Portugal regularly adjusts its Golden Visa program to reflect the government’s broader policy goals, and the Solidarity Visa is one of the proposed additions still working its way through that process.
First raised by the government in June 2024, it would direct private investment toward affordable housing and migrant integration projects rather than the funds, research, or job-creation routes that currently qualify for the Golden Visa.
As of August 2026, the Solidarity Visa has not been formally enacted. No implementing legislation has been published, and the government has not confirmed the final investment amount, project list, or application process.
This guide sets out what has been proposed, what the government has said publicly, and what remains open, so you can assess where things stand before making any decisions tied to this route.
Portugal Solidarity Visa: Key Takeaways
What is the Solidarity Visa?
The Solidarity Visa was first introduced by the Portuguese government in June 2024, when the Ministry of the President described it as a new modality within the existing Portugal Golden Visa scheme, rather than a separate immigration route.
Under the proposal, participants would direct capital toward social housing and migrant integration projects instead of the investment funds, research donations, or job-creation routes currently available.
The stated aim is to align immigration policy with the country’s housing needs. Rather than acquiring real estate for personal use or investing for financial return, participants would contribute funds toward projects intended to expand the supply of affordable housing and support the integration of migrants already living in Portugal.
How is it different from the Mais Habitação program?
Mais Habitação is a housing reform law passed in 2023 that addresses affordability through regulation, including restrictions on short-term rentals and measures targeting vacant properties. It also removed real estate as a qualifying category for the Golden Visa.
The Solidarity Visa is a separate proposal that would sit alongside the Golden Visa program rather than replace or amend the Mais Habitação law.
Where Mais Habitação changes the rules governing the housing market, the Solidarity Visa would use foreign investment to fund the construction of housing itself, positioning it as a complementary mechanism rather than a continuation of the same legislation.
Benefits of the Solidarity Visa
Because the program has not been implemented, the points below describe what the government has proposed rather than confirmed entitlements.
If adopted as outlined, the Solidarity Visa is expected to offer benefits broadly in line with those already available under the Golden Visa.
Residency in Portugal: Visa holders and their immediate family would be permitted to live, work, and study in the country.
Visa-free travel across the Schengen Area: Portuguese residency provides visa-free movement across the Schengen Area, which comprises 29 European countries.
A path to permanent residency: After maintaining residency for five years, investors would be able to apply for permanent residency, in line with the timeline that applies under the existing Golden Visa.
A social impact focus, rather than a financial one: Unlike the Golden Visa’s routes, the Solidarity Visa is structured as a non-recoverable contribution, directing capital toward housing and integration projects instead of assets intended to generate a return.
Family reunification: The proposal includes provisions to add immediate family members to the application, granting them the same residency rights.
Solidarity Visa Investment Requirements
The final terms of the Solidarity Visa are still pending government confirmation, though a few details have been indicated publicly.
The expected minimum contribution is €250,000, structured as a donation rather than a fund subscription or asset purchase, directed toward pre-approved projects focused on affordable housing and migrant integration.
Because participants would not need to acquire real estate or manage a business, the process is expected to be more straightforward administratively than some of the Golden Visa’s other routes.
A minimum holding period for the investment has not been specified. It is likely to align with the five-year period that governs permanent residency eligibility under the Golden Visa, though this has not been confirmed.
Citizenship eligibility would follow separately, under the timeline set out in Portugal’s Nationality Law, which currently requires ten years of legal residency for most applicants, or seven years for European Union and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) nationals.
Investment Options for the Solidarity Visa
The government has not published a final list of qualifying investment categories. Based on public statements to date, the Solidarity Visa is expected to be structured around two broad categories: Affordable housing for Portuguese residents and accommodation or integration support for migrants.
Earlier reporting on the proposal has also referenced language-center funding to support immigrant integration, and contributions toward cultural heritage restoration, as possible additional investment categories.
Neither has been confirmed in an official government statement, so investors should treat them as illustrative rather than guaranteed options until the government publishes further details.
What did the Portuguese government announce?
In June 2024, Portugal’s Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, told Reuters that the government planned to adapt the Golden Visa program to include a new “solidarity visa” mechanism.
Rather than replacing the existing program, the announcement described two additional investment modalities that would sit alongside the Golden Visa’s current routes, which include investment funds, cultural and research donations, and job creation.
Affordable housing for local residents
The first modality would direct investment toward affordable homes that Portuguese residents could buy or rent.
The stated goal is to expand the supply of affordable housing in a market where high prices, driven in part by tourism demand in cities such as Lisbon and Porto, have made homeownership and rental housing increasingly difficult to access for local residents.
Accommodation and integration projects for migrants
The second modality would direct investment toward accommodation for migrants and toward projects supporting their integration into Portuguese society.
The government’s stated rationale is that Portugal’s migrant population has grown substantially over the past decade, and that many migrants face precarious housing and employment conditions despite contributing to the economy.
What is confirmed and what is still unannounced?
Confirmed, based on public government statements:
- The government intends to introduce the Solidarity Visa as an addition to the existing Golden Visa program, rather than as a separate immigration category.
- Two investment modalities have been described: One for affordable housing aimed at local residents and one for migrant accommodation and integration projects.
- The existing Golden Visa program, including its current investment routes, would remain unchanged.
Still unannounced or unconfirmed:
- The minimum investment amount. The government indicated in 2024 that it would set the Golden Visa’s other investment thresholds lower than the Golden Visa’s current investment thresholds, but it did not specify whether that reference point was the standard €250,000 cultural-donation amount or the €200,000 threshold already available for cultural donations in low-density areas. No figure has been confirmed under either reading.
- The list of pre-approved projects that investors would be able to fund.
- The minimum holding period for the investment.
- The application process, implementing legislation, and a timeline for parliamentary approval.
As of August 2026, none of these outstanding points have been formally addressed, and there is no confirmed date for when, or whether, the Solidarity Visa will be enacted.
Solidarity Visa Proposal vs Active Portugal Golden Visa Routes
| Feature | Solidarity Visa (Proposed) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Proposed; not yet enacted | Active; accepting applications |
| Investment focus | Social projects — affordable housing for residents, or migrant accommodation and integration | Investment funds, cultural heritage donations, scientific research, or business and job creation |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed; the government has said it would be set lower than existing thresholds | From €200,000 (cultural donation in low-density areas) to €500,000 (funds, research, or business routes) |
| Return on investment | None; structured as a donation | Varies by route; fund and business options may generate financial returns |
| Residency path | Would provide Portuguese residency, if enacted | Provides Portuguese residency |
| Path to permanent residency | Expected after five years, if enacted | Available after five years |
| Path to citizenship | Would follow the Nationality Law timeline: ten years generally, or seven for EU and CPLP nationals | Same Nationality Law timeline applies |
| Physical presence requirement | Not confirmed | Seven days in the first year; fourteen days per subsequent two-year period |
| Target investor | Investors prioritizing social impact over financial return | Investors seeking residency, with a choice of investment structures |
Is the Solidarity Visa a game-changer for social impact?
When the Solidarity Visa was first proposed in 2024, there were early indications that parliamentary approval could follow within the year.
More than two years later, no such approval has materialized, and the government has not indicated a revised timeline.
Global Citizen Solutions CEO Patricia Casaburi has previously described the proposal as part of a broader shift in how the government approaches immigration policy, framing it as an attempt to combine stronger integration measures with continued efforts to attract foreign investment.
Whether the initiative ultimately delivers on that framing is difficult to assess while it remains unconfirmed: A proposal without a set investment amount, project list, or legislative timeline cannot yet be evaluated on its practical impact, however constructive its stated goals.
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?
