A Complete Guide for Portugal Golden Visa Program 2025

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What is Portugal Golden Visa Program ?

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU citizens to secure permanent residency and a path to EU citizenship through qualifying investments starting from €500,000.

Portugal’s Golden Visa offers what others don’t:

• Just 7 days per year physical presence required: Stay just 7 days per year (14 days over two years) to maintain your status. No need to relocate full-time.
• Exit your investment after 5 years: Exit your investment after getting your permanent residency after 5 years. Staying in the Investment is not needed for renewal.
• Clear path to citizenship: Qualify for Portuguese citizenship after just 5 years, unlocking visa-free access to 188+ countries and the right to live, work, or study anywhere in the EU’s 27 member states.

Secure European residency without disrupting your current lifestyle or business operations.

Portugal Golden Visa: Is This Right for You?

This program is ideal if you:

✔ Want European residency without relocating (just 14 days/ 2 years required)

✔ Have €500K+ in liquid assets you can invest for 5 years

✔ Value optionality over immediate relocation (permanent residency in Year 5, citizenship in Year 5)

✔ Want Schengen travel freedom for your family from day one

✔ Seek a tax-efficient structure (0% on global income for non-residents)

✔ Need a Plan B for geopolitical uncertainty or family security

Not sure if you qualify? Book a free consultation. We’ll assess your eligibility in 30 minutes.

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Portugal Golden Visa Program Benefits

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Who is Eligible to Apply?

Main applicant

• Over 18 years of age
• Non EU/ EEA citizens
• Holds a valid passport
• Can’t be convicted for a crime that, in Portugal, indicates imprisonment for more than 1 year

Family members as dependents

• Spouse/ partners that have lived together for more than 2 years
• Children under 18 years of age
• Children over 18 years of age who fulfil all 3 criteria
  • Single
  • Studying
  • Financially dependent
• Parents and spouse’s parents, over 65 year of age or financially dependent

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Portugal Golden Visa to Permanent Residency/Citizenship Timeline

The application for the Golden Visa, along with the required documents, is submitted online through AIMA. Once your application receives approval, you and your dependents will need to attend an in-person interview at AIMA. All appointments for the main applicant and dependents can be scheduled together.

After your residence permit is issued, the initial permit is valid for two years. Upon expiration, it must be renewed, with the second permit extending your stay for an additional two years.

At the end of the fourth year, the residence permit becomes eligible for another renewal, granting another two-year validity.

After completing five years of residence and meeting the necessary criteria, you may apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship. Once citizenship is granted, you will also be eligible to obtain a Portuguese passport.

Portugal Golden Visa Changes : What’s New?

Portugal’s Golden Visa program has recently introduced key updates that affect how investors qualify for citizenship. Our team stays up to date with these changes to help you make smart, compliant decisions.

For the latest details on Portugal’s nationality law amendment and answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Portugal Golden Visa, read our article and video below.

Get in Touch with a Portugal Golden Visa Specialist

We offer a free complimentary consultation via video calls to address your unique needs and questions. To book your initial consultation, simply click here, or complete the form below.

Qualified Investments for Portugal Golden Visa in 2025

Note that real estate and 1.5 million capital transfer are no longer investment options for Portugal Golden Visa starting from October 7, 2023. Currently, the Portuguese Golden Visa can be obtained through the following five investment routes:

Portugal Golden Visa Fees

Portugal’s Golden Visa program has specific fees for applying, receiving approval, and renewing a residence permit. These charges apply to every individual on the application, including both the main applicant and any dependents. The amounts listed reflect the latest available information, though AIMA may change the fees without notice.

Portugal Golden Visa Application Procedures

Your roadmap to EU residency—simplified, transparent, and managed by experts every step of the way.Most families complete the entire process in 3–4 months without coming to Portugal. Our fastest case? Just 6 weeks from start to approval. Here’s how we guide you through each phase:

Step 1 – Onboarding & Strategy Session

What it is: Your personalized 60-minute video call with your dedicated lawyer and account manager to review your unique situation, family structure, and timeline—ensuring we understand every detail before starting your application.

What we handle:

• Schedule your onboarding 60 minutes video call with your dedicated lawyer and account manager
• Review your specific circumstances (nationality, family composition, source of funds, timeline)
• Walk you through the complete Golden Visa process step-by-step
• Create your personalized document checklist tailored to your situation
• Identify any nationality-specific requirements or potential challenges
• Provide your customised timeline roadmap

You’ll need: Fill in basic personal information form send in the kick off email. No preparation needed before the call—we’ll guide you through everything.

Timeline: Kickoff email within one business day of onboarding, video call scheduled according to your schedule, ideally within 3-5 business days of onboarding; personalized checklist delivered within 48 hours after the call

Step 2 – Your Portuguese Tax ID (NIF) (Week 1–2)

What it is: Your NIF is Portugal’s national tax identification number—required for investments, property transactions, and eventually, your residency card.

What we handle:.

• Remote NIF application (no Portugal visit required)
• Tax representative service (our firm acts as your official representative)
• Document certification by a lawyer

Common question: “Does getting a NIF mean that you need to file or pay tax in Portugal?”
No. Unless you spend 183+ days per year in Portugal, you’re not a tax resident and do NOT need to file or pay tax in Portugal on foreign income.

You’ll need: Passport + proof of address.
Timeline: 5–10 business days

Step 3 – Portuguese Bank Account (Week 2 – 6) 

Why it matters: You’ll transfer your €500K investment from this account — Portuguese authorities require a local bank trail.

What we handle:

• Pre-vetted bank introductions based on your nationality and investment route
• Direct liaison with your dedicated account manager
• Document certification and submission

Important to know: Not all banks accept all nationalities or investment types (e.g., some banks don’t work with U.S. citizens investing in funds). We match you with the right institution from the start.

You’ll need: Passport, proof of address, recent tax return, bank statement showing €500K+, source of funds documentation

Timeline: 2–4 weeks (faster if the bank has a representative office in your country)

Step 3.5 – CEO Strategy Consultation (Week 4 – 5)

What it is: A private 45-minute consultation with our CEO, an IMC (Investment Migration Council) member with a finance background who has specialised in Portugal Golden Visa fund investments for 6 years. This session happens during your bank account setup so you’re ready to invest immediately once banking is finalised.

What we cover:

• Fund selection strategy: Review eligible investment funds, compare industry, fees, liquidity terms, and management teams
• Investment goals alignment: Match funds to your risk tolerance, return expectations, and 5-year exit strategy
• Immigration planning: Discuss whether you’re targeting permanent residency (Year 5) or citizenship (Year 5+), and how to structure your approach
• Long-term optionality: Tax residency considerations, dual citizenship planning, and family legacy strategies

Why CEO involvement matters:

Fund selection is the largest financial decision in your Golden Visa journey—typically €500K invested for 5 years. Our CEO brings a finance background and deep expertise in Portugal’s investment migration landscape. As an IMC member, she adheres to the highest industry standards for due diligence, compliance, and client protection—ensuring recommendations are based on your goals, not commissions or kickbacks.

We’re not tied to any single fund provider. Our recommendations are based solely on which funds best match your financial goals, risk profile, and immigration timeline—giving you unbiased guidance you can trust.

What we analyse together:

• Historical fund performance (3–5 year track record)
• Management team credentials and investment strategy
• Fee structures (management fees, performance fees, exit costs)
• Liquidity terms (how easily you can exit after 5 years)
• AIMA compliance status and regulatory standing
• Diversification options (spreading across 2–3 funds if appropriate)

Common question: “How do I choose between multiple funds? What if I want to diversify?”
We will review investment strategies, Portuguese industry overview, fee structures, and exit terms. Many clients diversify across 2–3 funds to balance risk—we’ll help structure this according to the minimum investment requirements for each fund.

What you’ll receive:

• Comparative fund analysis document
• Fund brochures on each fund
• Direct introductions to fund managers for video or in-person meetings (if you want to speak with them)

Timeline: 45-minute consultation, typically scheduled during Week 3-4 (while your bank account is being finalised)

Step 4 – Fund Investment & Subscription (Week 7-10)

What it is: Once you’ve selected your fund(s) we coordinate the investment transfer and subscription process.

What we handle:

• Arrange video calls or in-person meetings with fund managers (so you can ask questions directly before committing)
• Fund subscription paperwork preparation and certification
• Transfer coordination between your Portuguese bank and the fund
• Ongoing communication with fund managers during KYC review
• Bank declaration and fund manager declaration letter procurement

You’ll need: Same documents as bank opening (passport, proof of address, tax returns, bank statements, source of funds) + fund subscription forms (we prepare these for your signature)

Timeline: 3–4 weeks for fund KYC (know-your-customer) review and transfer processing once you’ve selected your fund(s)

Step 5 – Personal & Family Documents (Week 4 – 11)

This is where timing matters. Some documents (like no criminal records) have short validity windows, so we coordinate the sequence carefully.

What we handle:

• Guidance on all documents from your residing/ origin country
• Timeline guidance (e.g., we’ll tell you exactly when to request your criminal record so it doesn’t expire before submission)
• Portuguese-side documents: tax clearance, criminal record authorization, bank and fund investment declaration letters

Heads up: No criminal record/ police reports can take 4–8 weeks in some countries, we flag this early.

Timeline: 4–8 weeks (varies by country)

Note: The above is not the full list of documents, as other documents may be needed for your dependents (e.g. proof of student status, single, and dependent, retirement status and etc).

Step 6 – Online Application Submission (Week 12)

What we handle:

• Complete AIMA portal application (we fill out every form)
• Document upload and compliance review
• Application tracking and status updates

Timeline: 1–2 weeks to prepare; 4 – 6 months for AIMA to schedule biometrics

Step 7 – Biometrics Appointment (6 months after application submission)

The one time you visit Portugal: You’ll provide fingerprints, photos, and pay for the card issuance fee

What to bring:

• Passport and entry proof
• Credit/ debit card for government fees 

What we handle:

• Appointment scheduling monitoring
• Pre-appointment document review
• Accompaniment for the appointment by a lawyer, On-the-ground support

Timeline: 30-minute appointment

Step 8 – Residence Card Delivery (3 months after biometric)

The finish line: Once approved, we collect your residence cards and ship them to you securely.

What you receive:

• 2-year renewable residence permit that allows you to live, work and study in Portugal
• Immediate Schengen travel rights
• Pathway to permanent residency (Year 5) and citizenship (Year 5+)

Timeline: 3–4 months post-biometrics

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Complete Timeline Snapshot

From beginning to your application submission

Phase	Duration	Can it Be Done Remotely?
NIF + Bank Account	3–6 weeks	✔ Yes
Fund Investment	3–4 weeks	✔ Yes
Document Gathering	4–8 weeks	✔ Yes
Application Submission	1 eek	✔ Yes

Total time needed: 3–4 months on average | Our record: 6 weeks

From application to your first resident card

Phase	Duration	Can it Be Done Remotely?
Biometrics	1 day	❌ No—Portugal visit required
Card Issuance	3-4 months	✔ Yes (we ship to you)

Total time needed: 6–9 months on average | Our record: 9 months

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Why This Process Works Smoothly With Us

✔ Single point of contact: We coordinate your lawyer, bank, fund manager, and immigration authorities
✔ Proactive timeline management: We prevent document expiration issues and bank mismatches before they happen
✔ 100% remote-capable: Except for one biometrics appointment, you’ll never need to visit Portugal during the application
✔ Fast-track option available: Need it done in under 2 months? We’ve done it.

Ready to Start?

Book your complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss your timeline, nationality-specific requirements, and investment options.

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Portugal Golden Visa Document Checklist: What You’ll Need

Document	Why It’s Needed	How We Help
Valid Passport – 6+ months validity remaining	Primary identity verification for immigration authorities	We check expiration dates early to avoid delays
Proof of Address (utility bill, bank statement, lease)	Confirms your current residence for NIF and bank account opening	We certify the document
Police Clearance Certificate (apostilled, <3 months old at submission)	One of the basic documents showing your criminal record	We tell you exactly when to request this (too early = expires; too late = delays). We also coordinate consulate letters if your country requires them.
Recent Tax Return	Banks and funds use this to verify financial capacity and source of income	We certify the document
Bank Statements (showing €500K+ available funds)	Proves you have liquid assets to meet investment minimums	We certify the document
Source of Funds Documentation	EU anti-money laundering laws require proof of where your wealth came from	We create a tailored document package based on your situation (see breakdown below)

Source of Funds: What Counts?

Your documentation needs vary based on how you accumulated your investment capital:

Your Situation	Documents Needed
Salaried employment	Employment letter, pay stubs or bank statements showing salary deposits, tax return
Investment portfolio	Brokerage statements, tax returns
Property sale	Sales agreement, proof of funds transfer to your account
Inheritance	Will/ probate documents/ lawyer’s letter, bank transfer proof
Gift from family	Gift declaration letter, donor’s proof of fund
Cryptocurrency	Exchange statements (purchase dates/amounts), blockchain records, tax filings declaring gains, proof of conversion to fiat currency
Mixed sources?	Most clients have funds from multiple origins (e.g., salary + investments + property sale). We’ll help you build a comprehensive source-of-funds narrative that satisfies bank compliance.

Additional Documents for Family Members

Family Member	Documents Need
Spouse/Partner	Passport + proof of address Marriage certificates (apostille) Police clearance (apostille) Unmarried partners need proof of a recognised civil union or proof of living together for more than 2 years
Children Under 18	Passport  Birth certificate (apostille) Police clearance for those age 16 and over (apostille) Parental consent form (if only one parent is applying)
Children over 18	Passport  Birth certificate (apostille) Police clearance for those age 16 and over (apostille) Proof of single status Proof of school enrollment  Proof of financial dependence (bank statements)
Dependent Parents	Passport Birth certificate of the main applicant or spouse (apostilled) Police clearance (apostilled) Proof of retirement and proof of financial dependence (bank statement) for parents under the age of 65

Portugal-Side Documents (We Obtain These for You)

You don’t need to worry about these—we handle procurement:

✔ Portuguese NIF (Tax ID)
✔ Portuguese bank account opening forms
✔ Investment fund subscription agreements
✔ Portuguese criminal record authorization
✔ Tax and social security clearance certificates
✔ Fund manager confirmation letters (proving your investment was received)
✔ AIMA application forms (the official Golden Visa submission)

Document Type	Typical Processing Time	Our Pro Tip
Passport renewal (if needed)	4–12 weeks	Start immediately if expiration is within 12 months
Police clearance	2–8 weeks (varies by country)	We’ll tell you the exact week to request this
Apostille	1–4 weeks (Hague countries)	Faster if you use expedited services—we provide referrals
Consular certification	4–6 weeks (non-Hague countries)	Budget extra time; consulates have unpredictable backlogs
Source of funds compilation	1–2 weeks	Gather employment/investment records early

Most clients complete document gathering in 4–8 weeks with our guidance.

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How We Simplify This Process

1. Personalized Document Roadmap

After your initial consultation, we’ll create a custom checklist based on:

• Your nationality
• Family composition
• Source of funds
• Countries you’ve lived in

You’ll know exactly what to gather—no surprises.

2. Strategic Timing Guidance

Some documents expire quickly (police reports: 3 months). Others take months to obtain (apostilles in certain countries). We sequence your document requests so nothing expires before submission.

3. Certification

Most documents need certification or apostilles/consular certifications.  We will guide you through this process and we will handle the certification of documents for you.

4. Bank & Fund Liaison

Banks and funds often request “one more document” during their review process. We handle all follow-up communication so you’re not stuck in email loops.

5. Compliance Review

Before submitting to AIMA, we review your entire file for:

• Missing signatures
• Expired dates
• Inconsistent information across documents
• Formatting issues that could trigger rejections

Our pre-submission checklist has prevented 100+ potential delays for clients over the past 5 years.

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Still On the Fence? Here’s Our Promise:

Your free 30-minute consultation includes:

✔ Honest eligibility assessment (we’ll tell you if this ISN’T the right program for you)

✔ Nationality-specific timeline and document requirements

✔ Fund investment overview (no pressure to commit)

✔ Transparent pricing (you’ll know exactly what everything costs)

**No hard sell. No hidden fees. No obligation.**

If we’re not the right fit, we’ll tell you and even recommend alternatives if appropriate.

**What you risk by waiting:**

❌ Program rule changes (investment minimums have increased since 2023)

❌ You will get your residency later rather than sooner

❌ Currency fluctuations (€500K investment = more USD if dollar weakens)

**What you risk by booking a call:**

✅ 30 minutes of your time

✅ Getting clarity on your options

✅ Learning if Portugal Golden Visa is right for you

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Why Choose The Golden Portugal Over Other Consultants?

Other Firms	The Golden Portugal
Generic consultants handling 20+ visa/citizenship programs	Portugal specialists since 2020—Golden Visa is all we do
1 out of 50 clients gave a 5 star public review/ or no public review	1 out of 15 clients gave a 5 star public review
Email responses in 24-48 hours	1-hour first response guarantee on business days
Junior associates manage your case	Founder + CEO involvement at key milestones
Case and document review by AI	All materials and documents are prepared and reviewed by your account manager or lawyer
Hidden fees and last-minute charges	No hidden fees — no surprises
Cookie-cutter fund recommendations	IMC-certified CEO with 6 years of fund expertise conducts your personal strategy session
You coordinate between lawyer, bank, and fund	Single point of contact —we coordinate everything
Hope your documents don’t expire	We’ve prevented 100+ document expiration issues
No statement	100% success rate on Portugal Golden Visa

800+ families trusted us with their €500K investment. Here’s why:

✔ Portugal-based team (we’re on the ground, not remote coordinators)

✔ 4.8★ Google rating reviews

✔ IMC membership (Investment Migration Council—industry’s highest standard)

✔ Fastest case: 6 weeks start to submission (average: 3-4 months)

✔ Complimentary 30-minute consultation (no hard sell, just honest assessment)

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