Kathmandu. Immigrating to Portugal has been popular for years, with the foreign residency rate increasing by 40% between 2011 and 2021. Some of that increase was due to the Portugal golden visa, an immigration program that came with features not available through some alternatives. As a result, many people interested in moving to the country want to know how to apply for a Portugal golden visa. If you’re among them, here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Golden Visa? Golden visas are a type of immigration program that allows select individuals to reside in another country in exchange for providing the nation with a specific benefit. The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program (commonly known as the Portugal Golden Visa Program) is a five-year residence by investment program for non-EU nationals. The residence permit gives the right to live, work, and study in Portugal and allows free circulation in Europe’s Schengen Area. Furthermore, the program only requires an average of seven days per year stay in Portugal over this period, which can also count towards citizenship eligibility after five years. 

Who Can Get a Portugal Golden Visa?

As mentioned above, the Portugal golden visa program required a significant financial investment. The most common approach involved purchasing real estate with a specific minimum value, the exact amount of which could vary depending on the city where the purchase was made. Investing in qualifying investment funds, making large capital transfers to local banks, purchasing a specific amount of Portuguese company shares, investing in a Portuguese company, launching a sizeable Portuguese company, and creating jobs could also make a person eligible, though those weren’t the only paths.

However, while many people may be able to meet the criteria, applying for a new Portugal golden visa is no longer an option. The program is slated to potentially end, and new applicants aren’t being accepted. However, there are other visa programs in Portugal, including some that are pathways to long-term residency. As a result, people interested in moving to Portugal do have other options.

There are a number of government application fees when applying for a Portugal Golden Visa. The processing fee is around €550 at the beginning and then you will have to pay around €80 for each renewal. The initial application fee is around €5,325 per person, a one-time payment.

Portugal golden visa requirements

Applicants can choose any one option in any of the three categories: capital transfer, property acquisition, business:

Capital transfer

One of the following options:

1.     EUR 1.5 million minimum capital transfer into a Portuguese bank account or approved investments

2.     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

3.     EUR 500,000 for research activities of public or private entities that are part of the national scientific and technological system

o   EUR 400,000 in a low population density area*

4.     EUR 250,000 in support of artistic production or in the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage