How To Apply For A Golden Visa: A Step-By-Step Guide

Last updated: November 6, 2026

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Key Takeaways

• Portugal's Golden Visa requires a €500,000 investment through eligible funds and grants residency with only 14 days of physical presence every two years.
• The application follows seven steps: choose your program, engage a lawyer for NIF and bank setup, make the investment, gather documents, submit online, attend biometrics, and receive your residency card.
• The process usually spans 12 to 18 months from submission to card issuance, with government fees charged per family member on top of the €500,000 investment.
• Portugal remains the strongest EU Plan B option for US investors, offering a path to citizenship without relocation, while Spain's program has ended and the UAE offers no citizenship route.
• VIDA Capital coordinates the full application process, connecting investors with legal counsel and facilitating subscriptions to the VIDA Fund.

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How Golden Visa Applications Work In Portugal

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Golden Visa programs follow a clear pattern. You make a qualifying investment, submit an application through a government authority, attend an in-person biometrics appointment, receive a decision, then maintain and renew your residency card.

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Four parties usually sit around the table. You have the applicant, the lawyer who files on the applicant's behalf, the investment fund manager, and the government authority that decides the case.

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In Portugal, that authority is AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), which replaced SEF. Portugal Golden Visa applications are submitted electronically through AIMA's Portal ARI by the applicant or their legal representative.

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In the UAE, applications go through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). The Dubai Land Department becomes involved for property-based routes.

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Portugal's Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from submission to residency card. Since October 2023, under Law No. 56/2023, the program requires a minimum €500,000 investment through eligible investment funds. Property purchases no longer qualify.

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Speak With An Advisor

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How To Apply For A Golden Visa: Step By Step

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The Portugal Golden Visa follows a defined seven-step sequence. A lawyer is essential at every stage. Each step sets up the next one, so the order matters.

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1. Choose Your Program And Investment Route – The applicant decides, usually with advisory support. For US investors seeking an EU Plan B, Portugal's €500,000 fund route is the recommended path.
2. Engage A Lawyer And Obtain Your NIF And Local Bank Account – The lawyer opens your tax number and bank account remotely. Both must exist before any funds move, which is why this step comes before the investment.
3. Make The Qualifying Investment – For Portugal, you invest €500,000 into an eligible fund such as the VIDA Fund. The fund must be constituted under Portuguese law, have a minimum maturity of five years, and invest at least 60% of its capital in Portuguese companies.
4. Gather Your Documents – The applicant collects documents, coordinated by the lawyer. The lawyer checks that every document meets AIMA's requirements before submission.
5. Submit The Application Online – The lawyer files through AIMA's ARI Portal for the applicant and all included family members. This filing happens remotely, so you do not need to be in Portugal at this stage.
6. Attend The Biometrics Appointment – The applicant and all family members travel to Portugal once the online request is approved. Everyone attends an in-person AIMA appointment to provide fingerprints, photos, and signatures.
7. Receive Approval And Your Residency Card – AIMA issues a residency card to the applicant and to each included family member after approval. The card confirms your legal residency status.

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Approval and card issuance usually take close to a year. Many investors therefore complete only one renewal instead of two during the five-year period.

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The temporary residency permit is valid for two years. You then renew it for two further two-year periods, while maintaining your investment and residency requirements throughout the five years. At that point, you can apply for permanent residency. For a detailed breakdown of the timeline, see the Portugal Golden Visa Application Timeline: 2026 Guide.

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Golden Visa Requirements And Documents

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The Portugal Golden Visa relies on a predictable document checklist. Most items are straightforward but must follow strict formatting rules.

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• Valid passport
• Criminal record check (issued within three months of submission and apostilled)
• Bank statements confirming the source of funds
• Proof of the qualifying investment (fund ownership certificate)
• Marriage certificate or other proof of relationship for a spouse or common-law partner

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Family members can be included in the same application under a single €500,000 investment. Eligible dependents include a spouse or recognized partner, and economically dependent children. Parents and in-laws also qualify if they are over 65 or financially dependent on the main applicant.

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Children must be full-time students and not working. They also must remain unmarried during the residency program until the Golden Visa application completes. Each family member requires a separate AIMA file and pays separate government fees.

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For a complete walkthrough of the application sequence, see the Portugal Golden Visa: Step-By-Step Application Guide.

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Golden Visa Cost: What To Budget

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Portugal's Golden Visa involves the €500,000 investment plus a clear stack of fees. You face government fees, legal fees, and fund subscription fees.

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• Initial submission fee: €618.60 per family member, paid with the Golden Visa application
• Card issuance fee: €6,179.40 per family member, paid at the biometrics appointment
• First renewal fee: €3,023.20 per family member, paid two years after card issuance
• Second renewal fee: €3,023.20 per family member, paid two years after the first renewal
• Citizenship fee: €250 per family member, paid with the citizenship application
• Legal fees: typically €16,000 to €20,000, varying by firm
• Fund subscription fee: varies by fund, and at the VIDA Fund a subscription fee of 1% of the total amount invested is paid to the fund manager

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Government fees are charged per person while the qualifying investment is a single €500,000 commitment. Larger families therefore multiply the AIMA fees, not the investment threshold. For a comparison of all available investment routes and their associated costs, see Golden Visa Investment Options In 2026: Routes Compared.

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Which Country Has The Easiest Golden Visa? Portugal Vs. UAE Vs. Greece

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For a US investor who wants an EU Plan B without relocating, Portugal offers the easiest structure among the main programs. It asks for the least physical presence and is the only option in this group that leads to citizenship without a move. Here is how the main programs compare:

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• Portugal: €500,000 through eligible investment funds, only 14 days in Portugal every two years, and one of the only countries in Europe offering a path to citizenship without the need to relocate.
• UAE: a separate program administered by ICP and the Dubai Land Department, with a minimum capital threshold of AED 2 million and its own investment categories. The UAE Golden Visa is a residency program and does not offer a citizenship pathway.
• Greece: requires seven years of living there and paying taxes to maintain long-term residency, which creates a significant commitment for investors who do not plan to relocate.
• Spain: no longer offers a Golden Visa program. Spain repealed its entire investor-residence framework with effect from April 3, 2025.

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Portugal's Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal only. During the residency period, holders can travel visa-free anywhere in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once the applicant secures a Portuguese passport, they gain full access to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education in any EU or Schengen country. For a deeper look at programs that lead to citizenship without relocation, see Golden Visa Without Relocation: Programs To Citizenship.

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What Changed For 2026 And Why The Fund Route Stands Out

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Portugal's 2023 reform reshaped the program around investment funds. In October 2023, Portugal's program moved to a €500,000 minimum through eligible investment funds, closing the property purchase route entirely under Law No. 56/2023. Spain's program has ended, so Portugal's fund route is now the primary qualifying pathway in this comparison.

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On citizenship, Portugal's Parliament approved a new framework in October 2025 that introduces longer timelines. The law has not yet entered into force and remains subject to final approval and possible legal review. According to legal analysis from CCLex, the reform is expected to extend the residency requirement to 10 years, or seven years for nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens, once implemented. The new law is expected to apply to future applicants once enacted, while those who already submitted a citizenship application before its publication should remain under the previous framework.

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The fund route stands out because it remains compliant, keeps the stay requirement low, and allows a diversified investment instead of a single property. Investors can pursue residency while holding a professionally managed position in Portuguese assets.

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VIDA Capital is the recommended advisory service for applying through the fund route. VIDA Capital guides investors through the entire Golden Visa application process, acts as direct liaison between the investor, their legal counsel, and the VIDA Fund, and assigns a dedicated point of contact. VIDA Capital is transparent about all fees and recommends the most suitable visa option for each investor's situation.

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The VIDA Fund is the compliant €500,000 route. It buys and transforms undervalued hospitality businesses in Portugal, giving these assets a second life. Its asset-backed nature supports capital preservation.

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VIDA Fund I raised over €20 million from more than 50 investors, with over 100 Golden Visa applications successfully submitted. VIDA Fund II is now open. The fund is audited twice a year by Deloitte, and the team has collectively managed over €4 billion in assets. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

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Learn About The VIDA Fund

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Summary And Next Steps

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The seven steps above are the full Portugal Golden Visa process. The decisions that matter most are choosing the right program, engaging a lawyer early, and following the sequence carefully.

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The most important choices involve selecting a compliant investment route, confirming that the fund meets all legal criteria, and budgeting for the full cost stack. That stack includes government fees per family member, legal fees, and fund subscription fees. For US investors seeking an EU Plan B, Portugal's fund route remains the most competitive option available, combining a minimal stay requirement with a clear path to permanent residency and, under the current framework, citizenship.

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Next steps are straightforward. Confirm your eligibility, review the fund route in detail, and speak with an advisor who can coordinate the full process transparently.

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Request A Golden Visa Consultation

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What Is A Golden Visa?

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A Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU investors to gain legal residency and, in some countries, a path to citizenship through a qualifying investment. Portugal's program is especially attractive because it requires only 14 days of physical presence every two years and offers a path to EU citizenship without relocation.

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How Long Does The Golden Visa Application Take?

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The Portugal Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from online submission to residency card issuance. Timelines vary based on document preparation, AIMA processing, and appointment scheduling. Engaging a lawyer early and preparing documents in advance helps keep the process moving.

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Do I Have To Relocate To Portugal?

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Portugal's Golden Visa does not require relocation. You must spend only 14 days in Portugal every two years to maintain the residency permit. This light physical presence requirement makes the program a strong Plan B for investors who want to keep their primary life in the United States while securing EU residency for themselves and their family.

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What Documents Are Needed To Apply?

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The core documents are a valid passport, a criminal record check apostilled and issued within three months of submission, bank statements confirming the source of funds, proof of the qualifying investment, and a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship for a spouse or common-law partner. Each family member included in the application provides their own document set and pays separate government fees.

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What Are The Costs Beyond The €500,000 Investment?

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Beyond the qualifying investment, costs include government fees per family member (€618.60 initial submission, €6,179.40 card issuance, €3,023.20 per renewal, and €250 for the citizenship application), legal fees typically ranging from €16,000 to €20,000 depending on the firm, and fund subscription fees that vary by fund. At the VIDA Fund, a subscription fee of 1% of the total amount invested is paid to the fund manager.

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Is Portugal's Golden Visa Still Active?

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Portugal's Golden Visa program remains open and active. Following the October 2023 reform, fund investments are the primary qualifying route for new applicants, and the program continues to accept applications through AIMA's online portal. Spain's program has ended, while Portugal's continues.

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Who Can Be Included As A Family Member?

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A spouse or recognized partner, economically dependent children, and parents or in-laws who are either above 65 years of age or financially dependent on the main applicant can all be included under a single €500,000 investment. Children must be full-time students, not working, and unmarried during the residency program until the Golden Visa application completes. Each dependent submits an individual application and pays separate AIMA fees.

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Is A Lawyer Required To Apply?

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The law does not force you to hire a lawyer, but legal support is critical for a smooth filing. The lawyer obtains your NIF and bank account remotely, prepares and submits the application through AIMA's portal, coordinates all document requirements, and supports you through renewals. Handling the process without specialized legal counsel increases the risk of delays, rejections, and missed requirements.

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How Does VIDA Capital Support The Application?

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VIDA Capital guides investors through the Golden Visa application from first call to final card. The team acts as a direct liaison between the investor, their legal counsel, and the VIDA Fund. Each investor works with a dedicated point of contact who remains available throughout the process. VIDA Capital is transparent about all fees and recommends the visa option that best fits each investor's profile and goals.

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Talk To A VIDA Capital Advisor