The Portugal Golden Visa programme, officially known as the Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI), is a residency-by-investment scheme designed to attract foreign capital to Portugal. It offers a pathway to permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship.
Launched in October 2012, its primary goal was to attract international capital to boost Portugal’s economy, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The programme has been highly successful, generating over €7.5 billion in investments since its inception and a major contributor to inward investment in Portugal.
One of the key advantages of the Golden Visa residency by investment is a residency visa pathway to permanent dual-citizenship after five years in Portugal/EU as well as your country of origin. With a minimum investment of €500,000 in an alternative investment fund approved for Golden Visa—applicants can qualify for residency and only stay in the country for an average of seven days per year to maintain the permit.
There is also the option of donating €250,000 towards a cultural heritage project using the Cultural Production Golden Visa. There is also an Artistic Production Golden Visa for investment but this is very difficult to achieve as there are very few projects and as a result, most immigration and law firms will not take instructions and support that route.
After five years, residents may apply for Portuguese citizenship, one of the fastest timelines in Europe. As a Portuguese citizen, you gain visa-free access to 191 countries, significantly expanding travel freedom. The ultimate aim for most Golden Visa investors is to secure freedom of movement throughout the 29 European Schengen region countries and dual-citizenship for your family and qualifying dependants.
