Blog Article
Portugal Golden Visa: Including Grandchildren & Grandparents
Key Takeaways
- Grandchildren are not directly eligible as dependents on a Portugal Golden Visa application because Portuguese immigration law maintains a closed list of qualifying family members that excludes them.
- A restructuring route allows grandchildren to qualify when the adult child becomes the main applicant and makes the €500,000 fund investment, positioning grandchildren as dependent minors and grandparents as dependent parents.
- Dependency conditions for adult children and parents are tested at application and re-examined at each renewal, requiring ongoing documentation and legal oversight throughout the five-year residency period.
- Edge cases such as adoption, formal guardianship, or exceptional dependency claims each carry distinct legal outcomes that require case-specific counsel and proper documentation recognized by Portuguese authorities.
- VIDA Capital guides families through multi-generational Golden Visa structuring and connects investors to the asset-backed VIDA Fund for compliant, capital-preservation investments.
Who Can Be Included In A Portugal Golden Visa Application?
Portugal's Golden Visa family reunification rules appear in Articles 98 to 108 of Law 23/2007 of 4 July, as amended, with Article 99 defining the eligible family members and administration by AIMA, Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum. The eligible Portugal Golden Visa family members form a closed statutory list:
- Spouse or common-law partner, evidenced by a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship.
- Children under 18.
- Dependent adult children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried throughout the residency program until the Golden Visa application.
- Dependent parents and in-laws aged 65 or older, or financially dependent on the main applicant regardless of age, a right Portugal's constitutional court has specifically upheld for Golden Visa investors.
Grandchildren do not appear on this list. For a full treatment of program eligibility basics, see VIDA Capital's coverage: Golden Visa Family Inclusion: Who Qualifies In 2026 and Portugal Golden Visa Family Reunification: Who Qualifies.
Why Grandchildren Are Not Directly Eligible And What That Means For Grandparents
The dependency logic in Portuguese immigration law runs through the main applicant's direct line. Grandchildren are expressly excluded from the Golden Visa family reunification list under Law 23/2007, whereas grandparents may qualify as dependent first-degree ascendants of the investor or spouse. When a grandparent is the main applicant, grandchildren sit one generation too far removed to qualify as dependents.
This structure has a significant practical impact. A failed family application is expensive, slow, and emotionally loaded. Government fees are charged per person, legal costs often run €16,000–€20,000, and the process typically spans 12 to 18 months. Families who structure the application incorrectly risk exclusion of the very members they most want to protect.
The solution is a reordering of who holds the main applicant position, rather than a different program. That reordering keeps the same Golden Visa framework while changing how each generation fits into the dependency rules.
How To Restructure So Grandchildren Qualify And Grandparents Join As Dependent Parents
The restructuring route resolves the grandchildren question by changing who applies first. The main applicant role shifts to the adult child, which repositions every other generation correctly within the statutory dependency framework. A qualified immigration lawyer is essential to structure and submit this correctly.
The three steps below show how that reordering works in practice and how each generation lands in a different dependency category.
- Step 1 — The adult child becomes the main applicant and makes the €500,000 investment through an eligible fund. The qualifying investment stays the same regardless of family size, while per-person government fees scale with each added family member.
- Step 2 — The grandchildren are added as dependent minors (under 18), or as dependent adult children if they are unmarried, enrolled full-time in studies, not working, and financially dependent on the main applicant. Adult dependent children may study in any country, not only Portugal, which is a specific advantage of the Golden Visa route over ordinary family reunification.
- Step 3 — The grandparents are added as Portugal Golden Visa dependent parents. Parents aged 65 or older are presumed dependent. Parents under 65 must document financial dependency through evidence such as regular transfers, payment of expenses, or tax returns showing the main applicant provides financial support.
Dependency conditions for adult children and parents are tested at application and re-examined at each renewal. An adult child who marries or stops studying, or a parent whose documented dependency lapses, can drop off the file at renewal. Documentation and sequencing matter at every stage, and a lawyer's involvement is essential.
The renewal calendar is also shorter than the five-year headline suggests. As the approval card issuance usually takes a year, you will most likely only need a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period.
Edge Cases: Adoption, Guardianship, And Exceptional Dependency
Several non-standard family structures can change how grandchildren are treated under Portuguese immigration law. Each scenario has a distinct legal outcome and requires case-specific counsel.
- Legal adoption — Under the Portuguese Civil Code, adoption creates an adoptive filiation relationship governed by the adopter's personal law. A grandchild legally adopted by a grandparent does not qualify as an adopted minor child on the grandparent's application. The adopted-child category covers only children up to age 17 adopted by the applicant or spouse, with the adoption recognized by Portugal. Grandchildren remain expressly excluded from family reunification.
- Formal guardianship — Minor siblings under the investor's legal guardianship, where the guardianship decision is recognized by Portugal, fall within the statutory family reunification scope. A grandparent who holds formal legal guardianship over a grandchild, for example where the grandchild's parents are deceased or incapacitated, may be able to include that grandchild on this basis. The guardianship must be legally established and recognized, and informal care arrangements do not suffice.
- Deceased or incapacitated parents of the grandchild — When the grandchild's parents are deceased or legally incapacitated, the question of who can evidence dependency and in what capacity changes. This shift affects both the documentary chain and the applicable dependency category. The outcome depends on the specific legal status established in the grandchild's country of origin and its recognition in Portugal.
- Exceptional dependency claims — Portuguese immigration law's exceptional regime under Article 123.º of Lei n.º 23/2007 allows AIMA, I.P. to grant temporary residence permits in extraordinary situations outside the standard requirements. AIMA can act on its own initiative or by government proposal, and humanitarian reasons are assessed case by case. This is not a dedicated family-member dependency category, so no standard outcome applies.
In all four scenarios, the specific legal status established under civil law, such as adoption, guardianship, or dependency, must be documented, apostilled where required, and assessed against the current AIMA requirements. Independent legal counsel is essential before relying on any of these routes.
Golden Visa Family Inclusion And Portuguese Citizenship By Descent
Golden Visa family inclusion and citizenship by descent often get conflated, yet they follow entirely separate legal tracks. A common source of confusion is how many generations back a family can claim Portuguese connection, which depends on the specific framework applied.
Golden Visa family inclusion is an immigration mechanism governed by Law 23/2007. It determines who can be added as a dependent to a residence permit application. The eligible categories are fixed and do not extend to grandchildren of the main applicant.
Citizenship by descent is a nationality-law determination governed by Portugal's Nationality Law (Law 37/81) and administered by the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN). Portugal's official nationality service lists "grandchild of an original Portuguese grandparent" as a distinct application category, subject to proof of effective ties to the Portuguese national community. Portugal's 2026 nationality reform also extended eligibility to great-grandchildren of an original Portuguese citizen.
Holding a Golden Visa does not establish a citizenship-by-descent claim, and a grandparent's Portuguese ancestry does not automatically make grandchildren eligible as Golden Visa dependents. The two questions must be analyzed separately, under separate legal frameworks, with separate counsel.
The Multi-Generational Case For The Portugal Golden Visa
For grandparents evaluating this program as a legacy or Plan B decision, the residency structure aims to be minimally disruptive. The Portugal Golden Visa requires only 14 days of physical presence in Portugal every two years. Investors and their families do not need to relocate to maintain their residency status.
Portugal is one of the only countries in Europe offering a path to EU citizenship without requiring relocation. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program. Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes. Portugal's short presence requirement makes it a viable Plan B for families who want optionality without uprooting their lives.
The Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal specifically, including the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, and visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Full EU live, work, study, public healthcare, and education rights across all EU countries come only with the Portuguese passport.
On citizenship timelines, Portugal's Parliament approved a new citizenship framework in October 2025 that introduces longer timelines. Under the new framework, once implemented, the residency requirement is expected to extend to 10 years, though the law has not yet entered into force. Once implemented, the framework is expected to set a reduced seven-year residency requirement for CPLP nationals and EU citizens. The new citizenship law is expected to apply to future applicants once formally enacted, while those who submitted their citizenship application before its publication should remain under the previous framework.
Since October 2023, the Golden Visa has required a minimum €500,000 investment through eligible funds. Property ownership is no longer an eligible route.
How VIDA Capital Helps Families Structure A Multi-Generational Application
VIDA Capital helps families design a multi-generational Portugal Golden Visa application that fits both the law and their goals. The firm guides families through the Golden Visa process and connects investors to the asset-backed VIDA Fund, which acquires and revitalizes undervalued hospitality businesses in Portugal. The fund focuses on giving existing properties a second life rather than building from scratch.
VIDA Capital's advisory service includes a coordinated set of support elements that carry families from planning through execution.
- Concierge-level, personalized advisory with a dedicated point of contact throughout the process.
- Transparent fees, including government fees, legal fees typically €16,000–€20,000, and a VIDA Fund subscription fee of 1% of the total amount invested, paid to the fund manager.
- Coordination with trusted, specialized immigration law firms, because a lawyer's involvement at every step is essential.
- The asset-backed nature of the VIDA Fund as a capital-preservation characteristic, since the fund acquires existing hospitality businesses and physical assets underpin the investment.
VIDA Fund I raised over €20 million from more than 50 investors, with over 100 Golden Visa applications submitted. VIDA Fund II is now open. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Conclusion And Next Steps
Grandchildren are not directly eligible dependents on a Portugal Golden Visa application because the statutory family list under Law 23/2007 is closed and excludes them. Restructuring the application so the adult child is the main applicant and the qualifying fund investor can bring grandchildren in as dependent minors and grandparents in as Portugal Golden Visa dependent parents. This structure allows three generations to participate through one qualifying investment when designed correctly with legal counsel.
Every family's structure is different, and adoption, guardianship, and exceptional dependency scenarios each carry distinct legal outcomes. The pending citizenship-reform timeline adds further planning complexity. Independent legal counsel is essential at every stage, and the documentation and sequencing requirements are exacting.
VIDA Capital works with families at exactly this stage, before the application is filed and while the structure still can be designed correctly. If you are evaluating a multi-generational Portugal Golden Visa application, the right time to speak with an advisor is now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Grandchildren Be Included In A Portugal Golden Visa Application?
Grandchildren cannot be added directly because they do not appear on the closed statutory list of eligible dependents under Portuguese immigration law (Law 23/2007). A restructuring route may still be available. When the adult child becomes the main applicant and makes the qualifying fund investment described above, the grandchildren may be able to qualify as dependent minors on that application. The grandparents can then potentially be added as dependent parents, aged 65 or older or financially dependent on the adult child. This structure can bring three generations in under a single qualifying investment when handled by experienced legal counsel.
Who Counts As A Dependent Family Member On A Portugal Golden Visa?
Eligible categories include a spouse or common-law partner, evidenced by a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship, and children under 18. Dependent adult children qualify when they are unmarried, enrolled full-time in studies, and not working throughout the residency program. Dependent parents or in-laws qualify when they are aged 65 or older, or financially dependent on the main applicant regardless of age. Each category carries its own documentary requirements, and dependency conditions for adult children and parents are re-examined at each renewal.
Do Grandparents Qualify As Dependent Parents On A Portugal Golden Visa?
Grandparents can qualify as dependent parents when the adult child is the main applicant. Parents aged 65 or older are presumed dependent and qualify on that basis. Parents under 65 must document financial dependency through evidence such as regular transfers, payment of expenses, or tax returns showing the main applicant provides financial support. Parents with sufficient independent income may not meet the dependency test and may need a separate residence route. Dependency is re-tested at each renewal, so maintaining clear and consistent documentation throughout the five-year period matters.
Can A Grandchild Be Included Through Adoption Or Guardianship?
Adoption and guardianship follow distinct rules and lead to different outcomes. A grandchild legally adopted by a grandparent does not qualify as an adopted minor child on the grandparent's Portugal Golden Visa application. The adopted-child category covers only children up to age 17 adopted by the applicant or the spouse, with the adoption recognized by Portugal, and grandchildren remain expressly excluded from family reunification. If a grandparent holds formal legal guardianship over a grandchild, for example where the grandchild's parents are deceased or incapacitated, inclusion may be possible on that basis, provided the guardianship is legally established and recognized in Portugal. Informal care arrangements do not qualify. Each scenario requires case-specific legal counsel and proper documentation.
How Long Does The Portugal Golden Visa Process Take?
The process typically spans 12 to 18 months from application to residency card. Upon approval, you receive a temporary residency permit valid for two years. Golden Visa holders then renew the permit for additional two-year periods while maintaining investment and residency requirements over the five-year period. As approval card issuance usually takes a year, most applicants will likely only need a single renewal. At that point you can apply for permanent residency. A lawyer's involvement at every step is essential.
Do We Need To Live In Portugal To Keep The Golden Visa?
Golden Visa holders do not need to relocate to Portugal to maintain their status. The Portugal Golden Visa requires only 14 days of physical presence in Portugal every two years. The 7-day first-year and 14-day per-two-year presence requirements apply to the main applicant, and family members are generally advised to meet and document the same minimum stays. Portugal is one of the only countries in Europe offering a path to EU citizenship without requiring relocation, while Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program and Greece requires seven years of living there and paying taxes. The 14-day minimum makes Portugal's program a viable Plan B for multi-generational families who want European optionality without uprooting their lives.
Is The Portugal Golden Visa Still Active?
The Portugal Golden Visa program remains open and active. Since October 2023, the qualifying investment route has required a minimum €500,000 through eligible regulated funds, and property ownership is no longer an eligible route. The program continues to accept new applications, and Golden Visa holders remain exempt from the two-year prior-residence requirement that Portugal's 2025 immigration reform introduced for other visa categories. This exemption means Golden Visa investors can include family members immediately in the first application.
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