Portugal, a stunning country located in Southwestern Europe, catches the eye of global investors and tourists because of its beautiful landscapes that present breathtaking views and its popular Portugal residency by investment program. According to the AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum) Report, since the launch of the program, around 12,000 Portugal golden visas have been granted to the main applicants, and they brought around 20,000 dependent family members with them, raising over €7.3 billion. This shows that it has become a very popular residency by investment program till now.
Popularity of Portugal Golden Visa Among Investors
Portugal has always been a popular choice for citizens from various parts of the world, such as the US, UK, and Scotland. Due to the UK Wealth exodus and political instability in the US, a large number of these countries' nationals moved to Portugal to benefit from its stable economy. According to a Report, around 10,000 Americans made Portugal their home in 2024, showing increasing demand for Portugal golden visa. Pakistani citizens have also been taking an interest in Portugal's golden visa due to its increasing popularity.
Understanding Portugal Residency by Investment
The Portugal Golden Visa Program has been outpacing the well-recognized golden visa programs of other European countries due to the multiple significant opportunities it offers to global investors and the flexibility and transparency of the program. Although Portugal offers various residency programs to global investors, such as:
Among all residency programs of Portugal, the most popular one is the Portugal golden visa program.
What is a Portugal Golden Visa Pakistan?
The Portugal Golden Visa grants a 5-year residency permit to investors from different parts of the world, including Pakistani citizens, allowing them to work and live in Portugal by investing a minimum €500,000 in non-real estate projects, job creations, research activities, or golden visa funds. Moreover, the best part about the Portugal golden visa for Pakistani citizens is that the investors, after maintaining a 5-year period of tax residency in Portugal, can also apply for Portuguese citizenship. However, recently, in 2025, Portugal’s parliament voted to extend the citizenship timeline to 7 to 10 years.
Portugal Golden Visa Pakistan Eligibility Requirements
An individual who meets the following eligibility requirements of a Portugal golden visa can apply for the Portugal residency by investment program.
The main applicant must be an adult aged 18 or above.
Applicants must have a clean criminal record.
A minimum 7-day stay per year is required for eligibility for the Portugal golden visa.
Investment must be held for at least 5 years, for the Portugal golden visa.
Applicants must be in good health.
Investment Routes for Portugal Residency by Investment
Portugal offers diverse investment routes for Pakistani investors. The real estate investment route of Portugal's golden visa was terminated in 2023, still the program remained popular world wide. The program now offers non-real estate investment routes such as job creation, cultural activities, research activities, and the Portugal golden visa fund route.
Non-Real Estate Investment Route
The Portugal golden visa requires €500,000 capital transfer in the non-real estate collective investment schemes for securing shares.
Qualify for Portugal Golden Visa by Creating Jobs
Creating at least 5 jobs or investing €500,000 in companies in Portugal can make Pakistani citizens qualify for the Portugal residency by investment.
Investment for Cultural Activities
This is the most affordable investment option for the Portugal golden visa, as a minimum €250,000 investment is required for supporting projects in Portugal that are related to its culture and heritage.
Research Activities Portugal
Around €500,000 investment for supporting the Research and Development Institutes is required to get Portugal residency by investment.
Portugal Golden Visa Funds
A minimum investment of €500,000 is required in a Portuguese venture capital fund or equity fund by Pakistanis to secure a second home in Portugal for themselves.
Benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa for Pakistani Citizens
Pakistani citizens can benefit from Portugal residency by investment in many ways. Some significant benefits include:
EU Schengen Visa-free Access
The Pakistani citizens, after securing residency in Portugal, can benefit from the global mobility it provides to its golden visa investors. They can travel freely to the EU Schengen Zone, which includes 29 member states, without even requiring a visa. The states include Austria, Spain, and France.
Potential Tax Benefits like NHR 2.0
Under the new Non-Habitual Resident Tax Regime (NHR 2.0) in Portugal, Pakistani citizens can benefit from a low tax policy, which includes zero or no tax on foreign income and a flat 20% tax rate on income from employment or self-employment in Portugal. This shows Portugal is a very low tax country compared to other European countries; hence, citizens of Pakistan must consider an optimum choice for relocation destination.
Safety and Security in Portugal
As per the rankings by the Global Peace Index 2025, Portugal ranked 7th for being the safest country in the world. So, Pakistani citizens can live in Portugal safely under the Portugal golden visa for Pakistani citizens.
Conclusion
The Portugal golden visa has been a popular choice for Pakistani citizens due to the stable economy of Portugal and its increasing growth. The Portugal golden visa for Pakistani citizens is an easier route to Europe with minimum stay requirements. Moreover, the global mobility it offers with visa-free access is an ideal opportunity for investors such as entrepreneurs and business owners.