof of health coverage and the application fee receipt.
Step-by-step application
- Pick a route and get independent advice on the specific fund or institution.
- Obtain a NIF and open a Portuguese bank account.
- Transfer the investment and collect the supporting certificates.
- Submit your application to AIMA through the online process, often with a lawyer.
- Attend biometrics and receive your residence permit.
- Keep the investment for the full holding period and renew on time.
Costs and timeline
Expect legal, fund and government fees. Secondary sources cite application and card fees that add up to several thousand euros per person, and processing that can take a year or more because of AIMA backlogs. None of this is on the official forms we read, so confirm with AIMA.
Taxes once you're resident
Holding the permit does not by itself make you a tax resident. Staying more than 183 days, or keeping a habitual home in Portugal, does, and then worldwide income is taxed. Investment returns can be taxed differently, so ask a Portuguese tax adviser before investing. This is not tax advice. Our Portugal guide covers the basics.
Family members
Spouses and dependent children can usually be included. Each person has their own documents and fees.
Minimum stay, permanent residence and citizenship
Secondary sources say the minimum stay is 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each following two-year period, which is far lighter than most routes. Permanent residence is possible after 5 years. Citizenship under the 2026 law generally takes 10 years of legal residence, counted from the first residence card, and 7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking-country nationals. Language and civics tests apply. Confirm the details with the IRN before you rely on them.
Alternatives
- Passive income of about €920 a month: D7 visa.
- Remote earnings of about €3,680 a month: D8 visa.
- Founders and freelancers: D2 visa.
- Spain closed its program: see Spain golden visa for what replaced it.
Other golden visas in Europe
| Route | Country | Type | Status | Headline requirement | Initial stay | Path to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment | Cyprus | Golden visa | Open | €4,167/mo income | Permanent immigration permit with unlimited residence right… | It is permanent residence; citizenship … |
| Greece Golden Visa (Residence by Investment) | Greece | Golden visa | Open | €400,000 investment | 5-year residence permit (per secondary sources; the Ministr… | No automatic permanent residence or cit… |
| Hungary Guest Investor Residence Permit | Hungary | Golden visa | Open | €250,000 investment | First a guest investor visa valid 6 months, then a residenc… | Not stated on the official guest-invest… |
| Italy Investor Visa (Golden Visa) | Italy | Golden visa | Open | €250,000 investment | Two-year visa/permit | Not stated on the official page; Italia… |
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) | Malta | Golden visa | Open | €99,000 investment | Permanent residence; the residence card is issued for 5 yea… | The programme is permanent residence; c… |
| Portugal Golden Visa (ARI Investor Residence) | Portugal | Golden visa | Open | €500,000 investment | 2-year residence permit (per secondary sources), with a min… | 5 years for permanent residence; citize… |
| Spain Golden Visa (Closed 2025) | Spain | Golden visa | Closed | €500,000 investment | Previously a 3-year initial permit with 5-year renewals; th… | Not applicable for new applicants; exis… |
Thresholds and rules change often. Each route links to its official government page — confirm there before you apply. Not legal advice.
Other ways to live in Portugal
- Portugal D2 Visa (Independent Worker and Entrepreneur) Open
- Portugal D7 Visa (Passive Income Visa) Open
- Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa Open
Moving to Portugal: the complete guide →
Frequently asked questions
Is the Portugal golden visa still available?
Yes, but not through real estate. Property purchases stopped qualifying in October 2023, according to secondary sources. Routes that remain include non-real-estate funds at €500,000 and scientific research funding from €500,000 (€400,000 in low-density areas), which we confirmed on AIMA forms. Check AIMA for the current list.
How much does the Portugal golden visa cost?
The headline investment starts at €500,000 for funds and research. Secondary sources mention a €250,000 cultural option. On top you will pay legal, fund and government fees that run to several thousand euros per person. Costs and rules change, so get a written quote from a licensed lawyer.
Do I have to live in Portugal on a golden visa?
The minimum stay is very light according to secondary sources: 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each following two-year period. That is not the same as tax residence. Spending more than 183 days or keeping a habitual home in Portugal can make you a tax resident.
Can the golden visa lead to Portuguese citizenship?
Yes in principle, but it is slower now. Under the 2026 nationality law most applicants need 10 years of legal residence, counted from the first residence card, plus language and civics tests. Permanent residence comes after 5 years. Confirm current rules with the IRN.
Sources and last checked · Oct 7, 2026
Notes: AIMA's PDF forms for subalineas 5 (scientific research, EUR 500,000 or EUR 400,000 in low-density areas) and 7 (non-real-estate funds, EUR 500,000) were read today; those are the only official facts here. The EUR 250,000 culture route, job-creation route, 'solidarity' real estate route, residence-permit length, minimum stay, fees and the loss of real estate in October 2023 (Law 56/2023) are from secondary sources and need official confirmation. Citizenship counted from the first residence card reflects the May 2026 nationality law per secondary sources; a human should verify. The visa-table min_investment shows the typical EUR 500,000 threshold; the cultural route is lower.
- aima.gov.pt/documents/ari-subalinea-7.pdf
- aima.gov.pt/documents/ari-subalinea-5.pdf
- guestready.com/pt/blog/vistos-gold-portugal/
- globalcitizensolutions.com/portugal-residency-law-changes/
Figures are our research estimates from the sources above; rules and prices change. Not legal, tax or immigration advice. Spot something out of date? Tell us.