Golden Visa · Portugal
Is it possible to have a European passport? without moving to Europe?
The short answer is yes, and today there's only one country where that's true. If your plan is to move to Europe, there are cheaper and faster ways than this, and you should know that now. If you want your family to have a European passport without disrupting their life here, you're having the right conversation.
AIM Global
9
Years of Experience
200 +
Golden Visa managed
550 +
Nationalizations
4
Jurisdictions: Portugal, Spain, Italy and Croatia
€500.000
Minimum investment, recoverable in five years
35
Days of physical presence required in five years
10
Years until citizenship · 7 for CPLP and EU
30+
Countries where you can live with your passport
Before you continue reading
The Portuguese Golden Visa is the only program in a developed country that requires only 35 days of physical presence over five years and a recouped investment. In May 2026, a law changed in Portugal, and since then, much misinformation has circulated. This guide clarifies what has changed and what hasn't, outlining the figures and deadlines that apply today.
1. What is
First, which is not
Four common misconceptions that arise in almost every first meeting. Clearing them up saves months.
Not
A visa stamped in your passport
Ninety-nine percent of visas are consular: you go to the consulate, they give you a sticker that says 90 days, one year, ten years. The Golden Visa doesn't work like that. Legally, it's a visa waiver , and what you receive is a physical card—the residency permit—that serves as a European green card. That card is the visa. There is no other.
Not
Buy a passport
No one sells you citizenship. What you buy is the right to reside legally in Portugal without having to live there, and it's this period of legal residence that later qualifies you to apply for citizenship. These are two separate processes, governed by two different laws and at two different times. Confusing them is the number one reason why people think the program ended in May 2026.
It's not anymore
Buy a property
If you searched online, you probably saw prices of €280.000 or €350.000 associated with apartments in the Algarve or Porto. That ended in 2023. Today, that real estate route doesn't exist, neither directly nor through funds that invest in properties.
Not
Move
This is the hardest point to believe. With a residency permit, you can live in Portugal year-round if you want, but the minimum requirement is 14 days for every two-year period, with a final 7 days in the last year. That's all.
1. What is it? The figure
What it is, and the real product
The figure
Residency Authorization for Investment Activities (ARI)
In Spanish, authorization of residence for investment activity; in the market, Golden Visa.
Here's how it works: you make an eligible investment in Portugal, and in return, the Portuguese state grants you and your family a renewable two-year residence permit, which doesn't require you to live in the country. After five years, you can apply for permanent residency. After ten years—seven if you're a national of a Portuguese-speaking country or a European Union member state—you can apply for citizenship.
The real product
The Portuguese passport
With a Portuguese passport, you and those who entered with you can live, work, and study without any paperwork in any country of the European Union and the Schengen Area. It's not 27 countries: it's more than 30, because Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland are not part of the European Union but are part of the Schengen Area. With a Portuguese passport, you can settle in Zurich or Oslo the next day, without permission, without a quota, without a sponsor.
There are no European visas that are valid for more than one country. You must obtain one per country. Your passport is the only document that includes all of them.
2. The 2026 law
The law that changed in 2026, and the one that doesn't
This is the point that generates the most noise, so it's worth being precise.
It didn't change.
The Golden Visa Law
Not a single letter since 2023. The amounts didn't change, the days of physical stay didn't change, the types of investment didn't change, and the eligible family group didn't change.
Change
The nationality law
Organic Law No. 1/2026 was published on May 18, 2026 , and came into effect on May 19. It applies to all residents of Portugal: those who arrived with a Golden Visa, those who arrived with a work visa, those who arrived with a student visa, and those who married a Portuguese citizen. It was not a measure against investors; it was a general immigration reform.
| TO | Before 19/05/2026 | From 19/05/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Years of legal residence to apply for citizenship | 5 years for everyone | 10 years in the Making under the general regime 7 years in the Making for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU Member States |
| From what date does that period begin? | A more lenient criterion allowed for prior waiting time | Since the issuance of the residency certificatenot from the request |
| Language exam | Portuguese A2 | Portuguese A2 and further culture, history and national symbols |
| Civic knowledge | It was not required | Fundamental rights and duties, and the political organization of the State |
| Declaration of Adherence | It was not required | Solemn declaration of adherence to the principles of the democratic rule of law |
| Background | Impediment due to sentence ≥ 3 years | Impediment due to effective sentence > 3 years for terrorism or violent crime |
Applications for citizenship submitted before May 19, 2026, are governed by the previous wording. There is ongoing litigation from individuals who invested under the expectation of the five-year period, and a petition in the Portuguese Parliament is calling for a broader transitional regime. Neither issue remains unresolved.
What needs to be understood
The worst-case scenario regarding the nationality law has already occurred and has reached its limit. There is a common understanding within the European Union that the maximum residency period required for naturalization is ten years. Portugal has already reached that point. It went from being the most lenient country in Europe to being at the extreme, and it cannot get much worse along those lines.
And what almost nobody says
The same trend is happening across Europe. Italy changed its citizenship by descent law. Denmark tightened its requirements. Spain is under political pressure to do so. The best time to apply for European citizenship has passed everywhere. The relevant question isn't whether Portugal is worse off than it was two years ago—it is—but whether it's still the best option available. For now, it remains so, because it's the only one that doesn't require you to move.
2. The 2026 law. The clock.
The million dollar question: Since when do years start counting?
This is the question that almost no website answers clearly, and it's the one that costs the most money if you get the wrong answer.
Rule
The time limits start running from the moment you receive your residency permit. Not from the moment you invest. Not from the moment you submit the application. Not from the moment it's approved. From the moment the physical card exists.
Before the reform
The bureaucratic waiting time counted towards citizenship applications, and there was a period—between 2021 and 2024—when that time was brutal: some applications spent years waiting for their first biometric appointment. For many of those clients, the delay was, paradoxically, good news: the clock kept ticking without them having to travel.
Today
That's over. Today, the waiting time before receiving the card is no longer counted , and it must be added to the project: generally between one and two additional years, depending on how AIMA performs.
The counterpart
Things are back to normal. The backlog of applications from 2021 onward has been processed, and there are recent cases of appointments being scheduled two weeks after applying—for appointments six months later, but scheduled nonetheless. The system is working again.
We prefer to give you an honest range that is fulfilled in a positive way, rather than give you a nice date that later cannot be sustained.
Anyone who promises you an exact biometric date is selling you something they don't control.
3. Investment and costs
The routes investment
Five options are available, not a sequence: they are mutually exclusive alternatives. In practice, one option accounts for the vast majority of applications.
Subscription of participation units in a fund dedicated to the capitalization of companies, established under Portuguese law. To qualify, the fund must meet three conditions: be registered and regulated by the CMVM (the Portuguese securities market commission), have at least 60% of its investment in Portuguese assets , and have a minimum maturity of five years at the time of investment.
Funds that invest predominantly in real estate, directly or indirectly, are excluded. That's the filter that cut out the old, disguised real estate route.
It's money that will be recovered. It's not an expense: it's an investment with a timeframe, expected returns, and market risk.
Contribution to artistic or cultural heritage recovery projects approved by the Portuguese authorities. Reduced to €200.000 in low-density areas.
It's cheaper in nominal terms, but it's a donation : the money is gone and doesn't come back. If you compare €250.000 that isn't recovered against €500.000 that is, the fundraising route is usually cheaper in real terms. Furthermore, the pool of eligible projects is limited.
Capital transfer to public or private research institutions integrated into the national science and technology system. In practice, there is little structured supply and little outflow liquidity.
Creation of at least 10 full-time jobs in Portugal, or 8 in sparsely populated areas. There is no minimum capital requirement, but there is a real operational obligation: you must establish and maintain a Portuguese company with employees. For a passive investor, this is the most demanding option.
Investment in a commercial company based in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs for a minimum of three years.
Most eligible funds are illiquid: the capital is tied up until maturity. There are liquid funds, which allow you to withdraw your money in weeks, and that matters much more than it seems. If you have an emergency in year three and need the money, with a liquid fund you can withdraw it—you lose the Golden Visa, but you recover your capital. With an illiquid fund, you don't have that option.
If you're buying this as a backup plan, having a backup plan for your backup plan is wise. It's worth checking this before choosing the fund, because it can't be fixed afterward. And there are signs that Portugal might restrict liquid funds in the future, because what the government wants is for the capital to stay put.
3. Investment and costs · Costs
What it costs really
There are three layers of cost, and the one that surprises people is not the one they expect.
1. Investment
€500.000
It's not a cost. It's capital that is recovered in year five, with its return or loss depending on how the fund performs.
2. Portuguese State taxes
> € 17.000
Accumulated over 5 years, per person. This is the surprising layer. They are per person , payable upon initial application and each renewal, and are considerably higher than legal fees.
3. Legal fees
The smaller portion of the total
They depend on the size of the family group and the complexity of the case.
The fees are per applicant.
| Concept | Time | Amount per applicant |
|---|---|---|
| Application and analysis of the ARI | When applying | €842,80 |
| Granting and issuance of the first ARI | Upon approval | €8.418,90 |
| ARI Renewal | Every two years | €4.210,30 |
| Accumulated over 5 years | Per person | > € 17.000 |
For a family of four, multiply by four. And further down the line there are two rates that almost no one mentions at the beginning of the process, because they come years later:
| Concept | Time | Amount per applicant |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality analysis rate | When applying for a passport | €350 |
| Approval of permanent residence | Alternative to nationality | €8.463,40 |
We're showing them to you in full on purpose. We'd rather you do the whole calculation now than find out halfway through.
Added to this are minor costs: apostilles, sworn translations, criminal records from each jurisdiction where the applicant has lived, and the subscription and management fees of the chosen fund.
A necessary clarification: administrative fees are variable and are determined according to AIMA's current fee schedule and Portuguese legislation at the time of each procedure . The values above are for reference only (2026) and may change without prior notice, so they are not a final quote. The exact amount applicable to you will be included in the proposal, not in a blog post.
4 · Days and family · The days
The days: 7, 14 and 35
The physical stay requirement is the lowest of any residency program in the developed world.
They don't have to be consecutive. They don't have to be on specific dates. You can complete the 14 days of a two-year period in the last two weeks of the 23rd month and you'll still meet the requirement. This applies to the primary investor and each family member included in the application.
And it's a minimum , not a maximum. If you want to spend 365 days a year in Portugal, you can: you're a legal resident. The obligation is the apartment, not the roof.
The 35 days cover the five years of the investment. But since the 2026 reform, citizenship is required after ten years, and to achieve this, one must maintain valid residency for the entire period , renewing it every two years and fulfilling the minimum number of days for each renewal.
From year five to ten, you no longer have to maintain your initial investment, but you still have to keep going. If you count the entire project up to the passport level, the actual number of days is roughly double 35. It's still the lowest requirement in Europe, and it's better that you find this out from us rather than halfway through.
4 · Days and family · The family
The family: who enters
Portugal has the largest family tree of all the residency investment programs. With a single investment of €500.000, the following can be included:
- The main investor.
- The husband or legally recognized domestic partner.
- Children under 18 years of agewithout additional conditions. They also count the spouse's children: blended families enter as a whole.
- Children over 18their own or their spouse's, provided they are single, financially dependent, and studying. And here's the detail that almost no one mentions: They can be studying anywhere in the world. They don't have to study in Portugal.
- Parents from either spouse —including the parents-in-law— over 65 years of age, or younger if they are financially dependent on the applicant.
A single investment
That's a lot of people for a single investment. Each additional person doesn't increase the amount invested; it increases the state taxes, which are paid per person.
During the five years
One condition that should be clear from the beginning: these requirements are not met only on the day of application. They must be maintained throughout the five years of the investment. The child who is studying must continue studying; the child who is financially dependent must continue to be dependent.
If a child is born in Portugal during the years of residence of the parents, under certain conditions regarding the length of time of residence, that child can be considered Portuguese by birth. It is a different and much shorter path than that of their parents.
5. Taxes
Civil residence It is not a tax residence
Here's the most expensive misunderstanding on the market.
Two different things
Being a civil resident of Portugal—which is what the Golden Visa grants you—does not make you a tax resident of Portugal. They are two different things and are governed by different rules.
The main criterion remains the same: if you spend more than 183 days a year in a country, that country considers you a tax resident and taxes your worldwide income. Since the Golden Visa requires 7 or 14 days, you never cross that threshold unless you choose to. But it's not the only criterion: tax residency is also assessed based on domicile and other factors stipulated by Portuguese law. Obtaining the Golden Visa does not, in itself, determine your tax residency in any way. It's a separate analysis.
Translated
In the usual scenario—that of someone who doesn't live in Portugal—you have the rights of a resident without the tax obligations. This includes access to the Portuguese public healthcare system, access to public education for your children, and no income tax filing in Portugal.
This is not an aggressive interpretation or a legal loophole. It's how the program is designed, and the high state fees paid for each card effectively act as a substitute for that tax burden.
The treatment of funds
Here it's best to be more precise than the market usually is, because this is where the most overpromising is done.
There is no general and automatic exemption for all profits from a Portuguese fund. The tax treatment depends on three things: the nature of the fund, the type of return, and the investor's tax residency.
What is certain is that for non-residents without a permanent establishment in Portugal , certain returns from investment funds and venture capital may be exempt. This is a real system and one of the reasons why these funds attract foreign capital—a Spaniard or a German, who doesn't need a visa, invests in them just the same. But it's a system with conditions, not a general promise, and it's confirmed fund by fund before subscribing.
If someone tells you that in Portugal you don't pay taxes on anything, they're not informing you: they're selling you something.
And what Portugal doesn't charge you doesn't mean your country of tax residence won't charge you. Capital gains from a foreign fund are generally taxable income where you reside. This is planned before investing, not after, and it's done with a tax advisor in your country, not with us.
And if you ever decide to actually move to Portugal, there are special tax regimes for new residents that can limit taxation to Portuguese-sourced income. That's a different conversation, with another specialist, and can't be resolved in an article.
6. The process
The royal calendar, Step by Step
An important point that clarifies everything else: in Portugal, the investment is made before applying, not the other way around. When you submit your Golden Visa application, the money is already in the fund. The only exception in Europe is Italy, which schedules an appointment before you invest, but Italy doesn't issue a passport without proof of residency.
2–6 weeks
Powers and tax number
You sign powers of attorney. Your Portuguese NIF is processed.
2–8 weeks
Bank account
The most difficult part of the whole process. The bank requires criminal background checks and documented proof of the origin of the funds, due to anti-money laundering regulations.
In parallel
Fund selection
You meet with the managers of the eligible funds, compare, ask questions, and choose.
Days
Transfer and investment
The fund issues the certificate of ownership of the participation units.
The next day
Postulation
With the certificate in hand, the application is submitted on the AIMA electronic platform.
6–18 + months
Analysis and appointment scheduling
This is where the great uncertainty of the process lies. It's the stage that no one controls.
1th trip
Biometrics in Portugal
The only in-person meeting. All applicants travel.
2–6 months
Card issuance
The residency permit arrives. This is where the 5 and 10 year clock starts ticking.
From start to finish
12–24 months
From start to finish, from signing the power of attorney to receiving the card, the project generally takes between 12 and 24 months , and can take longer. The range is wide because a single stage—the AIMA wait—accounts for almost all the variability.
Online
One mandatory trip
Everything prior to biometrics is done remotely using a power of attorney: tax identification number, bank account, transfer, investment, and application. You don't need to set foot in Portugal until your appointment. And what comes after is also done remotely: from February 16, 2026, title renewals are processed exclusively online through the AIMA Renewal Portal, and you only need to be physically present if AIMA requests biometrics again. Our lawyers in Lisbon receive the cards and send them to the client wherever they are.
There is a legal avenue—the intimação —to compel the Administration to act when a case has been stalled for longer than the law allows. It's not a simple matter of pressing a button or a shortcut: it requires analyzing the applicable legal deadline, the specific status of the case, and whether the delay falls within the range permitted by a court.
It also doesn't guarantee a date. A ruling can set a deadline for the Administration to resolve the matter, but it doesn't make issuing the card a standard procedure. It's a tool that's evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and it's good to know it exists.
Regarding the bank account
It's counterintuitive that this is the bottleneck, but it is. The bank requires a criminal background check and documentation proving how you acquired your wealth. For clients in Mexico, Chile, or Argentina—countries with standardized documentation and signatories to the Hague Convention on Apostilles—the process is reasonably quick. For other jurisdictions, it can take months.
What almost no one mentions
Mortgage loan at European rate without being a resident
Having a bank account in Portugal makes you eligible for Portuguese mortgage loans. You can access financing of up to 70% of a property's value, at European rates—around 3% annually , referenced to Euribor plus spread—for 20 or 25 years, without being a resident and without ever setting foot in the country.
A non-resident Chilean or Mexican citizen can't get that in almost any developed market: there are options in the United States, but at much higher rates. In Portugal, they charge the same as a European citizen. It has nothing to do with the Golden Visa—in fact, it can be done before you even have it—and many clients find out about it too late.
7 · Risks
The risks, sayings such as
The program may change.
It has changed several times: in 2023 the real estate route was eliminated; before that, the minimum amount was €280.000 in some categories, and today it is €500.000. The amount could increase. The required days could increase from 35 to 60. The entire program could be shut down, as Spain did in 2025.
But Portugal is a state governed by the rule of law, and that has concrete consequences.
Each time the law changed, the rights of those who had already applied under the previous system were preserved, including the right to renew. Those who entered through the real estate route before 2023 not only retained their residency but continue to renew it today. When Spain eliminated its Golden Visa program entirely, it guaranteed the rights of all previous applicants.
Why timing matters
If you invest today with a 35-day term and €500.000, a future law that increases the term to 60 days or the minimum investment to €700.000 cannot be applied retroactively to your detriment . What you purchase when you enter the system is not just the permit: it's the legal framework in effect at the time of application.
Timing is the real problem.
It's not legal certainty, nor the risk of losing money—no one has lost money through the program. It's the waiting. It's infuriating for anyone to invest half a million euros and wait months or years for a first date. That's the real reason for the bad reputation this program has online.
The fund carries market risk.
It's a venture capital investment, not a fixed-term deposit. It can perform well or poorly. Portugal doesn't guarantee a return; what it does guarantee is the immigration status of those who have already applied.
And there is a residual legislative risk regarding nationality.
The 2026 law set a ten-year deadline. It could be changed again. Nobody can guarantee otherwise, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.
8. Is it for you?
Portugal against the alternatives
| Criterion | Portugal | Spain | Greece | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does it issue passports without you living there? | Yes | No | No | No |
| Minimum investment | €500.000 recoverable | Program discontinued in 2025 | Starting from €250.000 in real estate | €250.000 – €2M |
| Required days of attendance | 35 in 5 years | None to keep her | Low | |
| Years to nationality | 10 · 7 for CPLP and EU | 2 years for Latin Americans, but living there | 7 years living there | 10 years living there |
| When is the investment made? | Before applying | Before applying | After approval |
If your plan is to move to Europe
Spain is better than Portugal
The interpretation is simple and worth stating plainly. A Chilean, Mexican, or Argentinian who settles in Spain obtains citizenship after two years of legal residency. No investment program can compete with that.
Spain's problem is twofold: you have to actually live there, and you have to pay taxes there on worldwide income.
If you can't or don't want to move
That's what the Portuguese Golden Visa is for.
The Portuguese Golden Visa exists for the opposite profile: someone who, for family, business, or personal reasons, cannot or does not want to move , and yet still wants the result that is normally only achieved by moving.
Greece has a very competitively priced program, but it never grants citizenship: for that, you would have to live in Greece for seven years. Italy schedules the appointment before you invest—which is convenient—but it also doesn't grant citizenship without actual residency.
The profile that almost no one recognizes
Someone who already lives in Europe but keeps changing countries. A multinational executive who spent five years in France is now in Spain and in two years will be sent to Switzerland. A professional athlete who spent twelve years in Europe and didn't get a passport from any country because he didn't stay long enough in any of them. For them, the Portuguese clock ticks the same, no matter where they live.
9 · Frequently Asked Questions
Replies short
About the program
No. The Golden Visa law remains in effect and unchanged since 2023. What changed in May 2026 was the nationality law, which applies to all residents of the country, not just investors.
Two things. First, the deadline to apply for citizenship has been extended from 5 to 10 years, or 7 if you are a national of a Portuguese-speaking country or an EU country. Second, this deadline now begins from the date your residence permit is issued, not before.
The residence, the amounts, the days and the family group are exactly the same.
It depends on what you want it for. If you need a European passport in three years, then no. If your goal is your family and the next generation, it remains the only program in the developed world that provides a European passport to the entire family group without requiring actual residency.
Most of our customers don't buy it to leave tomorrow: they buy it as an open option for their children and grandchildren.
From an immigration standpoint, no: no one has lost their investment due to a program decision. From a financial standpoint, however, there is risk: it's a venture capital fund with variable returns. Portugal guarantees the immigration status of those who have already applied, not the fund's profitability.
Portuguese practice, and European practice in general, has been to preserve the acquired rights of those who have already applied: they retain their residency and their right to renew. This occurred in 2023 with the real estate route in Portugal and in 2025 with the complete elimination of the program in Spain.
To get a passport without living in Europe, it's the only option. To move to Europe, Spain is better. To travel within the Schengen Area without time limits while owning property, Greece is cheaper. It depends entirely on your goal.
Regarding the investment
No. The real estate route was eliminated in 2023, both direct purchases and funds with predominant exposure to real estate.
Before applying. In Portugal, the investment precedes the application: when the file is submitted, the money is already in the fund and the fund has already issued the ownership certificate.
Yes. While the account opening and tax identification number process is underway, you have time to meet with the managers of eligible funds, compare strategies, fees, and liquidity, and make your decision. You don't have to choose on the first day.
No. In Portugal, the transfer goes directly from the investor to the fund. There is no state escrow involved, unlike other programs.
If the fund is liquid, yes, contractually. But you lose the Golden Visa and everything that comes with it. The obligation to maintain the investment is for five years.
You can withdraw the capital and stay on track. Permanent residency has already been obtained, and the clock is ticking toward citizenship without needing to maintain the investment.
It depends on the nature of the fund and the type of return. For non-residents without a permanent establishment in Portugal, certain returns from investment funds and venture capital funds may be exempt, but a general exemption for all returns should not be assumed. Each fund is reviewed individually before subscription.
And your country of tax residence probably does tax the gain; that needs to be planned for before investing.
Three conditions: being regulated by the CMVM, having at least 60% of its investment in Portuguese assets, and a minimum maturity of five years. Funds with a predominant exposure to real estate are excluded.
Donations to cultural heritage start at €250.000, decreasing to €200.000 if the project is located in a sparsely populated area. While this may seem like less money, it's money that won't be returned. Compared to €500.000 that can be recovered, the real-world comparison usually favors the funds. Furthermore, the pool of eligible cultural projects is limited.
About the family
The investment doesn't change: it remains a single €500.000. What increases are the state fees, which are paid per person on the application and at each renewal, and the legal fees.
Yes, if you are single, financially dependent, and a student. And you can be studying in any country in the world; it doesn't have to be in Portugal. You will need to submit documentation from the country where you are studying, including your criminal record from that jurisdiction.
While under 18, they can enter without conditions. Upon turning 18, they must meet the same requirements as an older child: single, dependent, and studying. This is a planning point, not an automatic requirement.
Yes, both. Those over 65 are eligible, as well as those under 65 if they are financially dependent on the applicant. Portugal has the largest family tree of all the residency-by-investment programs.
Yes. Family reunification includes the spouse's children under the same conditions as one's own: no additional requirements if they are under 18, and single, dependent, and studying if they are over 18.
Yes. The holding period requirement applies to the main investor and each family member included in the application.
It's a situation that can be managed, but the circumstances change and it needs to be addressed as soon as it happens. It's not something that will resolve itself.
Regarding the days and the residence
Yes: 14 days for each two-year period, with a final 7-day period in the last year. They do not have to be consecutive or on specific dates.
Yes. You are a legal resident with all the rights. The 35 days is the minimum, not the maximum. However, if you spend more than 183 days a year, you become a Portuguese tax resident, with the corresponding obligations.
No. The Golden Visa grants you residency in Portugal and free movement within the Schengen Area—you can travel without the 90-day limit within any 180-day period that applies to tourists—but it doesn't grant you the right to reside in Germany or France. That right only comes with a passport.
Yes, the residency permit enables you to practice professional activity in Portugal.
Yes. You are a resident for all those purposes. There are clients who have had surgery in Portuguese public hospitals without living in the country, and whose children have studied there for free.
Renewal of residency permit is a requirement. It is the easiest requirement of the program to fulfill and also the easiest to forget; records are kept from the first trip.
Regarding nationality
In principle, after five years of legal residency from the date your card was issued, and provided you meet the applicable requirements. The 2026 reform did not change this timeframe.
After 10 years of legal residence under the general regime, or 7 years if you are a national of a country with an official Portuguese language or of an EU Member State.
Time alone is not enough: naturalization also requires knowledge of Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols, fundamental rights and duties, means of subsistence and suitability requirements.
Yes. Brazil is part of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. Chileans, Mexicans, Argentinians, Colombians, and Peruvians are following the 10-year school system.
Not anymore. With the 2026 law, the deadline is counted from the issuance of the residency permit. Everything before that—waiting for the appointment, the review of the application—is not included. That time must be added to the project.
No. Only five. From year five to ten, you only need to maintain your residency and continue to meet the minimum days for each renewal.
Yes. Proof of language proficiency is required, and from 2026, knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols, as well as fundamental rights and duties and the political organization of the Portuguese state, will also be required. You take an exam or submit a certificate. It's a real requirement, not just a formality.
Portugal allows dual nationality. Whether your country of origin allows it or not is a matter of your national legislation, not Portuguese law. Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru generally allow it.
Right to live, work and study without formalities throughout the European Union and the Schengen Area —more than 30 countries, including Switzerland and Norway, which are not EU—, and transmission of citizenship to your descendants.
About taxes
Being a civil resident does not make you a tax resident, and obtaining a Golden Visa does not, in itself, determine your tax residency. In the usual scenario—you don't spend 183 days a year in the country nor are you domiciled there—you are not a Portuguese tax resident and you do not pay taxes in Portugal on your worldwide income.
Under the same conditions, no. Without Portuguese tax residency, there is no obligation to declare foreign-source income. If you have Portuguese-source income, the answer changes and needs to be reviewed.
At that point, you become a tax resident and the general rules apply. There are special tax regimes for new residents that may limit taxation on certain income; this should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with a tax advisor before moving.
Most likely, yes. Just because income is exempt in Portugal doesn't mean it will be exempt in your country of tax residence. This is precisely why the structure is planned before transferring, not after.
Regarding the procedure
Document preparation, account opening, and investment take between 3 and 4 months before you can apply. From application to biometrics appointment, it takes between 6 and 18 months, and sometimes longer. Card issuance takes an additional 2 to 6 months.
From start to finish, generally between 12 and 24 months. Anyone who gives you an exact biometrics date is promising you something they can't control.
Once, for biometrics. Everything else—tax number, bank account, transfer, investment, and application—is done remotely using powers of attorney.
And renewals too: from February 2026, they are processed exclusively online through the AIMA Renewal Portal, with in-person attendance only if AIMA requires biometrics again. Our lawyers in Lisbon receive the cards and send them to you.
Opening a bank account. The bank requires a criminal record check and documentation proving the legal origin of the funds, due to anti-money laundering regulations. It sounds bureaucratic, and it is, but it's where most applications are delayed.
Valid passport, criminal record certificate from each jurisdiction where you have resided, documentation proving the origin of funds, birth and marriage certificates, proof of enrollment in studies for adult children. All documents must be apostilled and translated into Portuguese by a certified translator.
A negative decision can be appealed. Before appealing, it's important to understand the reason: most of the time it's a document that can be corrected, not a profile issue.
They depend on the size of the family group and the complexity of the case. They are included in the proposal, along with updated details of state fees, which represent the largest portion of the cost and are updated periodically.
The next step
Half an hour with a lawyer, before moving anything
Free exploratory meeting.
If you're considering this, what you need now isn't more general information: it's knowing who in your family qualifies, how much the state rates add up to for that specific group, how you're going to prove the origin of the funds to the bank, and whether a liquid fund is right for you or not.
If your case doesn't qualify, or if Spain is more suitable for you than Portugal based on your profile, we'll tell you during that call.
Important. Last updated: August 2026. This guide is for informational purposes only and reflects the legislation in effect as of the date of publication. It does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. State tax rates are updated periodically by regulation and should be confirmed on a case-by-case basis.