Portugal, a stunning country, is popular due to its charming coastlines and mesmerizing natural beauty. The country allows foreigners to live alongside beautiful landscapes by investing in the Portugal residency by investment program, often called the Portugal Golden Visa. Since its launch in October 2012, the program has gained large foreign direct investments (FDI) and contributed largely to the economy of the country.
In 2023, some amendments were made in the investment routes of Portugal residency by investment program when the focus of investors shifted more towards the Portugal golden visa investment funds. Despite the changes made, the program still remains a popular choice for global investors due to its stability, flexibility, and the global mobility it provides to its investors.
What is the Portugal Golden Visa?
Many individuals want to live and work in Europe due to the multiple lifestyle and business opportunities it provides to its residents. Portugal is the key destination that provides these individuals with the easiest route to Europe.
Background & Working
Under the Portugal golden visa that was launched in October 2012, investors, including non-EU citizens, get EU residency by securing a 5-year residency permit. The permit is granted in exchange for financial contributions to Portugal’s economy. The most popular investment route for gaining Portuguese residency is the Portugal golden visa investment funds.
General Benefits for Investors
Global Investors can benefit from the Portugal golden visa in many ways. Some significant benefits are stated below:
Visa-Free Travel: The Portugal golden visa holders can travel visa free to Europe’s Schengen area, which includes around 29 countries that provides them with global mobility and travel freedom.
Lifestyle and Business Advantages: By achieving global mobility, the Portugal golden visa holders can access world leading business markets and enhance their lifestyle by becoming Portuguese residents and benefit from its world class education and excellent healthcare.
Tax Benefits: Portugal offers various tax benefits to its residents, mainly its NHR 2.0 (Non-Habitual Tax Regime) which imposes low taxes for 10 years on Portuguese income or exemptions on foreign-sourced income.
Is Portugal Golden Visa Suspended?
This question still remains common among global investors as they think the Portugal golden visa has been suspended. Although it is nothing more than just a misconception.
What the New Rules Say?
According to the new rules in 2023, the Portugal real estate investment route was abolished, but the Portugal residency by investment still remained active through the Portugal golden visa investment funds routes. The investors cannot qualify for Portuguese residency by investing in real estate in Portugal rather by just investing in funds.
Why Shift Towards Portugal Golden Visa Investment Funds?
After the end of the real estate investment route for Portugal golden visa, the investment funds route became a popular gateway to Portugal golden visa in 2025 and will remain popular in the coming years. The reason behind ending the Portugal real estate route was to keep the housing sector in Portugal affordable for locals, as the foreign investments were increasing the housing prices in Portugal. Now the investment for the Portugal golden visa investment funds is directed towards the growth of projects supporting innovation, technology, and sustainability.
Portugal Golden Visa Investment Funds List
The popular Portugal golden visa investment funds include the following:
Private Equity Funds
Venture Capital Funds
Sustainable Investment Funds
Golden Visa Crypto Fund
Portugal Golden Visa Requirements (Fund Route)
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants for qualifying for the Portugal golden visa investment funds or to become eligible must meet the following requirements.
Must be an adult aged 18 or above.
Must be a non-EU/ EEA or non-Swiss citizen.
Must not be involved in any criminal activities.
Must provide valid proof of funds.
Investment Requirements
The most important requirement for investment is that the investment funds must be registered with the Portuguese Securities Market Commission or CMVM, which is a Portuguese regulatory body supervising the capital markets and investment services in Portugal.
The fund route for the Portugal golden visa requires a minimum €500,000 in a qualifying Portuguese fund.
The investors must have at least 60% of capital invested in the Portuguese-based companies.
The investment must be held for at least 5 years.
Stay Requirements
To qualify for Portuguese residency under the investment funds route, a minimum stay of 7 days per year is required, which means 14-day stay in the following years, i.e., 14-day stay in Portugal every two years.
Family Inclusion
The family members of the main applicant, including spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents, can be included in the golden visa application of Portugal under the investment funds route.
Pathway to Citizenship
After 5 years of tax residency in Portugal, individuals can apply for Portuguese citizenship. However, according to the new rules, the time period is extending from 5 years to 7 to 10 years.
Conclusion
The Portugal Golden Visa Investment Funds remain a global choice for investors as they can get easier EU residency and can ultimately benefit from the stable, secure, and beautiful environment of Portugal. Moreover, they also gain global mobility, which is essential for business expansion in the present times.