Portuguese citizenship comes with an array of attractive benefits, including the opportunity to live, work, and study anywhere in the European Union. In addition, Portuguese citizens can enjoy excellent travel mobility, as their passport allows visa-free access to 174 countries worldwide. For those interested, Portugal citizenship by investment is a viable pathway to attaining these privileges.
Citizenship in Portugal can be gained through a variety of different routes, including the Golden Visa Program. The Portuguese Golden Visa allows investors to apply for Portuguese citizenship after keeping their investment in the country for five years, making it an attractive scheme for individuals dreaming of a European passport.
Curious to learn more? In the following article, we’ll break down how to get Portuguese citizenship by investment. Here’s what you’ll find in this article:
⚠️ Portugal Nationality Law Changes 2025
On June 23, 2025, the Portuguese Government announced plans to amend the Nationality Law and the legal framework governing immigration. The proposals have passed the plenary vote on October 28, 2025, which marks a significant step forward in the legislative process.
Among the measures under discussion are an increase in the residence requirement for nationality from five years to ten years – seven years for nationals of CPLP and EU countries – and a change to how residency time is calculated, so that the clock would start when residency is issued rather than when the application is submitted.
These changes are not yet law. They must still undergo Presidential review. At that stage, the President may promulgate the law, issue a veto, or request a review by the Constitutional Court. The final text may still be amended, including any transitional provisions or possible grandfathering rules, but they might not be enacted because the law is not final until its promulgated.
For the latest information regarding these changes, read Portugal Nationality and Citizenship Changes 2025
Can I get Portuguese citizenship by investment?
No, the Portugal Citizenship by Investment program does not provide direct citizenship through investment. However, it does offer a Golden Visa program that grants residency to investors, which can lead to citizenship after a period of legal residency.
This means that after holding the Golden Visa for five years (for now, as that might change to 10 years) and meeting the necessary requirements, you can obtain a Portuguese passport.
In recent years, there has been some doubt as to whether the Golden Visa residency permit counts for the five-year residency requirement for Portugal citizenship. However, it has been confirmed that Golden Visa applicants can obtain a Portuguese passport after fulfilling the Golden Visa’s short-stay requirement.
This applies solely to individuals aged 18 and above who have held a residence permit for a minimum of five years in Portugal or have been married to a Portuguese citizen for over three years.
To get Portuguese citizenship after your five-year investment, you must prove that you can speak Portuguese at an A2 level.
About the Portugal Citizenship by Investment Program
The Portugal Golden Visa Program is an investment program that allows non-EU citizens to obtain a Portuguese residence permit by making a qualifying investment in the country.
Also known as the Portugal Residence Permit Program, the Golden Visa was created by the Portuguese government in 2012 to attract foreign investment during their economic recovery from the subprime crisis.
The Portuguese Golden Visa grants qualifying investors and their family members the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, as well as apply for social security, health insurance, and eventually, dual citizenship in the European Union.
While real estate investments and capital transfers have been eliminated as options, many other attractive investment options remain eligible for the Golden Visa in Portugal, such as:
- Fund subscription: Make a contribution to Portuguese investment funds (such as private equity funds or venture capital funds) worth at least €500,000
- Investment or donation in the arts or reconstruction of national cultural heritage with a donation of at least €250,000
- Scientific research: Science or Technology research contribution of at least €500,000
- Creation of ten jobs: Creation and maintenance of ten jobs during the required period
- Share capital and job creation: Venture capital funds for a commercial company in the national territory or reinforcement of a company’s share capital. This company must have its head office in the national territory. The minimum investment of €500,000 is combined with the creation of five or maintaining ten jobs (five of them permanent).
The minimum investment amounts for options 2 and 3 may be reduced by 20% when the investment activity is carried out in low-density areas. These regions have fewer than 100 inhabitants per square kilometer or GDP per capita of under 75% of the national average.
According to the Portugal Golden Visa Statistics, over the past ten years, Portugal’s Golden Visa program has become one of the most successful residency-by-investment schemes in Europe. It is attractive, especially for Americans moving to Portugal.
More than €7 billion has been invested in the country, making the investment program one of the most popular in the world. Visit our Portugal Golden Visa Official Website guide to learn more about navigating the application process.
Invest in Portugal for Citizenship: What are the benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa program?
Wondering, “Is Portuguese citizenship by investment worth it?”. Below are all the benefits of the Portuguese Golden Visa Program, from family reunification to flexibility and profitable returns on investment.
- Family reunification: A major benefit is that your dependent family can be included in the Portugal Golden Visa application.
- Attractive investments: The Portuguese Golden Visa offers several attractive investment opportunities, including donations, job creation, and research activities. Investors can choose the option that best suits their financial goals and preferences, including affordable investments starting from €250,000.
- Visa free travel within the Schengen Area: The Portugal Golden Visa holder can freely enter and move within the Schengen Area’s 27 countries without needing an additional visa.
- Pathway to permanent residence and Portuguese citizenship: After five years of being a legal resident in Portugal, Golden Visa investors become eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit and Portuguese citizenship, which allows them to get a Portuguese passport.
- Low physical presence requirement: The Golden Visa typically has a low minimum stay requirement in Portugal (7 days in the first year, and 14 days in the subsequent two years), making it accessible to investors who do not want to live in the country full-time.
Portuguese Citizenship by Investment: Portuguese Golden Visa Requirements
Who can apply for an investment visa in Portugal?
Anyone outside the European Union can apply for an investment visa in Portugal, provided they have a clean criminal record.
Portugal Golden Visa eligibility criteria
The Golden Visa is designed for non-EU citizens interested in obtaining temporary residency in Portugal through significant investments in the country.
To be eligible for the Portuguese investment visa program, individuals must:
- Be either non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA nationals
- Be able to prove the source of their investment funds (there’s a minimum investment of €250,000)
- Have a background check or criminal record proving the absence of conviction in a crime punishable in Portugal for one year or more
- Fulfill the minimum stay requirement of spending at least 7 days in the first year, and 14 days in the subsequent two years.
You will also need an NIF number (Portuguese tax identification number), and it is recommended that you open a Portuguese bank account for your Portuguese Golden Visa application. If you intend to live in Portugal full-time, you will need health insurance and social security.
Global Citizen Solutions can help you to set up a Portuguese bank account and get a NIF remotely.
Minimum Investment Requirements for Citizenship in Portugal
To apply for the Golden Visa Scheme, it’s necessary to make a qualifying investment in Portugal. Please note that you can no longer make a real estate investment to qualify for Portugal Golden Visas.
The Portuguese citizenship by investment program, as it currently stands, allows you to opt for any of the following Golden Visa investment options:h
Investment funds
Investing in private equity funds or the Portuguese Golden Visa venture capital fund units is a good option for acquiring residency in Portugal. The funds are managed by fund managers accredited by Portugal’s regulatory body, the CMVM. Your dedicated fund manager ensures that the Portuguese Golden Visa fund investments are appropriately managed within the eligibility scope of the Golden Visa.
For the investment fund option, a capital transfer into Portuguese investment funds or venture capital funds to the amount of or greater than €500,000 is needed to procure legal residency in Portugal.
Keep in mind that the Portugal Golden Visa investment fund cannot be directly or indirectly connected to real estate.
Arts and culture
Donating or investing a minimum of €250,000 into qualified projects in Portuguese Arts, National Heritage, or Culture.
Please note that you will need to make a qualifying investment in an eligible project, which will need to be pre-approved by the Portuguese government through GEPAC.
Company set-up
Foreign entrepreneurs and investors can establish or invest in existing businesses in Portugal. This investment may involve creating new jobs.
There are three investment options in this category:
- Incorporate a company in Portugal, with a share capital of €500,00, plus creating five permanent jobs
- Increase the share capital of an existing Portuguese company by €500,00 and fulfill the job requirements as stipulated by the Portuguese Government.
Scientific research option
Portugal Golden Visa investors can also make a capital transfer equal to or more than €500,000 in research activities in science or technology conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technological system.
Creation of 10 jobs
Creation of 10 jobs in a Portuguese company.
Requirements for Portugal Citizenship Through the Golden Visa
After five years (for now) of temporary legal residency in Portugal, the Golden Visa holder can apply for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship.
You must keep your investment in Portugal for the duration of the visa to obtain permanent residency and citizenship. You must also fulfill the requirement of having a basic understanding of the Portuguese language (A2 level), either through a language course or the Portugal language test.
As a Portuguese passport holder, you can enjoy several benefits, such as visa free access or visa-on-arrival access to 174 countries. Portuguese citizens also have complete access to live, work, and study in any country in the European Union.
Portugal citizenship requirements
Here is a rundown of the Portuguese citizenship eligibility criteria for Golden Visa applicants:
- To qualify for Portuguese citizenship, you must have an average stay of seven days per year in Portugal.
- You must have a clean record of criminal history is necessary
- All taxes in Portugal must be settled without outstanding balances
- You have to pass a Portuguese language examination.
In order to apply for Portuguese citizenship, you will also need the following:
- The correct forms must be completed
- Birth certificate, ID, or valid passport from home country
- Proof of passing the required Portuguese language test (CIPLE)
- Criminal record certificate
- A document from AIMA confirming that you have been a Portuguese resident for the minimum period
Check the IRN site for more information.
Portuguese citizenship by investment language requirements
To obtain Portuguese citizenship, investors must prove their proficiency in Portuguese at an A2 level. This can be done in several ways, but one of the most popular methods with expats is to pass a Portuguese language test for citizenship.
Also known as the CIPLE exam, the test is structured to evaluate the level A2 proficiency in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This certificate can be pursued through various accredited language institutions in Portugal and is generally accessible to learners at the start of their Portuguese language journey, confirming their ability to manage basic conversational and everyday scenarios.
How to Apply for Portugal Citizenship Through the Golden Visa
The online application for Portuguese nationality is open to individuals aged 18 and above who have held a Portuguese residency permit for a minimum of five years if submitted by a lawyer or solicitor. If the applicant submits their application themselves, they must go to the Institute of Registration and Notary Affairs, the Central Registry Office in Lisbon, or their local Portuguese consulate.
How much does Portugal citizenship by investment cost?
The main cost of getting Portuguese citizenship through investment is, of course, the investment itself, starting from €200,000 for an investment into an artistic production or a national cultural heritage project in a low density area.
The citizenship application fee ranges from €175 to €250.
In general, the Portuguese passport costs just €65 to obtain if you are applying for Portuguese citizenship in the Portuguese territory. If you are, for example, in the United States, then the passport costs around €100 to obtain.
How long does it take to get citizenship by investment in Portugal?
Once you’ve successfully completed the Portugal Golden Visa application process, you’ll receive your Golden Visa residence card, which is valid for two years and can be renewed for two years at a time.
After five years with the Portugal investment visa, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship and then apply for a Portuguese passport. In order to apply for citizenship, investors must also complete the Portuguese language test, which can be done at any time before the application. The process of getting Portuguese citizenship through the Portugal Golden Visa consists of several stages. The timeline is as follows:
⚠️ Update on Portugal's Nationality Law Changes
On 28 October 2025, Portugal's parliament approved key amendments of the Nationality Law, including increasing the residency requirement for citizenship from 5 to 10 years, and 7 years for CPLP nationals and EU citizens. This will significantly impact how visa holders and residents acquire citizenship.
However, these changes are not yet law. They must still undergo Presidential review where the President may promulgate the law, issue a veto, or request a review by the Constitutional Court. The final text may still be amended but they might not be enacted because the law is not final until its promulgated.
For the latest information regarding these changes, read Portugal Nationality and Citizenship Changes 2025
Other Ways To Get Portuguese Citizenship
Here are ways to qualify for a Portuguese citizenship application:
- Portugal Citizenship by Descent or birth
- Naturalization after five years of residence (through schemes like the Portugal Golden Visa or the Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa)
- Marriage to a Portuguese national. Individuals who have been in a non-marital partnership with a Portuguese national for over three years are also eligible to apply.
- Being a citizen of a former Portuguese overseas territory
- Adoption
Dual Citizenship and Portuguese Nationality
It is possible to acquire Portuguese citizenship and retain other nationalities at the same time, as in Portugal, there are no restrictions on dual nationality. However, you must check that your country also permits dual citizenship.
Why choose Global Citizen Solutions for your Portugal Golden Visa?
- Global approach by local experts: A team of experienced local case executives, immigration lawyers, and investment specialists based in Portugal.
- Independent service:We are not a marketing agency for any projects. You will access all eligible routes for the Golden Visa, with over 40 vetted qualifying investment options, so you can decide on the best option for you.
- 100% approval rate: We have the unique distinction of never having had a Golden Visa case rejected and have helped hundreds of clients from more than 35 countries.
- All-encompassing solution: Our dedicated onboarding and immigration teams will assist you throughout the process and beyond with a single channel of communication.
- Transparency: Our fees are clear and detailed, covering the entire process with no hidden costs.
- Privacy: Your personal data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
To see the full list of reasons why to work with Global Citizen Solutions for your Portugal Golden Visa, you can find out more here: Why Work with Global Citizen Solutions for Your Golden Visa Portugal Application?
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