So you’re ready to start your journey into acquiring Portuguese residency, but you’re stuck. How do you successfully secure your Portugal Golden Visa?
Fret not; we’ve created a step-by-step guide on using the Portugal Golden Visa official website for your application.
You’ll learn about:
- How to navigate the website
- How to submit your Portuguese Golden Visa application
- How to acquire the permanent residence permit
- The Portugal Golden Visa program and its top benefit
Step-by-Step Instructions on Navigating the Portuguese Golden Visa Official Website
A key requirement when applying for the Portugal Golden Visa is to pre-register via the official website and follow all the necessary steps. While the Portugal Golden Visa application process is relatively straightforward, it can be cumbersome for those unfamiliar with the Portuguese bureaucratic system.
As such, we’ve broken the Portuguese Golden Visa process down into six easy steps for you.
Step 1: Determine your eligibility
In case you tick the following boxes, congratulations! You’re eligible to apply for the Portugal Golden Visa.
- Be a non-EU, non-swiss, or non-EEA citizen
- Hold a clean criminal record
- Have a valid passport
- Spend a minimum of seven days in Portugal for the first year, then no less than 14 days each subsequent two-year period.
- Have enough funds to invest in (minimum investment requirements start from €250,000)
Do you have questions or concerns? Chat with one of our Portugal Golden Visa Consultants so we can understand your objectives and help determine what you need to do to succeed in your Portugal Golden Visa application.
Step 2: Choose your investment route
So you’re ready to commit to the Portugal Golden Visa program and are excited to choose your investment route to Portuguese residency. But what investment option to pick?
We’ve got you covered. Below are the accepted investment routes, as stipulated by the official website for the Portugal Golden Visa.
Note that some of these investment routes have changed thanks to new Portuguese legislation, meaning some investment options such as buying residential property and making capital transfers no longer qualify for the program.
For more information, read up on the Portugal Golden Visa Changes article.
Investment options for the Portugal Golden Visa:
- Investment fund subscription: Make a contribution to a qualified Golden Visa investment fund (such as private equity funds or venture capital funds) worth at least €500,000. Investment funds have now emerged as one of the most popular ways to apply for Portugal’s Golden Visa program.
- Investment or donation in the arts or preserving national heritage with a donation of at least €250,000 (Read more: Portugal’s Cultural Production Golden Visa)
- 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: Incorporation of a commercial company in the national territory or reinforcement of the share capital of an existing Portuguese business, in either case with an investment of €500,000, combined with the creation of five or maintaining ten jobs (five of them permanent)
- Real estate investment: Acquire a real estate property worth more than €500,000 in Portugal (NO LONGER ELIGIBLE)
- Real estate purchase: Purchasing real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing for a total value equal to or above €350,000 (NO LONGER ELIGIBLE)
- Capital transfer: Make a transfer to a Portuguese bank account of a value equal to or above €1.5 million (NO LONGER ELIGIBLE)
If unsure about investment pathways, crunch some stats here on top nationalities and investment routes to residency in our Portugal Golden Visa Statistics guide.
Step 3: Look at the document requirements
Don’t be fooled by how easy it is to submit your Golden Visa application online. The document requirements are extensive and long. To avoid disappointments or delays in your application processing, we suggest you carefully read up on the required paperwork beforehand. Even better, start compiling your list of documents early so that you’re ready to go when the time comes to submit your application.
You can find the document checklist on AIMA’s website (formerly SEF’s website).
Important Note Regarding SEF:
Portugal has made significant changes in its approach to immigration services by dissolving the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF), the immigration and borders service agency responsible for managing foreign documents, including Golden Visa applications. To replace SEF, the Portuguese government introduced the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA). All Golden Visa applications will be automatically shifted and processed by the new agency.
To learn more about the recent changes, please read our article AIMA Takes Over SEF
Step 4: Go to the Portal ARI and register
The next step is to register on the Portal ARI. Simply go to the Portal and create an account. Once you’ve done so and confirmed your email address, log into the portal with your account information and complete the registration process.
The following information needs to be supplied:
- Input a valid e-mail (optional if you have a legal representative)
- Select the type of investment you’d like to make
- Identification steps
- Submit passport copy
- Input your address and phone number, preferably in the national territory
- If you have a legal representative, submit their email address
Step 5: Submit the Golden Visa application via AIMA Portal
It’s time to lodge your Portugal Golden Visa application. Simply complete the following steps:
- Login in via the Portal ARI
- Complete the application and hit submit
- Upload the necessary documents according to your investment type
- Submit the application with all documents required (documents should be in PDF format with a maximum of 4MB)
- Confirm application submission
- Proceed to “Payment”
- Supply your NIF number (tax registration number)
- Print the Single Collecting Document (DUC) with the analysis fee
- Submit the DUC in due time
- Wait to receive an e-mail from AIMA. They’ll either say your application has been accepted and you can schedule an appointment with an AIMA representative, or you must submit the application again.
Step 6: Book an appointment with an AIMA representative
After AIMA validates your application, you are ready to schedule your appointment with an agent.
Do the following:
- Login at Portal ARI
- When you get to your application page, go to “Calendar”
- Select the bureau service (availability is guaranteed in several SEF bureau offices in Portugal
- Select Year/Month
- Select Day
- Select Time (if the vacancy is no longer available, schedule another date)
- After receiving an email confirmation with your appointment details, you must visit an AIMA bureau service to deliver the necessary documents and submit biometric data.
Step 7: Receive your Portugal Golden Visa
Roughly four months after you visit an AIMA agent, and provided that your application is approved, of course, you just need to pay the government permit issue fee; you can collect your residence card or get them to send it to your nominated address.
Take a look at our Portugal Golden Visa Ultimate Guide by local experts
Portugal Golden Visa Program: An Overview
What is the Portuguese Golden Visa Program?
The Portugal Golden Visa Program is an attractive five-year residency by investment initiative for non-EU nationals. Investors must first invest in the nation and are, in turn, given permanent residence cards. Family members are also eligible for the Portugal residence permit.
The Portugal Golden Visa is a quick, efficient pathway for non-EU nationals to set foot into the European Union since it allows applicants to live, work, or study in Portugal, an EU member state. After five years of holding your investment, it’s possible to acquire Portuguese citizenship (and therefore EU citizenship), provided that a basic language test is passed.
Key benefits of the Golden Visa Program
- Family reunification: Your dependent family can be included in the application. This means your family can also enjoy the same freedom of opportunities and a second residence in Portugal.
- Attractive investment options: The Portuguese Golden Visa offers several attractive investment options, including donations, capital transfer, 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.
- Free movement within the Schengen Area: Golden Visa holders gain Schengen Area access that enables them to freely enter the area and move within its 27 countries without needing an additional visa.
- Pathway to permanent residence permit and Portuguese citizenship: After five years of being a legal resident in Portugal, you may become eligible to apply for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship (and consequently European citizenship), whereby you can get a Portuguese passport.
- Low physical presence requirement: The Golden Visa program has a low minimum stay requirement in Portugal (14 days every two years), making it accessible to investors who do not want to live in the country full-time.
- Opportunity to live in a country with a high quality of life: With a Golden Visa, you’d have legal residency status in Portugal, allowing you to live in a country that often ranks highly in quality of life indices as well as safety and security rankings.
Eligibility Criteria for the Golden Visa Portugal
To be eligible for the Portuguese Golden Visa, individuals must:
- Be either non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA nationals
- Make a qualifying investment in Portugal (there’s a minimum investment of €250,000)
- Have a criminal record proving the absence of conviction in a crime punishable in Portugal for one year or more
- Spend a minimum of 14 days in Portugal for each two-year period (this is called the stay requirement)
Curious to learn more about the program? Check out our handy Portugal Golden Visa Guide for more information.
Why choose Global Citizen Solutions for your Immigration Visa?
GLOBAL APPROACH BY LOCAL EXPERTS
- GCS has offices located across Portugal.
- Members of the US-Portugal and UK-Portugal Chambers of Commerce in Portugal, and the Investment Migration Council (IMC).
- Our expert team can help you throughout your journey to secure your Visa.
100% APPROVAL RATE
- Our successful track record in applications provides reassurance to applicants.
- We have helped clients from more than 35 countries secure residency in Portugal.
ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOLUTION
- With a single channel of communication, our approach ensures that you have complete clarity on your application.
- Our BeGlobal® Onboarding System allows for a total flow of information.
TRANSPARENCY AND PRIVACY
- Our pricing is clear and detailed, you will not face any hidden costs.
- All data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
Frequently Asked Questions About Portugal's Golden Visa Official Website
Does the Portugal Golden Visa lead to a permanent residence permit?
Yes, the Portugal Golden Visa can be converted to a permanent residence permit, provided that you can prove you’ve been residing in Portugal for at least five years.
Is Portugal citizenship possible with the Golden Visa?
Portugal citizenship is absolutely possible. To apply for Portuguese citizenship, you must hold your Golden Visa for a minimum of five years, and apply for Portuguese citizenship in the fifth year.
What are the benefits of applying for the Golden Visa program in Portugal?
Besides acquiring a residence permit for yourself and your immediate family members, you can get a permanent residence card after five years and Portuguese citizenship after five years.
Does the Golden Visa let you live in Portugal?
Yes, it does. Essentially, the Golden Visa program provides residency by investment by granting a temporary residence permit that enables you to live, work, and study in Portugal freely and travel within the European Union’s Schengen Area without a visa. The temporary residence permit can be converted to a permanent residence card, provided that you have lived in the country for five years.
What are my investment options for the Golden Visa program?
You can choose from a mix of options, including investing in a venture capital fund (or other investment funds), investing in private scientific research institutions, a job creation route, and donations to arts and cultural heritage projects. Golden Visa applicants must maintain their investment activity for five years if they want to then qualify for citizenship.
In 2024, it is no longer possible to qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa scheme via property investment (buying real estate in Portugal) or completing a capital transfer,
What is the official website for Portugal visa?
The official website for the Portugal Golden Visa is: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a
How can I access the official website for Portugal's Golden Visa?
To access the official website for the Portugal Golden Visa, please go to: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a
What information can I find on the official website for the Portugal Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa Official website is primarily an informational resource where you can find details about the program, its requirements, and application procedures.
Are there any fees associated with using the official website?
Using the Portugal Golden Visa website, provided by the Portuguese government’s Immigration and Borders Service AIMA, which has now replaced SEF, does not involve any fees for accessing information or guidance related to the Golden Visa program.
How can I open a Portuguese bank account for my Golden Visa funds?
To open a Portuguese bank account, Global Citizen Solutions can introduce you to a competent English-speaking banker in Portugal who can open a bank account before you even come to Portugal.
