Portuguese citizenship by investment has become eligible to apply for investors since 2012, through the Golden Visa program, to attract more foreign investment. This program is known as one of the most popular residency by investment programs in Europe, due to leading to citizenship after holding your investment for 5 years. You just need to make a qualifying investment in Portugal and spend an average of only seven days per year in the country. Therefore, citizenship in Portugal by investment stands as a strategic asset for those looking for flexibility.
What to Discover in This Guide?
- Can You Get Portuguese Citizenship by Investment?
- Overview of Portugal Citizenship by Investment
- Benefits of Portugal Citizenship by Investment
- Who can apply for residency by investment in Portugal?
- Investment Options To Get Citizenship in Portugal in 2025
- Portuguese Citizenship by Investment Requirements
- Portugal Citizenship Application Process and Timeline
2025 Update: Proposed Changes to Citizenship Rules
- On June 23, 2025, the Portuguese government proposed changes to the Nationality Law that may impact Golden Visa holders. The draft law includes extending the minimum residency period required to apply for citizenship. While not yet enacted, it is currently under review and may bring significant changes for future applicants. You can learn more about the proposed changes to Portugal’s citizenship law by clicking below.
Your Guide to Portuguese Citizenship by Investment
At Get Golden Visa, we worked with families and investors from all around the world, interested in getting Portugal citizenship by investment.
Contact us and talk to one of our independent advisors to help you with questions on Portugal Golden Visa and citizenship by investment.
Can You Get Portuguese Citizenship by Investment?
Has anyone become a Portuguese citizen by investment through the Golden Visa program?
This is one of the first questions we get from our clients. And rightfully so. Until 2019, the answer was a big question mark. Fortunately, as of 2019, there have been many precedent cases that received their Portuguese citizenship through the Golden Visa program in Portugal.
So, yes, many families started to become Portuguese citizens by investment. In fact, it is one of the best citizenship by investment countries.
Although the Portugal does not offer any citizenship by investment program, you can be eligible to apply for citizenship after 5 years of holding your investment*. To qualify for Portuguese citizenship by investment, you must stay in the country for at least 7 days per year and pass the Portuguese language exam.
*The five-year rule may extend to 10 years.
Overview of Portugal Citizenship by Investment
Since 2012, Portugal has been an attractive destination for Golden Visa investors. What makes this program unique is that it provides individuals with a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship. Once granted through eligible investment options, Portuguese Golden Visa holders can benefit from visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, the right to reside and work in Portugal, and the inclusion of their family.
In 2025, the available investment options for the Portuguese citizenship by investment program:
- €500,000 for fund investment
- €250,000 for cultural donation option, which can be reduced to €200,000 in low-density areas.
- €500,000 for scientific research
- Creation of 10 jobs
Investors mostly prefer the fund investment route after the removal of the real estate option in 2023. Proving this claim, about €125.5 million was invested in funds, which is 45.5% higher than in 2023. Therefore, it can be said that it is a new way of capital preservation aligned with the changing landscape. Contrary to this, the Cultural Golden Visa option is becoming more popular in 2025 due to its affordability. However, investors should be aware that it is just a donation, with no chance to gain a return on investment.
Benefits of Portugal Citizenship by Investment
Portugal allows investors to obtain citizenship without having to live in Portugal. This is one of the many benefits of obtaining Portuguese citizenship by investment. Below, you may find the main advantages:
You’re Not Required To Move to Portugal
Most European residency and citizenship programs require the investor to spend the majority of their year in the corresponding country. Portugal, on the other hand, only requires the Golden Visa applicants to spend an average of seven days per year in the country for five years. In other words, the Golden Visa holders can apply for citizenship after only spending 35 days in Portugal for five years.
Family Reunification
When you apply for Portugal Golden Visa, you can also include your eligible family members in your Golden Visa application.
Let’s see some of the key eligibility criteria for Portuguese citizenship below:
- Staying 7 days per year over a 5-year period in Portugal
- Having a clean criminal record history
- Settling all taxes in Portugal
- Passing the Portuguese language examination
When it comes to some of the required documents, here is what you need to apply for Portuguese citizenship by investment through the Golden Visa program:
- Complete the correct forms
- Provide a birth certificate, ID, or a valid passport from your home country
- Prove that you passed the required Portuguese language test (CIPLE)
- Include your clear criminal record certificate
- Get a document from the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service, AIMA, to confirm that you completed the stay requirement as a Portuguese resident
Variety of Investment Methods
There are numerous investment options available to obtain a Golden Visa in Portugal. These include investment funds, company creation, and donation. You are free to choose the route that suits you the most. We will go through the investment options briefly later on in this article.
Only Citizenship by Investment Opportunity with Investment Return
You don’t have to be a Rockefeller to make use of the Portuguese Golden Visa program. Compared to the rest of the citizenship by investment programs, the minimum investment requirements are relatively affordable.
More importantly, Portugal’s economy has been a robust one for the last couple of years. It has been a sought-after destination for tourists and expats alike. So, an investment in Portugal is a smart move financially. It allows you to get in on one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe. You can get great returns on your fund investment. There are various fund investment options with investment returns to apply for the Portugal Investment Visa Program, priced at €500,000
Access to Health Care and Social Security in Europe
When you become a citizen of Portugal, you are entitled to all the benefits this European country offers. These include social security and health care.
The social security system in Portugal covers employees and self-employed individuals. It offers them various benefits, including:
- Unemployment benefits
- Occupational diseases benefits
- Invalidity benefits
- Maternity benefits
- Pension benefits
- Death benefits
As a citizen or resident, you can get access to free healthcare in Portugal. The public health care system is strong and has few exceptions that are not covered. These include visiting the emergency room or the family doctor, which costs an affordable fee of €5-20.
Keep in mind that while you’re a temporary resident in Portugal, you’ll need to have private insurance. It costs between €400-1,000 a year, depending on how comprehensive it is.
Who can apply for residency by investment in Portugal?
Any adult with a clean criminal record that is not from the EU can apply for residency in Portugal through a qualifying investment. Portugal Golden Visa is the name of this investment visa.
Investment Options To Get Citizenship in Portugal in 2025
The scheme allows you to choose from a variety of investment options. The minimum investment amounts and returns on investment vary depending on the method. The investment methods for Portugal citizenship by investment program include:
Creation of Jobs
You can also choose to establish a company and create ten jobs in Portugal. The number gets decreased to eight if the business is in a “low-density area.”
Portuguese Fund Investment
You can choose to subscribe to a qualifying Portuguese fund with a minimum of €500,000 in units.
Scientific Research Investment
You may select the option to invest €500,000 in scientific research that is conducted by accredited institutions that are part of the national scientific and technological system.
Cultural Contribution
The investors can also invest at least €200,000 in artistic production or the recovery or maintenance of the national cultural heritage that is conducted by accredited institutions.
Portuguese Citizenship by Investment Requirements
Portugal requires you to spend seven days on average per year, for a duration of five years, in order to apply for Portuguese citizenship. To apply for citizenship, there are a couple of prerequisites, which include:
- You need to have a clean criminal record,
- You need to have NO unpaid taxes in Portugal,
- You need to enter and pass a Portuguese language test.
Required Documents
- Filled out application form
- Passport, ID, or a Birth certificate from your country of origin,
- Clean criminal record certificate,
- Portuguese residence permit,
- Proof of passed Portuguese language test (CIPLE)
- Document from AIMA to prove that you have been a resident in Portugal for at least five years
Portuguese Language Requirements
You need to pass an A2-level basic Portuguese language test (CIPLE) to obtain Portuguese citizenship.
The test can be adapted for children under the age of 10. Children between the ages of 10 and 18 can be exempt from the test as long as they attend a Portuguese school or a declaration of proficiency can be provided.
Portugal Citizenship Application Process and Timeline
Although Portugal does not offer a direct citizenship by investment program, there is still a route to citizenship through the Portugal Golden Visa application. Let’s discover the step-by-step process towards Portuguese citizenship:
Step 1: Deciding on Your Investment Type
First, you need to analyze a list of available investment types and choose a suitable investment for you.
Step 2: Gather Required Documents
For yourself, the main applicant, and for your dependents, make sure you have all the necessary documents to submit.
Step 3: Get Your NIF Number and Open a Bank Account
Get your NIF number for further legal steps and open a bank account in Portugal.
Step 4: Finalize Your Investment
After deciding on which investment type to continue with, you can pay for your investment in Portugal.
Step 5: Make Pre-Application
Submit your pre-application with your investment made and ready documentation through the online application system of AIMA.
Step 6: Visit AIMA in Portugal for your Appointment
Visit your biometrics appointment at AIMA on the chosen appointment date.
Step 7: Get Your Golden Visa & Continue Renewals
You and your dependents can get your Golden Visa residence cards at this step.
Step 8: Apply for Portuguese Citizenship
After five years have passed from your first residency application, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship. This step also requires a language requirement with basic proficiency.
Get Golden Visa: Who We Are And What We Do
Get Golden Visa is a full-service investment immigration agency & investment advisory company. We provide end-to-end solutions for residence and citizenship by investment programs in numerous countries worldwide.
We work with clients from all around the world, interested in obtaining Portugal Golden Visas.
Contact us and talk to one of our experienced team members to help you with any and all your questions.
How much does Portugal citizenship by investment cost?
To get Portuguese citizenship through investment, follow the route in the beginning. The minimum investment starts from €200,000 for an investment into an artistic production or a national cultural heritage project in a low-density area. Apart from these, expect to pay:
- The processing fee is €773.74 plus €83 per dependent, paid once at the beginning and at each renewal.
- The initial application fee is €7,730 per person, paid once at the beginning.
- The renewal application fee is €3,866 per person, paid at each renewal.
To get your Portuguese passport when you are granted, the passport fee is €65 when you apply for Portuguese citizenship in the country. If you are applying from another country, for example, the United States, the cost of obtaining a Portuguese passport would be around €100.
There are some steps to follow to obtain Portuguese citizenship through investment, including timelines and additional requirements such as language proficiency. To get A Golden Visa in Portugal, you need to pass a Portuguese language test as per Portuguese nationality law. You can also have dual nationality. Moreover, you can also apply for Portuguese naturalization by descent if you have Portuguese parents with Portuguese passports.
How long does it take to get Citizenship by Investment in Portugal?
Once you make your qualifying investment and receive your Golden Visa from Portugal, it takes five years to be eligible to apply for citizenship. After the Citizenship Law Change of Portugal in February 2024, the 5-year waiting period for a Portugal citizenship application starts from the initial application for Portugal residency through the Golden Visa program. The Portuguese language test can be taken at any time before the application.
Dual Citizenship in Portugal
Portugal allows for dual citizenship. This means that in order to obtain Portuguese nationality, you do not need to compromise your citizenship status anywhere else. You should, however, check with your country of origin to see if it allows dual citizenship as well.
Portugal’s Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) is launching a new program to accelerate the process of obtaining Portuguese citizenship, aiming to increase immigration services’ capacity by 50% with automation and artificial intelligence. Learn more here.
Other Ways to Get Portuguese Citizenship
Apart from the citizenship by investment scheme, you can go for the following routes if it suits you:
- By birth or descent
- Naturalization after 5 years of staying in the country*
- Marriage to a Portuguese citizen (If you have a non-marital relationship with your partner, you can also apply by proving that you have been together for at least three years.)
- Adoption
- Being a citizen of a former Portuguese overseas territory
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Frequently Asked Questions on Citizenship in Portugal by Investment
Can I buy Portuguese citizenship?
Yes, you can get Portuguese citizenship in an indirect way. You get Portugal citizenship after obtaining residency through investing in Portugal Golden Visa, and then be eligible for citizenship in five years. The residence permit program then leads to permanent residency and citizenship.
How do I apply for a Portuguese passport?
You first need to qualify for naturalization by being a legal resident in Portugal for at least five years. Once you are a Portuguese citizen, you can then apply for a Portuguese passport and typically receive it in a couple of months.
How long do I need to live in Portugal to get Portuguese citizenship?
To be able to apply for permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship, you need to have a valid residence permit in Portugal for at least five years. Keep in mind that it doesn’t mean you have to live in Portugal for that whole time; it depends on your residence permit. The residency requirement for a Golden Visa permit is to spend seven days per year in Portugal to keep your residence permit valid. If the application is through marriage, this period is reduced to three years.
How strong Is the Portuguese passport?
To start with, Portugal is a European Union country, meaning that holding Portuguese citizenship grants its holder the right to live, study, and work in the EU. Portugal is ranked 3th according to the Passport Index in 2025. In terms of visa-free travel, it is one of the strongest passports in the world.
Can I work in Canada and the United States with a Portuguese passport?
Portuguese passport grants visa-free travel to Canada, but to be able to work, passport holders go through a different application process.
Can I travel visa-freely to the United States and Canada with a Portuguese passport?
Portuguese passport grants his/her holder the right to freely travel to and from Canada through Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), and USA through Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program. It’s, however, very easy to obtain a visa to travel to the US with your Portuguese passport.
What are the common nationalities that are interested in Citizenship by Investment in Portugal?
The largest group of Portugal Golden Visa applicants by far are the Americans, as per the latest stats shared by AIMA in 2023, the immigration office of Portugal. Following them, the Golden Visa programme is also popular among Chinese, British, Brazilian, and Indian investors. Recently, applicants from the US and the UK have especially started showing interest in obtaining a residence permit through investment.
What are the most popular investment types for residency and citizenship in Portugal?
Investors typically choose to make fund investments to apply for a resident visa card via Portugal’s Golden Visa. The country offers many attractive fund investment options for those who are interested in obtaining a European residency card.
Are there other residency and citizenship by investment programs available to investors similar to Portugal Golden Visa?
Yes. Besides Portugal, Italy, and Greece each also offers Golden Visa programs to investors. The program in each country allows investors to invest in exchange for a residency visa. Malta has a citizenship and residency by investment program (MEIN). Many countries in the Caribbean and the British Virgin Islands offer investment immigration programs.
Are there tax incentives and benefits?
Portugal had the tax advantages and incentives available to investors applying for the Portugal Golden Visa program, including the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) scheme. When becoming a non-habitual resident, it was possible to pay little to no tax for ten years through this scheme. With beneficial policies for income tax, property tax, capital gains, and investment income, it was an attractive program. But the NHR system changed, and the old version is no longer available.
What is the easiest way to get citizenship in Portugal?
It depends on your situation and your expectations of getting citizenship in Portugal. You can check out various options and choose among them, including the Portuguese Golden Visa, the first way to secure your residency in Portugal, a route to Portuguese citizenship.
Is it hard to get citizenship in Portugal?
It is not considered hard to get Portuguese citizenship as long as you follow the requirements.
What are other visa options in Portugal?
You can also get residency in Portugal by applying for the D7 visa, or digital nomad visa, and this can open a path to Portuguese nationality.
