Golden Visa — Investment Fund
The Portugal Golden Visa Investment Fund route is the most popular pathway to Portuguese residency and citizenship. By investing a minimum of EUR 500,000 in a CMVM-regulated investment fund or venture capital fund, non-EU investors can obtain a 2-year residence permit with minimal physical presence requirements and a clear path to EU citizenship after just 5 years.
Requirements
The Golden Visa Investment Fund route allows non-EU nationals to obtain Portuguese residency by investing in a qualifying Portuguese investment fund.Investment requirements:
1) Minimum investment of EUR 500,000 in qualifying investment fund or venture capital fund units
2) The fund must be committed to the capitalisation of companies incorporated under Portuguese law
3) The fund must have a maturity of at least 5 years
4) At least 60% of the investment portfolio must be in companies with a registered office in Portugal
5) The fund must be regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM)
6) Real estate funds are not eligible since October 2023
Fund options include: Private equity funds, venture capital funds, and investment funds across sectors including renewable energy, tourism, healthcare, technology, and agriculture
Personal requirements:
1) The applicant must be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national aged 18 or over
2) A clean criminal record
3) Proof of lawful origin of funds
4) The investment must be maintained for a minimum of 5 years
5) Investment must be completed before the application is submitted
Process and Procedure
Processing time is approximately 12–18 months. The investment must be made before the application is submitted.Step 1: Initial consultation with MA Consultants to assess your eligibility and discuss suitable investment fund options
Step 2: Obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and open a Portuguese bank account — this can be done remotely
Step 3: Select a qualifying CMVM-regulated investment fund and complete the EUR 500,000 investment
Step 4: Submit the Golden Visa application online to AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum)
Step 5: Visit Portugal to provide biometric data and original documents at the immigration office
Step 6: Upon approval, a 2-year residence permit is issued, renewable for a subsequent 3-year period
Physical presence: You are only required to spend a minimum of 7 days per year in Portugal to maintain your residence permit.
Government fees: Application and processing fee of EUR 632.10, plus residence permit card fee of EUR 6,314.20 (as of March 2026).
MA Consultants will manage the full process from initial consultation through to the issuance of your residence permit.
Citizenship
Golden Visa holders can apply for Portuguese citizenship after 5 years of legal residence. Requirements include maintaining the qualifying investment, meeting the minimum stay requirement of 7 days per year, demonstrating basic Portuguese language proficiency at A2 level, and holding a clean criminal record.Important note: In late 2025, the Portuguese parliament approved a law extending the citizenship waiting period from 5 to 10 years for non-EU/non-Portuguese-speaking nationals. However, this law is currently under constitutional review, and current Golden Visa holders are expected to be grandfathered under the existing 5-year rule. Investors who apply before any law change takes effect would likely maintain the 5-year pathway.
Portugal allows dual citizenship. The Portuguese passport ranks among the strongest in the world, offering visa-free access to over 190 countries and the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union.
