Mohammed started his Portugal Golden Visa application before his daughter was born. He’s a software engineer in Florida, and his job means he can’t work from anywhere outside the US. Even so, he wanted his children to have a future in Europe: access to its healthcare, education and quality of life, plus the option to build their lives there one day.
Portugal’s Golden Visa gave him a way to do both. He can stay in his job in the US while building residence rights in an EU country for himself and, in time, for his family.
This case study covers why Portugal suited a US-based family that isn’t ready to move, how Mohammed set up his application so it works for a young and growing family, and what the process looked like from submission to biometrics in Portugal.
Why Portugal and The Decision Path?
Mohammed is a software engineer living and working in Florida. He holds dual Egyptian and US citizenship. Portugal came into the picture when he got married and he and his wife started thinking about children.
“I decided to think about the golden visa when I got married, and we were thinking about children. And this is when I started thinking about, okay, where do I want my children to grow up or have a future?” — Mohammed
He compared several options. Two things set Portugal apart. The first was what it offers his family in the long run. He’s direct about the gaps he sees in the US: retirement costs, healthcare costs and university fees. Portugal felt like a middle ground between the two countries he knows.
“It felt like in between what I really want from Egypt and the US. But it had the advanced infrastructure and the social safety net that I really want for my children and for ourselves.” — Mohammed
The second was practical, and it settled the decision. His job ties him to the US. Many residency routes in Europe expect you to move. Portugal’s Golden Visa requires an average of only seven days a year in the country.
“It was the only country where I can still participate in the program without actually relocating. And because of my work, I cannot work from anywhere else except the US. So that fits perfectly.” — Mohammed
Portugal Golden Visa Family Application: Options for Young Families
Many families assume everyone has to be on the application from the start. That’s one option, but it isn’t the only one. For parents of young children, the best structure depends on how long they plan to hold the visa and whether they might move to Portugal later.
Option 1: The whole family applies together
The Golden Visa lets the main investor include a spouse and dependent children under the same investment. Each family member gets their own residence permit, and the family moves through renewals together.
The trade-off is cost. There is one investment, but each family member is a separate residence permit holder. Each person brings their own government fees, card renewals and biometrics appointments for as long as the family holds the visa.
Option 2: The main applicant first, the family later
Portugal now requires 10 years of legal residence before non-EU nationals can apply for citizenship. Under that longer timeline, Mohammed and our team chose a leaner structure. He holds the Golden Visa alone and builds his residence, and his wife and children follow later through the options open to the family of a Portuguese resident or citizen.
“We came up with a reasonable strategy of, okay, I can go solo until I get the citizenship.” — Mohammed
Our founder, Susana Yang, explained during the interview why this works especially well for families with very young children:
“I think that’s also a strategy, especially for people with really young kids, because they will have a long time to plan this. If they’re a little bit older, they might not be able to wait the ten years.” — Susana Yang, Founder, The Golden Portugal
Keeping relocation open
The Golden Visa’s main advantage is that nobody has to live in Portugal. If the family decides to move along the way, they have more options. Family members who relocate can apply through family reunification, without needing a Golden Visa of their own.
“If, in between now and ten years, you want to move here, actually they don’t need to do the golden visa. They could do family reunification. And that cost is much lower, because you are planning to move here. And even if you don’t move here, after the 10 years of residency, when the main applicant get his/ her citizenship, he/ she can apply citizenship for his minor children and spouse.” — Susana Yang
Read From Clients Who Have Been Through The Process.
Portugal Golden Visa Timeline: From Application to Biometrics
Timelines vary between applicants. Use these dates as one real example, not as a guarantee.
- 2025: Mohammed marries and starts researching residency options. He watches YouTube videos to understand the process, finds The Golden Portugal and speaks with several firms and chose The Golden Portugal.
- September 2025: He submits his Golden Visa application. His daughter has not yet been born.
- 2026: As Portugal updates its nationality rules, Mohammed and our team set up his application so he holds the visa alone and his family follows later.
- September 2026: He travels to Portugal for the first time for his biometrics appointment, about a year after submitting. His daughter is now nine months old.
- Next: His residence card is issued, and his residence in Portugal officially begins.
What the biometrics appointment was actually like
His experience is typical. The waiting took a long time, but the appointment itself was quick once his file was ready.
The speed came from preparation. Our team arrived with every document checked and in order, so there was nothing to sort out at the counter.
First impressions of Portugal
This was Mohammed’s first visit to Portugal. It was also his first chance to see whether the country lived up to his research.
“Portugal is very unique. I really loved it. I can just walk, walk, walk, enjoy for hours. You can find something interesting in every corner, very different from the US where you have to drive everywhere. And it’s safe here.” — Mohammed
Portugal Golden Visa for Families: 3 Key Tips Before You Apply
1. You don’t have to relocate to start
Portugal’s Golden Visa needs an average of only seven days a year in the country. That makes it one of the few EU residency routes that works for people whose careers keep them at home, like Mohammed’s.
2. Your children’s ages may give you more options on your application
For parents of babies and toddlers, applying as main applicant first can keep costs down while leaving every option open. For families with teenagers, including them from the start is often safer, so they build their own residence period before they turn 18.
3. Plan for the long term, not just the application
Work out the full cost of holding the visa for each family member over the years, including government fees, renewals and appointments, not just the investment itself. A structure that suits your family’s timeline will save money later.
How to Choose the Right Portugal Golden Visa Adviser
Mohammed found The Golden Portugal through YouTube and was speaking with several firms at once. Three things made him choose us: how we engaged with him from the first conversation, a fee structure he found reasonable, and a sense that we were easy to work with.
“I think I just clicked with you when I communicated. You were very engaging from the beginning. Your fees were reasonable.” — Mohammed
What he valued most was honesty while Portugal’s rules were changing. We explained the possible outcomes, set out every option and helped him choose the structure that best suited his family.
“You were very honest and clear about it. You didn’t sugarcoat anything. You created expectations of what might happen, and you gave me the choices, all the choices. So there were no surprises when it actually did change.” — Mohammed
Planning a Portugal Golden Visa for Your Family?
The Golden Portugal helps families from the US, Asia and around the world through Golden Visa and residency applications, from choosing the right structure and preparing documents to biometrics and renewals. If you’d like to build a European future for your children without giving up your career at home, we can help you compare your options.
Watch Mohammed’s Full Interview
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include my family in a Portugal Golden Visa application?
Yes. The main investor can include a spouse or partner and dependent children under the same investment. Each family member receives their own residence permit. Some families, like Mohammed’s, choose to start with the main applicant only and add family members later through familiy reunification. This should be carefully planned with your consultant depending on your children’s ages and plans.
Do I have to live in Portugal to hold a Golden Visa?
No. That is the Golden Visa’s main advantage. Holders must spend an average of seven days a year in Portugal (at least seven days in the first year and 14 days in each later two-year period). Mohammed lives and works full-time in Florida and could not relocate because of his job, which is why Portugal suited him.
Can my family join me later if I apply for the Portugal Golden Visa alone?
Yes, there are several ways to do this. Family members can be added under the Golden Visa’s family reunification provisions. If they move to Portugal, they may qualify for family reunification at a lower cost than the Golden Visa. Once the main applicant becomes a Portuguese citizen, other routes may be available, such as nationality through marriage or for minor children of a Portuguese citizen. These rules depend on the law at the time. Get personalised consultation before you choose a structure.
When can Golden Visa holders apply for Portuguese citizenship?
Under the nationality law in force since May 2026, most non-EU nationals can apply after 10 years of legal residence, and EU and CPLP nationals after 7. The period is generally counted from when your first residence card is issued. You will also need A2-level Portuguese and to meet the civic knowledge requirements. See our Nationality Law update for details.
How long does the Portugal Golden Visa process take?
It varies. Mohammed reached his biometrics appointment about a year after submitting his application in September 2025. Other applicants have moved faster or slower depending on AIMA’s workload and how complete their files are. Treat any timeline as an estimate. Document preparation, especially from more than one country, can add weeks or months before you apply.
What happens at the Golden Visa biometrics appointment?
You attend in person in Portugal. Your fingerprints and photo are taken, and your original documents are checked. Mohammed waited about three hours to be called but was finished in under ten minutes, because his lawyer had prepared and checked every document in advance.
