Portugal Golden Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Portugal Golden Visa, you must meet these core criteria:

1. Non-EU/EEA/Swiss Nationality
You must be a citizen of a country outside the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland. EU citizens already have the right to live in Portugal—they don't need a Golden Visa.

Dual Citizens: If you hold both EU and non-EU citizenship, you can apply using your non-EU passport. However, this is rarely advantageous since your EU citizenship already grants residency rights.

2. Age Requirement
You must be at least 18 years old to apply as the main applicant. Minor children are included as dependents.

3. Clean Criminal Record
You must provide a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and any country where you've resided for more than one year. The record must show no serious criminal convictions.

4. No Previous Immigration Violations
You should not have been previously expelled from Portugal or have any outstanding immigration violations in the Schengen Area.

5. Qualifying Investment
You must make and maintain one of the qualifying investments (most commonly €500,000 in a CMVM-regulated fund).

The financial requirements extend beyond just having €500,000:

Source of Funds
You must demonstrate that your investment funds come from legitimate sources. This typically requires:

• Bank statements showing the funds
• Tax returns demonstrating income history
• Documentation of how the wealth was accumulated (business sale, inheritance, savings, etc.)

No Specific Income Requirement
Unlike some residency programs, there's no minimum ongoing income requirement. However, you should have sufficient resources to support yourself and any dependents during your time in Portugal.

Investment Maintenance
The investment must be maintained for the duration of your Golden Visa residency (minimum 5 years). If you withdraw your fund investment early, you lose your residency status.

Proof of Investment
You'll need official documentation showing:

• Fund subscription confirmation
• Payment receipts
• CMVM registration verification
• Ongoing statements during renewals

Prepare these documents before applying:

Identity Documents

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months validity)
• Passport-sized photos (specific Portuguese requirements)

Financial Documents

• Bank statements (typically 6-12 months)
• Proof of investment completion
• Source of funds documentation

Criminal Record

• Certificate from country of nationality
• Certificate from any country of residence (1+ year in past 5 years)
• Must be apostilled or legalized

Portuguese NIF

• Tax identification number (obtained before application)
• Can be obtained remotely through a fiscal representative

Health Insurance

• Must cover you in Portugal
• International or Portuguese health insurance acceptable

For Family Inclusion

• Marriage certificate (spouse)
• Birth certificates (children)
• Proof of dependency (adult children, parents)
• All documents must be apostilled and translated

Translation Requirements
All non-Portuguese documents must be officially translated by a certified translator. Apostille (Hague Convention) or consular legalization is required for most documents.

One of the Golden Visa's major benefits is family inclusion. These family members can be added to your application:

Spouse or Partner

• Legally married spouse
• Civil union partner (must be formalized)
• Same-sex marriages and partnerships recognized

Minor Children

• Biological children under 18
• Legally adopted children
• Both parents' children from previous relationships

Adult Children (up to age 26)

• Must be unmarried
• Must be in full-time education OR
• Must be financially dependent on main applicant
• Dependency must be documented

Dependent Parents

• Parents of main applicant or spouse
• Must be over 55 years old OR
• Must be financially dependent
• Must live with or be supported by applicant

Key Points

• All family members receive their own residency cards
• Family members can travel, work, and study in Portugal independently
• Family members must also meet criminal record requirements
• Adding family members later is possible but involves separate applications

The Golden Visa is not available to:

EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens
You already have the right to live in Portugal. A Golden Visa would be redundant.

Those with Serious Criminal Records
Convictions for terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, or other serious offenses will result in denial.

Those Under Sanctions
Individuals on international sanctions lists (UN, EU, OFAC) cannot apply.

Previous Deportees
If you've been expelled from Portugal or the Schengen Area, you likely won't qualify unless the ban has been lifted.

Those Unable to Document Fund Sources
If you cannot demonstrate legitimate sources for your €500,000, your application will be rejected. This is a core anti-money-laundering requirement.

Note on Nationality Restrictions
Portugal does not have blanket nationality restrictions for Golden Visa applications. However, citizens of countries subject to international sanctions may face practical difficulties with banking and due diligence requirements.

Before submitting your Golden Visa application, complete these prerequisites:

1. Obtain Portuguese NIF (1-2 weeks)
Your tax identification number is required for all Portuguese financial transactions. Can be obtained remotely through a fiscal representative.

2. Open Portuguese Bank Account (2-4 weeks)
Required to transfer investment funds. Some banks are more accommodating to US citizens (FATCA compliance) and other nationalities.

3. Complete Qualifying Investment
Subscribe to your chosen CMVM fund and transfer funds. The investment must be fully completed before application submission.

4. Gather Documentation
Collect and prepare all required documents, including apostilles and certified translations. This often takes 4-8 weeks.

5. Optional: Engage Legal Support
While not required, most applicants work with a Portuguese lawyer who handles application submission and communication with AIMA.

Timeline Note: Plan 2-4 months for pre-application preparation before you can submit.