What is the Portugal Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) is a residency-by-investment programme. Non-EU nationals who invest at least €500,000 in a CMVM-regulated fund receive a 2-year renewable Portuguese residence permit. After 5 years maintaining the investment — with only ~14 days presence every 2 years — you can apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship.

Do I need to live in Portugal to get the Golden Visa?

No. The Portugal Golden Visa requires approximately 7 days in year one and 14 days per 2-year renewal period. You do not need to relocate, give up your current residence, or live in Portugal full-time. This is the primary reason it remains Europe's most popular investment residency programme for internationally mobile families.

Can I use a Self-Directed IRA or 401(k) to fund the investment?

Some Americans use a Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) to invest in qualifying Portuguese funds for the Golden Visa — which can unlock retirement savings without triggering an early withdrawal penalty. This requires coordination between an SDIRA custodian, the fund manager, and your legal team. TGP can make introductions. Always consult a qualified US tax advisor first.

Which programme has the fastest path to EU citizenship?

Portugal's Golden Visa is the only EU programme that delivers citizenship after 10 years with minimal physical presence — 14 days every 2 years. Greece, Hungary, and Italy require multiple years of full-time physical residence to qualify for citizenship, which most investors do not pursue. For those wanting an EU passport without relocating, Portugal is the answer.

What is the difference between the Golden Visa and Portugal's D7 Visa?

The Golden Visa (ARI) is an investment-based permit with minimal stay requirements — for those who don't want to relocate. The D7 Passive Income Visa requires proof of regular passive income and that you physically live in Portugal for most of the year (183+ days). The Golden Visa suits those maintaining their existing life; the D7 suits those planning to actually move.

How long does the application take?

From fund investment to receiving your residence permit: typically 9–15 months, though this varies with AIMA processing times. In some cases, the process has been completed in under 10 months. Our team actively monitors your application and advocates at AIMA to minimise delays. All timelines are estimates.

Can my family be included in the application?

Yes. Portugal's Golden Visa includes spouse, dependent children (no upper age limit as long as they're single, studying, and financially dependent), and parents of both spouses. São Tomé & Príncipe CBI includes up to 4 generations — including grandparents aged 55+. Family rules vary by programme — we model these carefully for every client.

Does a Golden Visa make me a tax resident of Portugal?

Generally, no. Tax residency is triggered by physical presence — usually 183+ days per year. A residence permit alone does not cross that threshold. Most Golden Visa investors spend well under 183 days in Portugal and have no Portuguese tax obligations on foreign income. Tax rules are complex and depend on your individual circumstances. Always consult a qualified tax advisor.

Portugal's boutique Golden Visa & residency specialists

Your Trusted Europe Golden Visa Consultant

EU residency without relocating. Schengen travel for your family. A clear, proven path to European citizenship.

800+Families served

100%Approval rate since 2020

4.8★Google rating

40+Nationalities

What Is a European Golden Visa?

A European Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program established by a European government to attract foreign capital while offering eligible investors and their families a pathway to legal residency.

These programs can provide access to Golden Visa Europe opportunities, European residency, visa-free travel within the Schengen Area where applicable, and other investment-based immigration pathways. Today, "golden visa" is widely recognised as a key term within the investment migration industry, offering globally minded individuals and families the opportunity to secure residency, long-term mobility, and potential future citizenship through qualifying investments.

Since 2020, The Golden Portugal has successfully guided over 800 families through this process, maintaining a 100% success rate as a trusted golden visa consultant and Europe golden visa consultant.

Compare All Programs Download the 2026 Guide

Three Routes to Global Residency: Golden Visa, CBI & D Visa

As a golden visa consultant, we help you choose a program aligned with your goals, whether securing EU residency through a European Golden Visa, obtaining a second passport, or a non-investment route for relocating to Portugal.

EU Residency

Residency by Investment (RBI)

A European residence permit granting the right to live, work in the country, and travel across Schengen. Citizenship is possible after 5–10 years — with Portugal being the only option requiring minimal physical presence.

🇵🇹 Portugal 🇬🇷 Greece 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇹 Italy 🇵🇦 Panama (Non-EU)

Explore Portugal Golden Visa

Direct Citizenship

Citizenship by Investment (CBI)

Skip residency entirely. A donation grants a second passport directly — typically in 2–3 months, with no residency requirement at any stage. The fastest and most cost-effective route to a second passport — and a fast track to Portuguese citizenship via CPLP membership.

🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe

Explore São Tomé CBI

Full Relocation

Portugal D Visas (D7 / D8 / D2)

For those planning to actually move to Portugal. D7 is for passive income earners; D8 is for remote workers and digital nomads; D2 is for entrepreneurs starting a business in Portugal. All lead to permanent residency and citizenship.

D7 Passive Income D8 Digital Nomad D2 Entrepreneur

Explore D Visas

Why The Golden Portugal as Your Golden Visa Consultant

90% of our practice is the Golden Visa Europe — better outcomes, fewer surprises, and a team that has handled every edge case in the process.

Focus

No generalists. Portugal is our core expertise. We know the programme, the process and the people involved in detail — and when another route suits you better, we'll tell you.

Account Manager

From day one through EU citizenship, one lawyer and one account manager own your case — no rotating handlers, no call centre. No offshore processing.

Response

Every enquiry answered within 48 business hours — throughout your entire journey, not just during the sales process.

Local-Based Execution

Appointments, bank introductions, fund subscriptions, tax registration, biometrics — we're physically present locally to coordinate key steps where they happen.

Full Journey: Visa → Citizenship

Most firms end their work at initial approval. Our structure covers residency renewal, permanent residency, and citizenship planning — end to end.

Direct Access, No Middlemen

Get direct contact with your lawyer, bank manager and fund manager, and copied on every important email. Plus direct access to our CEO at key decision points.

800+Families served

100%Approval rate since 2020

17%Referral rate in 2025

€100M+Investments coordinated

Key Golden Visa & Investment Options in Europe & Globally

EU citizenship, European property ownership, or tax-efficient non-EU residency — these three cover the most common goals of our clients.

🇵🇹

Portugal Golden Visa

EU Residency · Fund Investment from €500k

Europe's best citizenship pathway for globally mobile families — EU residency with minimal presence required, a clean investment exit after 5 years and a clear path to an EU passport.

14 days every 2 years — lowest stay in the EU
€250k donation or €500k in CMVM-regulated investment funds
Whole family included — no upper age for children
Clean investment exit after 5 years
Portuguese citizenship after 10 years
188+ visa-free countries with a Portuguese passport

🇬🇷

Greece Golden Visa

EU Residency · Real Estate from €250k

The leading EU programme for investors who want to own European property. Zero minimum stay. Direct real estate ownership with Schengen access.

Zero minimum stay — one entry per renewal
€250k–€800k depending on property location
Direct real estate ownership in Greece
Whole family included on one application, maximum child age of 24
5-year renewable EU residence permit with investment intact

🇵🇦

Panama Investor Visa

Non-EU Permanent Residency · USD 300k Real Estate

Immediate permanent residency, zero tax on foreign income, and citizenship eligibility and a clean investment exit after 5 years — the standout non-EU option for high earners.

Permanent residency in 30–60 days
Zero tax on all foreign income (territorial system)
One visit every 2 years to maintain status
Clean real estate exit after 5 years
Citizenship pathway after 5 years

How the Global/ European Golden Visa Works

From initial consultation to EU citizenship — a clear, structured journey with The Golden Portugal at every step.

Golden Visa Strategy Consultation

We assess your eligibility, family situation, and goals, then clarify the relevant immigration pathways and next steps.

Qualifying Investment & Documentation

We coordinate with fund managers, banks, and legal teams to support KYC, tax identification, banking, investment, and immigration documentation.

Application & Approval

Your legal team submits the application to the relevant immigration authority. We help monitor progress and keep each stage moving smoothly.

Renew, Then Citizenship

After approval, we help you plan renewals, permanent residency, citizenship, and EU citizenship pathways where applicable.

Start Your Journey

Other Routes We Manage

Depending on nationality, timeline, and goals, one of these may be a better fit — or a complement to your Portugal strategy.

🇸🇹 São Tomé CBI

Second passport in ~3 months. No residency required. USD 90k donation. CPLP fast-track to Portuguese citizenship in 7 years.

Explore São Tomé

🇮🇹 Italy Investor Visa

30-day EU pre-approval — fastest in Europe. Flat-tax regime for HNW families. From €250k investment.

Explore Italy

🇭🇺 Hungary Golden Visa

Low-cost EU Schengen permit in 2–3 months. €250k fund investment. 10-year renewable. No minimum stay.

Explore Hungary

🇵🇹 Portugal D7 Visa

Relocate to Portugal on passive income. Lower cost than the Golden Visa. Full residency rights and citizenship pathway.

Explore D7 Visa

🇵🇹 Portugal D8 Visa

Live and work remotely from Portugal. Residency plan for digital nomads and remote employees with non-Portuguese employers.

Explore D8 Visa

🇵🇹 Portugal D2 Visa

Residency plan for those who plan to start a company or work as a freelancer in Portugal.

Explore D2 Visa

🇹🇷 Turkey Golden Visa

Affordable second passport through property investment. USD 400k real estate. Citizenship in 3–6 months. No residency requirement.

Explore Turkey

Not sure which fits?

Contact our golden visa consultant and we'll recommend the right option within 48 hours.

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Compare All Programs Side-by-Side →

2026 Comparison of Golden Visa Europe Options

Six programmes — the key dimensions at a glance.

Programme	Type	Min. Investment	Processing	Min. Stay	Exit Investment	Path to Passport
🇵🇹 Portugal Premium	EU Residency	€500,000 fund	9–12 months	14 days / 2 yrs	After 5 years	10 years
🇬🇷 Greece	EU Residency	€250k–€800k real estate	6–9 months	None	Must hold	7 years (with full time residency)
🇭🇺 Hungary	EU Residency	€250,000 fund	2–3 months	None	Must hold	8 years (with full time residency)
🇮🇹 Italy	EU Residency	From €250,000	30-day pre-approval	None	Must hold	10 years (with full time residency)
🇵🇦 Panama	Non-EU Residency	USD 300,000 real estate	2–3 months	1 visit / 2 yrs	After 5 years	5 years
🇸🇹 São Tomé CBI	Direct Citizenship	USD 90,000 donation	2–3 months	None	N/A	Immediate

as of March 2026;

Get Clarity from Our Europe Golden Visa Consultant

→EU passport, minimal life disruption🇵🇹 Portugal

→Immediate PR residency, zero foreign-income tax🇵🇦 Panama

→Fast second passport, large family, lowest cost🇸🇹 São Tomé

→EU Schengen residency through real property🇬🇷 Greece

Not sure which fits? That's exactly what our consultation is for. There is no single right answer — only the right answer for your situation.

Full Comparison Guide → Contact Us

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Europe offers routes through employment, entrepreneurship, study, family reunification, passive income or investment residency. For flexible residence, family inclusion and a potential long-term EU citizenship pathway, Portugal's Golden Visa is worth considering; The Golden Portugal can help identify a suitable legal route.

Most European Golden Visa applications require evidence of stable, lawful funds sufficient to support the applicant and dependants. You will also typically need to document the investment's source of funds, bank records and compliance documents.

Popular Golden Visa Europe options include Portugal, Greece, Italy, Hungary and Cyprus. Their investment requirements, physical-presence rules, renewal obligations and citizenship pathways differ significantly; Portugal stands out for its eligibility for citizenship without a minimal stay of 14 days per 2 years.

Portugal's Golden Visa can be a suitable option for investors seeking a potential path to citizenship without full-time residence (14 days per 2 years). By contrast, Greece, Hungary and Italy generally require years of genuine full-time residence for naturalisation.

The process usually involves getting your tax ID, opening a bank account, preparing personal documents, selecting suitable investments, completing due diligence, submitting the residence application and completing biometrics. The Golden Portugal provides an end-to-end solution to assist you on each step in the whole process with your designated lawyer and account manager.

Minimum investment levels vary by country and route: Hungary's qualifying fund route starts from €250,000, Portugal's qualifying fund route generally starts from €500,000, and Greece's property route ranges from €250,000 to €800,000 depending on the location and property type. Planning should be based on your family long term planning on residency and citizenship goals.

Look for a golden visa consultant with a local legal network, transparent scope of service, robust compliance support and expertise in renewals, permanent residence and citizenship planning. The Golden Portugal specialises in Golden Visa and European investment-residency strategies, having supported more than 800 families from over 40 countries.

A professional adviser should assess your nationality, family structure, living plans, investment budget and passport objectives, while qualified local lawyers manage the legal and filing stages. The Golden Portugal provides Portugal and European immigration strategy assessments to help clients build a compliant, long-term residence plan before investing.

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From the Founder

Susana Yang

Founder & CEO · MBA, CFA Level III · Portugal-based since 2017

"Having lived in Portugal for 7 years, I've experienced firsthand the cultural gap between international expectations and Portuguese business pace. We realized: if we wanted to serve global families properly, we couldn't just be in Portugal. We had to bridge two worlds."

That insight is the foundation of everything we built — formal response SLAs, dedicated legal counsel from day one, and direct founder escalation. None of these are standard in this industry. For us, they're non-negotiable.

Today, The Golden Portugal has guided 800+ families from 40+ nationalities through the process — with a 17% referral rate that tells us we're doing something right.

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Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

800+ successful cases · 4.8★ Google rating

★★★★★

"Susana and her team guided us promptly and accurately through every step of the Golden Visa process. Their honest advice, strong local presence in Lisbon, and hands-on support at AIMA appointments truly set them apart."

Mark HolmanUnited States · 4 months ago

★★★★★

"We chose The Golden Portugal because of their strong communication, competitive pricing, and excellent reviews — and we have not regretted it. Communication throughout the document-gathering and application process has been straightforward and efficient."

Alexander LovtunUnited States · 8 months ago

★★★★★

"After months of searching, we felt lucky to find Susana and her team. They have been supportive, responsive, competitively priced, and exceptionally effective in handling both legal and practical matters on the ground in Lisbon."