Golden Visa Lawyers in Portugal

Official information

What the Golden Visa is

The Golden Visa is the common name for the residence permit for investment activity (ARI), in force since 8 October 2012. It is for people from outside the EU, the EEA, Andorra and Switzerland who make a qualifying investment kept for at least 5 years.

Routes the law lists today

As listed in Article 3 of Law 23/2007 (the law text, not an official guide page). Amounts are reduced by 20% in low-density territories for some routes.

• Create at least 10 jobs.
• 500,000 euros in research activity.
• 250,000 euros in arts or the recovery of national cultural heritage.
• 500,000 euros in investment fund units or venture capital funds.
• 500,000 euros in collective investment organisations that do not invest in real estate.
• 500,000 euros to create a company or reinforce its capital, with job creation.

The official AIMA page lists the routes slightly differently from the law text (it shows five and numbers them differently). Check the current AIMA page for the exact list.

Real estate is no longer an option

Under Law 56/2023, new applications through real estate routes (and the capital transfer route) closed when the law came into force in October 2023. Existing permits can still be renewed, and applications already pending stayed valid. AIMA also states that qualifying investments cannot be made, directly or indirectly, in real estate.

Staying in Portugal

AIMA states a minimum presence of 7 days in the first year and 14 days in later periods.

Documents AIMA lists

• Passport, proof of legal entry or stay, and health coverage (the national health service or international health insurance).
• A criminal record certificate issued within the last 3 months, a tax number, and tax and social security debt-free declarations not older than 45 days.
• An honour declaration about the 5-year requirement and documents for the specific investment.

How it works and for how long

1. Register online on the ARI portal (AIMA says this is mandatory) and submit the application with the documents.
2. The permit is valid for 2 years and is renewed in 2-year periods.
3. Holders who meet the general conditions can apply for permanent residence.

Application fees are set in an AIMA fee table. We have not listed amounts here because they could not be confirmed. Check the AIMA fee table on the official site.

Official pages

• AIMA: residence permit for investment (Portuguese)
• Law 23/2007, the foreigners law (Diario da Republica)
• Law 56/2023, which closed the real estate routes (Diario da Republica)
• AIMA: update of the fee table

Checked against the official pages on 22 October 2026. Immigration rules change often, so always confirm on the official pages listed above before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.