Portugal Golden Visa Requirements

What is the Portugal Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa is one of the most attractive and fastest residency-by-investment programs. 

It was created in 2012 to boost foreign investment to benefit the Portuguese economy, allowing non-EU citizens to qualify for a residency card to get a European passport eventually. 

One benefit of the Portugal Golden Visa is that you can live anywhere in Portugal and travel within the Schengen Area. 

However, you do not need to live in Portugal to qualify. You need to stay in the country for at least 7 days in the first year and 14 days for the next ones to be eligible for this.

A Portuguese golden visa holder receives a temporary residence permit for one year. The subsequent years will require renewals to last two years while enjoying Portugal’s benefits.

Eligibility

The Portuguese Golden Visa is available to all who do not already hold an EU, EEA, or Switzerland citizenship. The applicants must be 18 years or older without criminal records inside or outside Portugal and must contribute to the Portuguese economy through one of the available investment options.

You can include your family members in the submission. If they meet the requirements, the process submission follows the primary applicant’s.

If accepted, any of the following are eligible for a golden visa:

• Spouse or legal partner.

• Children (biological or adopted) under 18 or dependent children under 26, single and enrolled full-time in school.

• Parents of either spouse 66 years or older, or 55 years old, depend on the applicant.

• Siblings 18 years or younger and legally responsible.

Investment requirements

To start, you first need to select an investment, and there are specific requirements for each of them. The options are:

• Real Estate Investment

• Labor Creation

• Capital Investment

• Capital Transfer

• Donation

We talk more in-depth about the different investment pros and cons here.

What documents are required to start the Portugal Golden Visa process?

Before starting Portugal’s Golden Visa application process, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity, a full copy including the cover by PDF file).

• Each applicant has proof of legal entry into Portugal or a valid Schengen Visa.

• Proof of residence, such as a copy of a recent utility bill, or a recent bank statement – issued for less than 6 months with your address

• Original work certificate, duly dated, stamped, and signed to set up your bank account in Portugal.

• Tax number of the origin country: Certified copy, with translation if necessary.

• Criminal record certificate from country of origin or residence issued within the last three months for each applicant (if you are going to sponsor a family member)

• Evidence of compliance with tax and social security obligations in your country.

• Receipt of payment of the Portugal Golden Visa fees.

• Documentary evidence of the eligibility of family member applicants, e.g., a marriage certificate for a spouse, birth certificates for children (full-time students if over 18 years old), and birth certificates for the applicant’s dependent parents (plus certificates of no income if they are under 65).

Bank account and NIF Number

The Portuguese residency requirements include a bank account and NIF number before proceeding with your final investment and submitting your application. This number is required for residency by real estate investment in Portugal and all other tax-related transactions. You must have this number before opening a bank account. 

At Golden Port Visa, with our legal partners’ help, we assist you with all the legal paperwork to set this up, all done remotely.

In-person screening

The processing time for the Portugal Golden Visa takes several months. Once your visa has been processed, your legal representative will be contacted by SEF to set up an appointment. A biometric screening will take fingerprinting, taking your photo and your family’s, and obtaining your signature. You must come to Portugal for this step.

What documents are required to finish the Portugal Golden Visa process?

These are the required items for the Portugal Golden Visa application:

• NIF number.

• Passport or valid identification document. 

• Active telephone number capable of receiving SMS.

• Proof of address from country of residence, such as a copy of the driving license, a recent utility bill, or a recent bank statement.

• Proof of income.

• Valid Portuguese bank account with a min. deposit into the account of EUR 250 to EUR 300.

• Proof of investment payment.

• Each applicant has proof of legal entry into Portugal or a valid Schengen Visa.

• Criminal record certificate from country of origin or residence issued within the last three months for each applicant (if you are going to sponsor a family member)

• Evidence of compliance with tax and social security obligations in your country.

• Receipt of payment of the Portugal Golden Visa fees.

• Documentary evidence of the eligibility of family member applicants, e.g., a marriage certificate for a spouse, birth certificates for children (full-time students if over 18 years old), and birth certificates for the applicant’s dependent parents (plus certificates of no income if they are under 65).