Residence by Investment, Coordinated by Ponte

Portugal Golden Visa

The Portugal Golden Visa, officially the Autorização de Residência para Investimento (ARI), grants residence to non-EU nationals through a qualifying investment, with one of the lowest physical presence requirements in Europe. We coordinate the process for you, from choosing the right route to keeping your investment compliant for renewal.

STILL AVAILABLE

Is the Portugal Golden Visa Still Available in 2026?

What Changed in October 2023 — Real Estate Is No Longer Eligible

Real estate investment was removed as a qualifying route in October 2023. If you've seen older guides promising residence through buying property, that route no longer exists, and any advisor still offering it isn't working from current law.

What Still Qualifies Today

The programme, in force since 2012, is very much active. The main routes currently qualifying are investment funds, support for arts and cultural heritage, and job creation in Portugal.

INVESTMENT ROUTES

Portugal Golden Visa Investment Fund Options

The €500,000 Qualifying Fund Route

This is the most commonly chosen route: a minimum of €500,000 in an eligible investment or venture capital fund. We help you understand what qualifies before you commit, fund eligibility rules are specific, and not every fund marketed as "Golden Visa eligible" actually is.

Not Every "Golden Visa Eligible" Fund Actually Qualifies

Fund marketing material isn't always reliable on this point. We check a fund's actual regulatory structure and compliance with Golden Visa eligibility rules before you commit capital, not after.

INVESTMENT ROUTES

Portugal Golden Visa Arts and Culture Route

€250,000 Standard, €200,000 in Low-Density Areas

Supporting artistic production or the recovery of national cultural heritage qualifies from €250,000, reduced to €200,000 if the investment is directed to a low-density area. This route suits investors drawn to a more tangible, culturally grounded contribution over a straightforward fund subscription.

What Counts as Qualifying Cultural Support

Eligible projects typically involve funding for artistic production or the restoration of classified national heritage, approved through the relevant cultural authority. We help confirm a specific project qualifies before your investment is committed.

INVESTMENT ROUTES

Job Creation as a Path to the Golden Visa

Creating at least 10 full-time, permanent jobs in Portugal, maintained throughout your residency period, is a third qualifying route. It suits investors already running a business who want to expand into Portugal, though it involves more ongoing administrative commitment than the fund or cultural routes, setting up a compliant Portuguese company, payroll, and employment law compliance all come with it.

REQUIREMENTS

Portugal Golden Visa Requirements

Minimum Stay Requirements

The programme asks for a low physical presence in Portugal compared with many residence-by-investment programmes. The exact number of days per period is set by the rules in force, and we confirm it for your case.

Documents and Eligibility

You'll need a valid passport, a clean criminal record, proof of the qualifying investment, and standard documentation confirming your identity and legal entry into Portugal. We prepare and check all of it before submission.

THE PROCESS

Portugal Golden Visa Application — How It Works

Submitting Through the ARI Portal

Applications are submitted through AIMA's dedicated Portal ARI, with fees paid via a Documento Único de Cobrança (DUC). We manage this process on your behalf, including registering as your legal representative where needed.

Maintaining Your Investment for Renewal

Renewal depends on continuing to meet the requirements of your chosen route, which usually means keeping the investment in place. Selling the asset or fund position that justified your original application can jeopardise renewal, something worth planning around from the start, not discovering at renewal time.

WHAT YOU GAIN

Benefits — Family, Schengen and the Path to Citizenship

Including Family in the Same Application

Your spouse or partner and dependent children can be included in the same Golden Visa application, gaining the same residence rights alongside you.

Portuguese Citizenship — 7 or 10 Years, Depending on Nationality

Golden Visa holders can apply for permanent residence after five years, and for citizenship once the applicable residence period is met: seven years for EU and CPLP nationals, ten years for other nationalities, under the nationality law changes in force since 2026. Citizenship isn't something the investment buys directly, it's a status you may become eligible for after meeting the legal residence and integration requirements over time.

WHY PONTE

Why Choose Ponte for Your Portugal Golden Visa

Honest Guidance on Which Route Actually Fits

Fund, cultural heritage, or job creation, each suits a different kind of investor. We tell you honestly which one fits your situation, rather than pushing whichever route pays the highest referral fee.

Coordinated Through Our Trusted Partner Network

We coordinate the investment side of your Golden Visa through our trusted partner network, while managing your legal case directly ourselves, so you always know who's responsible for what.

24-Hour Quote Guarantee

Send us your situation and we'll come back with a clear quote within 24 business hours.

Free Exploratory Consultation

Not sure which investment route fits your goals? Book a free consultation and we'll walk through your options honestly.

NEXT STEPS

After Your Golden Visa — Relocation and Tax Planning

Once your Golden Visa is approved, most clients turn to the practical side of life in Portugal: a NIF, a bank account, and tax planning, including whether a reduced tax regime for new residents applies to your situation. We handle all of it alongside your case.

Frequently Asked Questions about Portugal's Golden Visa

How much does the Portugal Golden Visa cost?

Our Golden Visa service is €5,000 for the main applicant, delivered together with our trusted partners and separate from the investment itself, which starts from €200,000 depending on the route you choose. Each additional family member is €1,500, and renewals are €1,500 per person, including the main applicant. Send us your situation and we'll confirm the full picture within 24 business hours.

Do I need to live in Portugal full-time?

No. The programme asks for a low physical presence in Portugal compared with many residence-by-investment programmes. The exact number of days per period is set by the rules in force, and we confirm it for your case.

Can I include my family in my application?

Yes. Your spouse or partner and dependent children can be included in the same application, with the same residence rights.

What's the difference between a Golden Visa and Portuguese citizenship?

The Golden Visa grants residence, the right to live, work, and travel in Portugal and the Schengen Area, based on your investment. Citizenship is a separate status you may become eligible to apply for later, after meeting Portugal's legal residence period and other naturalisation requirements. One doesn't automatically become the other.

Book Your Free Strategy Session for Your Portugal Golden Visa Case

Considering the Golden Visa route? Book a free Strategy Session and we'll help you understand which investment path actually fits your goals.