If becoming a Portuguese citizen in the future sounds right up your street, you’ll certainly want to make sure you’re familiar with the process of getting there. The main avenue is to first of all become a Portuguese resident, but that isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fear not! While Portugal doesn’t offer direct citizenship by investment, you can gain residency through the Portugal Golden Visa program and unlock a pathway to citizenship.
This article will help you discover if becoming a Portuguese citizen is feasible and/or the right fit for you.
Can You Gain Citizenship in Portugal Through Investment?
Gaining Citizenship in Portugal by investment is a process through which non-EU citizens can obtain a residence permit in exchange for Portuguese citizenship after ten years (an increase from the previous five-year requirement). This is widely known as the Golden Visa program.
In May 2026, Portugal officially changed its naturalisation timeline for most foreign nationals from five years to ten years. While you can make an application for permanent residency after five years, applications for citizenship in Portugal are now at the 10 year mark, from the date of when your first residency card was issued. (Get Golden Visa)
Over the years, it has seen some revisions, predominantly the elimination of the eligibility of investment through property. The remaining eligible investments include transferring capital into investment or venture capital funds, research activities, or donations to support arts or cultural heritage, as well as an entrepreneurial option.
The main highlights of the Portugal investment visa include access to the European Union’s Schengen area and the ability to freely live, work and study in Portugal. After five years of residency, once you become a Portuguese citizen, you can obtain a passport which unlocks full EU citizenship rights.
Are you considering investing in Portugal? Our team at Quinta Heights has a wealth of knowledge regarding the best routes for residency and property ownership. Enquire today.
Portugal’s Gleaming Appeal
Portugal is one of the most popular countries that offers investment through citizenship. Not only does residency allow for the freedom to live, work and conduct business in any European Union member state, Portugal’s environment provides an unbeatable lifestyle of golden beaches, bustling cities, a sunny climate and favourable economic conditions.
Was the Golden Visa in Portugal suspended?
You may have heard in recent years that the Golden Visa has been suspended. While this is the case for the UK, which ended its version of the Golden Visa in 2022, as well as Spain’s residency-by-investment scheme, which ended in April, the Portugal Golden Visa remains active.
In 2023, new legislation came into place, which saw the Portuguese Golden Visa undergo some reforms, including the investment option of property in Portugal no longer being a viable route to obtain residency.
In May 2026, the naturalisation timeline was officially extended from five to 10 years for foreign nationals.
Can You Gain a Portugal Golden Visa Through Property Investment?
Since October 2023, the route of obtaining a Portugal Golden Visa through property investment is no longer a viable option. Below, we’ve outlined what the remaining investment categories are and the requirements if you do wish to apply for residency and eventually gain citizenship in Portugal. Through the Golden Visa, the route is to maintain one of the qualifying investments below for a total of 5 years. Then, after five years, you’ll may eligible to apply for Portuguese permanent residency.
Portugal Golden Visa Requirements
Launched in 2012, the Portugal Golden Visa program allows for residency by investment and eventual citizenship after 10 years. The program’s high attractiveness is largely due to the requirement of only seven days per year stay in Portugal in order to retain the residence permit each year.
If you’re a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, you can apply for the Portugal Golden Visa. As long as you’re 18 or over, hold a clean criminal record and make a qualifying investment into the below investment categories, you and your eligible family members will benefit from the Golden Visa.
Golden Visa Investment Categories
The following investment categories make applicants eligible for the Golden Visa as outlined by Henley & Partners.
Capital transfer
One of the following options:
- EUR 500,000 for the acquisition of investment fund or venture capital fund units committed to the capitalization of companies incorporated under the Portuguese law, with a maturity of at least five years and with at least 60% of the investment portfolio in companies with a registered office in the national territory (real estate entities do not apply)
- EUR 500,000 for research activities of public or private entities that are part of the national scientific and technological system. EUR 400,000 in a low population density area*
- EUR 250,000 in support of artistic production or in the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage. EUR 200,000 in a low population density area*
Business
One of the following options:
- Creation of a minimum of ten new jobs. Eight new jobs in a low population density area*
- EUR 500,000 for the incorporation of a commercial company that is registered and headquartered in Portugal, creating a minimum of five permanent jobs for a period of three years (or for the increase of the share capital of a company already incorporated and headquartered in Portugal, creating at least five permanent jobs or maintaining at least ten jobs for three years)
*A low population density area is defined as less than 100 inhabitants per km² or with a GDP per capita below 75% of the national average.
From Investment to Citizenship in Portugal
The most crucial step in reaching the ten-year mark to apply for citizenship is to maintain your investment throughout the initial five-year period, providing accurate documents that detail this as and when required by Portuguese officials. Once you gain Portuguese permanent residency, the investment no longer needs to be maintained and you will no longer have a minimum stay requirement. After two years of residency, you will need to renew for a further three years of residency in Portugal before being eligible to apply for citizenship 10 years after the issuance of your first residency permit.
Portugal Golden Visa FAQs: UK Investors
The Portugal Golden Visa is a ten-year residency program by investment for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. It allows the holder visa-free travel within the Schengen Area, the ability to live and work in Portugal, as well as the golden ticket; to apply for citizenship after 10 years.
After five years of holding a Golden Visa residence permit, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Portugal, then after 10 years you’ll be eligible to apply for citizenship. Additional requirements include no outstanding tax payments in Portugal, a clean criminal record and an A2 Level Portuguese language certification, passing a civic knowledge test.
The minimum investment amount depends on which category/route you choose. For cultural heritage contributions, the minimum is €250,000 and for investment funds/venture capital, the minimum is €500,000. (Get Golden Visa)
No. The requirements for Portugal’s Golden Visa are 7 days per year, with a total of 14 days required across the initial 2-year permit.
As the developer of Algarve-based development, Quinta Heights, Brookes Property Group know Portugal’s Golden Visa program exceptionally well and can help guide you through the process, as well as help you figure out if it’s the right fit for you, or perhaps another visa would be the right option.
The company has established a strong track record of creating wealth for its clients in the overseas and UK markets, so get in touch to see how they can help realise your vision of taking up residency in Portugal.
*Disclaimer: The information outlined in articles by Brookes Property Group/Quinta Heights should be interpreted as general information only, correct at the date of publication and not as legislative advice, or as a basis for the eligibility, approval or timeline of gaining citizenship in Portugal. Applicants should carry out their own research and seek professional legal advice to ensure up-to-date guidance on the latest requirements is received to inform any decisions.
