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Golden Visa Program · Portugal

Your Gateway to
Europe Starts Here.

Unlock Free Movement Across All 29 Schengen Countries.

Portugal's Golden Visa gives you and your family the right to live, work, and travel freely across Europe — with as little as 7 days per year in Portugal.

500+ families connected · Fund specialists · Portugal-based
29

Countries.
One Card.

From the beaches of Greece to the Alps of Switzerland — your Golden Visa residency card grants you and your family unrestricted access to the entire Schengen Zone. No queues. No visas. No limits.

FranceGermanyItaly SpainNetherlandsSwitzerland AustriaGreeceSweden NorwayDenmarkFinland BelgiumCzech Rep.+ 15 more
PT Schengen Area · 29 Member States

Why Thousands of Families
Choose Portugal

A stable, safe, and welcoming nation at the heart of Europe — Portugal offers one of the most advantageous residency programs in the world.

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Path to EU Permanent Residency

After five years of legal residency, you and your family can apply for Portuguese permanent residency — a secure, renewable EU status with the right to live, work, and study in Portugal. Portuguese citizenship remains a long-term path, though the exact timeline is currently subject to legislative change.

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Only 7 Days/Year Required

Maintain your residency with just seven days per year in Portugal — the lowest threshold of any European residency program. Keep your business, your life, and your family exactly where they are.

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Top 5 Passport Globally

The Portuguese passport ranks among the world's most powerful, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 destinations worldwide.

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IFICI Tax Incentive

The IFICI regime (successor to the former NHR) offers a 20% flat rate on qualifying Portuguese income and exemptions on most foreign-sourced income for ten years. Eligibility is limited to specific high-value professions — we'll connect you with tax advisors to assess your situation.

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Top 7 Global Peace Index

Portugal consistently ranks among the safest countries on Earth. Raise your family in a stable, tolerant, and welcoming society with world-class education and healthcare.

Our consultants work in English. Translation assistance is available upon request for clients who require it.

Choose Your Path
to European Residency

LusoGateway connects you with regulated investment funds and the right professionals to support your Golden Visa application. We'll help match you to the fund best suited to your financial profile and goals.

€250k+
Cultural Heritage

Cultural Heritage Investment

Support Portuguese arts, culture, or national heritage through a qualifying donation. The lowest threshold available under the program (€200k in designated low-density areas).

10
Job Creation

Job Creation

Create a minimum of ten permanent jobs for Portuguese nationals through business formation or acquisition. Ideal for entrepreneurs.

The Math

Not All Routes Are Created Equal

A common misconception is that the lowest investment threshold is the cheapest path to residency. In practice, the opposite is often true — because some routes are donations (your money does not return), while the fund route is an investment (your capital may be preserved, and in many cases generates yield). Here is how the four active routes actually compare.

Route
Amount
Capital Returned?
Yield
Investment Fund
€500,000
Likely — some funds offer capital buyback guarantees
Target 2–15%+ p.a.
Cultural Heritage Donation
€250,000
No — donation
0%
Scientific Research Donation
€500,000
No — donation
0%
Job Creation
€500,000+
Dependent on business performance
Variable — active management required

Scenario A — Cultural Donation

€250,000 in → €0 out
Net cost of residency: €250,000. Lowest entry point, highest net cost. Your contribution supports Portuguese arts — but it does not return.

Scenario B — Fund Investment

€500,000 in → ~€500k–€750k out
Over a 6-year hold at a modest 7% target yield, a capital-protected fund may return your principal plus meaningful growth. Net cost of residency can approach zero — or even negative.

Important: Fund returns are not guaranteed. Past performance does not predict future results. Some Golden Visa–eligible funds offer contractual capital buyback arrangements; others place capital at risk. Due diligence on the specific fund — track record, management, sector, exit structure, and fee load — is essential before committing. LusoGateway works only with CMVM-regulated funds and helps match you with options appropriate to your risk profile. This is not financial advice; always consult qualified legal and financial counsel before making investment decisions.

One Investment.
Your Whole Family Covered.

Portugal's Golden Visa program extends residency rights to your entire immediate family under a single application. Each family member receives their own Portuguese residency card — granting full, unrestricted access to all 29 Schengen countries.

No secondary applications. No additional investment. No hidden costs.

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Spouse or Partner

Legally recognised spouses and civil partners included automatically.

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Children Under 18

All dependent children under 18 included with full Schengen rights.

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Children Under 26 (Full-Time Education)

Adult children in full-time education remain eligible for inclusion.

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Dependent Parents

Both the investor's and spouse's dependent parents may be included.

29
Schengen countries your family can visit freely
"Live anywhere in Portugal. Travel everywhere in Europe. One investment — unlimited freedom for your entire family."

From Application
to European Residency

A clear, guided journey from start to finish — LusoGateway connects you with the right investment funds and qualified professionals at every stage.

1

Choose Your Investment Fund

LusoGateway assesses your financial profile, objectives, and timeline to match you with a regulated Portuguese investment fund best suited to your Golden Visa application.

2

Connect with Legal Professionals

We introduce you to trusted, licensed Portuguese attorneys and immigration professionals who will conduct due diligence on your chosen fund and prepare your application documentation.

3

Application Submission

Your appointed legal professionals submit your complete Golden Visa application to AIMA and manage all communications on your behalf. LusoGateway remains your point of contact throughout.

4

Biometrics in Portugal

A single visit to Portugal for biometric data collection. Your legal team coordinates your appointment and provides in-country support for you and your family.

5

Residency Card Issued

Your official Portuguese Golden Visa residency cards are issued for every family member. Your European residency is now confirmed and legally protected.

Free Schengen Travel Begins

From this moment, you and your family enjoy border-free travel across all 29 Schengen nations. No visa applications. No restrictions. Europe is yours.

Typical processing time: 4–8 months · LusoGateway connects you with the right fund and professionals from consultation to card issuance

Families Who Found Their
Gateway to Europe

"
★★★★★

We can now take our children to Paris for the weekend without a single visa application. The freedom this has given our family is extraordinary — we had no idea the Schengen access would change our daily lives so profoundly.

A.K. · Dubai, UAE · Investment Fund Route
"
★★★★★

LusoGateway guided us through every step with complete transparency. Eight months from our first consultation to holding Portuguese residency cards — for our whole family. The Schengen access alone was worth every euro.

R.C. · São Paulo, Brazil · Investment Fund Route
"
★★★★★

As a Chinese national, I was concerned about complexity. LusoGateway made the process completely seamless, connecting us with the right professionals from the start. My family now holds EU residency and can travel freely from Lisbon to Helsinki.

W.L. · Shanghai, China · Investment Fund Route

Find Out in 60 Seconds
If You Qualify

Answer a few quick questions to check your eligibility, then complete the form for a free consultation.

Do you have €500,000 available to invest for your Portuguese Golden Visa?
How far along in the Golden Visa research process are you?
Aside from obtaining the Golden Visa, what are your investment objectives?
What is your level of financial investment knowledge and experience?
How would you describe your risk profile?
You Likely Qualify

Great news — you appear to be eligible

Based on your answers, you meet the core criteria for Portugal's Golden Visa program. Complete the form below and a LusoGateway consultant will contact you within 24 hours with a personalised assessment tailored to your investment profile and objectives.

Below Minimum Threshold

The minimum investment is €250,000

The Golden Visa program requires a minimum of €250,000 (cultural heritage donation) or €500,000 (investment fund). If your circumstances may change, or if you'd like to explore financing options, complete the form and we'll be happy to discuss alternatives.

🔒 Confidential ✉ No Spam ⏱ Response within 24h

Frequently Asked
Questions

Which countries can I visit freely with the Golden Visa? +

Your Portuguese Golden Visa residency card grants unrestricted, border-free access to all 29 Schengen Area member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. No additional visas, no border queues — just free movement across the European continent.

Who is eligible for the Golden Visa program? +

The Golden Visa is open to non-EU/EEA nationals who make a qualifying investment in Portugal. There is no minimum age requirement (though applicants must be adults), no language test, and no requirement to demonstrate prior ties to Portugal. LusoGateway can help assess your eligibility as part of a free introductory consultation.

Can my entire family be included in a single application? +

Yes. One investment covers your spouse or civil partner, children under 18, children under 26 in full-time education, and dependent parents of both the investor and spouse. Each family member receives their own Portuguese residency card with full Schengen travel rights. No additional investment is required for family inclusion.

What are the tax implications of Portuguese residency? +

Golden Visa holders who do not establish tax residency in Portugal (i.e., those spending fewer than 183 days per year in Portugal) are generally not subject to Portuguese income tax on foreign-sourced income. Please note that the former Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime was closed to new applicants at the end of 2023 and has been replaced by the IFICI (Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation) regime, also known as "NHR 2.0." IFICI offers similar tax benefits over a ten-year period but has more targeted eligibility criteria — applicants generally need to work in qualifying high-value sectors such as scientific research, technology, healthcare, or higher education. LusoGateway can connect you with qualified tax advisors to assess your eligibility and help you structure your affairs optimally.

How do I renew my Golden Visa? +

Golden Visa residency cards are issued for an initial period of two years and renewed in subsequent two-year periods. Renewals require maintaining the qualifying investment and spending the minimum 7 days per year in Portugal (14 days per two-year renewal period). LusoGateway manages the renewal process on your behalf.

When can I apply for Portuguese citizenship? +

After five years of maintaining your Golden Visa residency (with the minimum annual stay requirement), you and your family become eligible to apply for Portuguese permanent residency. Historically, citizenship has also been available at the five-year mark, but in April 2026 the Portuguese Parliament approved amendments to the Nationality Law that, once in force, would extend the citizenship residency requirement to ten years (seven years for EU and CPLP nationals). At the time of writing, this law is awaiting presidential action and is not yet in effect. Because timelines may change, we recommend verifying the current position with qualified Portuguese legal counsel before applying. Portuguese citizenship, once obtained, grants the right to live and work freely across the European Union and visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 destinations worldwide.

How long does the application process take? +

The typical timeline from initial consultation to residency card issuance is 4–8 months. This includes investment completion, legal due diligence, application submission, and biometric appointment. LusoGateway manages every step of this process, keeping you informed at each stage. Processing times may vary based on AIMA (the Portuguese immigration authority) workload.