The Portugal Golden Visa is one of the most effective and attractive residency-by-investment programs in the world. Launched in 2012, the program has granted legal residency to nearly 13,000 investors and their respective families, generating over €7 billion in investment for the country.
In 2025, the Portugal Golden Visa continues to offer a fast track to European residency and citizenship through secure investment options, such as private equity funds, cultural donations, and job creation. The program is particularly appealing to individuals and families seeking greater global mobility, long-term stability, and financial diversification in the European Union.
With minimal stay requirements, flexible investment routes, and the possibility of acquiring Portuguese citizenship after just five years, the Portugal Golden Visa remains a top choice among American, Brazilian, British, Turkish, South African, and Chinese investors.
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Get My Personalized PDFOne of the shortest timelines to EU citizenship or permanent residency (just 5 years).
No need to relocate – only 14 days in Portugal in the first 2 years and 21 days in the following 3 years.
Visa-free travel across 29 Schengen countries.
Allows you and your family the right to live, work, retire, and study in Portugal, with access to some of the best international schools in Portugal.
Full family inclusion (spouse, children, parents).
Dual citizenship permitted.
Multiple investment options, starting from €250,000.
Tax advantages for new residents, including special benefits for Golden Visa investors.
Free access to public healthcare and education.
The Portugal Golden Visa is more than just legal residency—it's a strategy for future generations, combining quality of life, political stability, and global access in a single program.
The Portugal Golden Visa has become the preferred residency-by-investment solution for individuals and families worldwide who seek flexibility, security, and global mobility—often wondering: what is it like to live in Portugal?
While investors from the United States currently lead in the number of applications, strong interest also comes from Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, China, and South Africa. These applicants are often motivated by growing political and economic uncertainty in their home countries, as well as the opportunity to secure EU citizenship for future generations.
The Portugal Golden Visa offers a highly secure legal framework, a predictable application process, and one of the few programs that does not require full relocation. Families benefit from access to public healthcare, top international schools, and the ability to live, work, and study in Portugal—or simply maintain residency without the need to move.
For many global investors, the Portugal Golden Visa is a reliable Plan B—and a strategic way to protect wealth, preserve family mobility, and obtain EU citizenship through a trusted and established path.
Portugal is one of the freest countries in the world and also has one of the most powerful passports in the world.
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Get My Personalized PDFTo qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa, applicants must meet specific legal, financial, and documentation requirements. The program is open to a wide range of investors, offering an accessible and efficient path to EU residency.
Under the Portugal Golden Visa, you can include the following family members in your application:
All documents issued outside of Portugal must be legalized with an apostille or authenticated by the Portuguese Consulate/Embassy and, when not in English, French, or Spanish, translated into Portuguese. The main documents required include:
To qualify for the program, applicants must make a qualifying investment and maintain it for at least five years. As real estate or capital transfers for deposits or government bond purchases are no longer eligible, Portugal now offers a diverse set of investment routes tailored to different investor profiles. Below are the officially recognized investment options:
Minimum Investment: €500,000
Most Popular Route in 2025 – Almost all Golden Visa applicants choose this option.
Since real estate investments were removed as a qualifying option, Eligible Investment Funds have gained prominence, especially Private Equity Funds, now a central choice for many. Introduced in 2017 as an eligible option for the Golden Visa, Investment Funds now account for almost 100% of all applications. American investors have shown significant interest in this option from the beginning.
The Explorer Investments team uses its expertise to guide investors through the complexities of investment funds, ensuring a seamless experience.
Minimum Investment: €500,000
Support for public or private scientific research institutions integrated into the national scientific and technological system.
Minimum Amount: €250,000 (reduced to €200,000 in a low-density area)
Support for Portuguese cultural institutions, art restoration projects, or national heritage conservation. This is the lowest-cost route to access the Portugal Golden Visa—but it is non-refundable.
Minimum Investment: €500,000
Create a new company headquartered in Portugal and generate at least 5 jobs for a minimum period of 3 years, or increase the share capital of an existing company, creating at least 5 jobs or maintaining 10 jobs for 3 years.
Directly create 10 full-time jobs in an existing company for a minimum period of three years (no minimum investment limit set) or 8 jobs in a lower-density area.
*Only if the business becomes profitable or is sold in the future.
Applying for the Portugal Golden Visa involves several steps, most of which can be completed remotely. Below, you will find a clear breakdown of the process, from preparing documentation to receiving your residence card.
The consultant and lawyer designated by Explorer Investments will clearly explain all questions regarding the legal context, the specifics of Portugal, the Golden Visa process, and the investment options.
Start by gathering all necessary documents, for both the main applicant and family members. They include:
The NIF is essential for opening a bank account and completing your investment. It can be obtained at a Portuguese tax office or remotely with the help of a tax representative. Explorer Investments provides full support for NIF registration and tax representation.
This account is used to fund your investment. Some banks allow remote account opening. You will need to provide your passport, NIF, proof of funds, and address, among other documents.
Select your preferred investment route (likely a private equity fund) and transfer the required amount from your Portuguese bank account. You must obtain written confirmation of the investment from both the bank and the fund manager or beneficiary institution.
Once your investment is confirmed, your legal team will submit your Portugal Golden Visa application to AIMA. The five-year countdown to citizenship begins from this submission date, not the approval date. Application fees are also paid at this stage.
Once AIMA approves your application, you will be invited to schedule a biometric appointment in Portugal. This step includes fingerprint collection, photographs, and identity confirmation. You can reschedule this appointment, if necessary, upon presenting a valid reason.
After your biometric appointment, your first residence card will be issued, valid for 2 years. The second card, valid for 3 years, is issued after the first renewal.
To maintain your Portugal Golden Visa, you must:
The renewal application is made online via the AIMA portal.
After 5 years, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency. To qualify for citizenship, you must meet criteria including:
The Portugal Golden Visa offers one of the fastest and most reliable paths to European citizenship. While the legal framework is clear, the actual experience depends on AIMA's current processing speed. That's where we come in—guiding you through each step so there are no surprises.
Unlike many countries, Portugal starts your five-year period the moment your application is submitted—not when it is approved. This means every month under review counts towards your citizenship goal.
High demand has led to waiting times, especially for biometric appointments. Below is a realistic overview of the journey, based on our clients' current experience.
Our team focuses exclusively on the Golden Visa program and Portugal's D Visa. We don't divide our attention among multiple countries—we live and breathe the Portuguese market.
With real estate no longer eligible, investment funds are now the primary path for the Golden Visa. We only work with verified and CMVM-registered funds to ensure compliance, investor protection, and long-term security.
We handle every step of the process so you don't have to:
Everything you need—all in one place.
We have successfully guided dozens of American families through the Golden Visa process. We understand your specific challenges and have trusted partners to support you.
We believe in clarity and trust. Every cost is explained upfront, and our guidance is personalized to your goals, risk profile, and family needs.
Our founders and legal partners have experienced the expatriate journey firsthand. We understand what it means to move, invest, and settle abroad—and we speak your language, both literally and culturally.
Your Golden Visa is more than just paperwork—it's a long-term investment in your family's future. Whether you seek global mobility, a strategic relocation plan, or European citizenship for the next generation, Portugal offers one of the most flexible and rewarding residency programs in the world. At Explorer Investments, we handle the entire process so you can focus on your future, not the forms.
The sooner you start, the sooner your five-year citizenship clock begins ticking.
Get your complete, free guide to the Portuguese Golden Visa. Learn how to invest with confidence through Explorer Investments, the country's largest private equity fund.
André Bandeira
ab@explorerinvestments.comMaria Campos Silva
mcs@explorerinvestments.comCopyright © 2025 Explorer Investments
It is recommended to consult Chapter V of Decree-Law nÂş 162/2014, of October 31st, published in the Official Gazette, as well as its revision by Law nÂş 2/2020, of March 31st. The information included here is of a general nature, and therefore each potential investor should seek independent advice (e.g., legal, financial, tax, etc.)