Portugal: residency, golden visa and tax

The golden visa (ARI) no longer covers property or plain capital transfers. Since Lei 56/2023, the remaining routes are EUR 500,000 in Portuguese non-real-estate investment funds with at least five years to maturity and 60% invested in Portuguese companies, EUR 500,000 for scientific research, EUR 500,000 to set up or recapitalise a Portuguese company with at least five permanent jobs, EUR 250,000 for the arts or cultural heritage, or the creation of 10 jobs. None of the money may flow into real estate, directly or indirectly, and the investment is held for at least five years. The job, research and culture routes can be up to 20% lower in low-density regions.

The golden visa's presence rule is light: at least 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each following two-year period. Golden visa holders may also bring their family without the two-year wait that now applies to most other permits, and their years count as legal residence for permanent residence and naturalisation.

The D7 visa covers people living on pensions, rents, dividends, royalties or investment returns of at least EUR 920 a month, plus 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child, with the income available in Portugal. The D8 visa covers employees and freelancers working for employers or clients abroad who can show average earnings of at least EUR 3,680 a month over the last three months. The D2 visa serves founders who set up a business in Portugal and is assessed on the business plan and available funds rather than a fixed investment.

D7, D8 and D2 holders start with a four-month consular visa, then receive an AIMA residence permit valid for two years and renewable for three-year periods. Absences of more than six consecutive months, or eight months in total over a permit's validity, can lead to cancellation unless justified. Since Lei 61/2025, these permit holders generally wait two years before sponsoring a spouse, unless the couple has minor children.

After five years of temporary residence and with basic Portuguese at A2 level, residents can apply for permanent residence. Naturalisation is a separate step: for applications filed from 19 May 2026, most non-EU nationals need 10 years of legal residence, counted as the sum of lawful periods within a 12-year window, plus a language and culture test.

Portuguese immigration lawyers and certified tax advisers provide the legal and tax advice for each route; we coordinate the documents, timing and introductions.