OpenPortugal

Portugal Golden Visa (ARI): Cost, Requirements & Processing Time (2026)

The short version

Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) requires a minimum investment of €200,000 (€200,000 non-refundable cultural/heritage donation is the cheapest route. (The fund route is €500K.)), with residency in ~36–40 months and a path to citizenship in 10 years.

Investment routes compared

Route type	Amount (EUR)	Notes	Primary?
Cultural donation	€200,000	Donation to approved cultural/heritage projects; non-refundable.
Investment fund	€500,000	Qualifying CMVM-registered fund; ≥60% Portuguese-companies allocation; 6–8 year hold typical.	Most common
Research donation	€500,000	Contribution to Portuguese research institutions.
Job creation	No financial investment	Create and maintain 10+ full-time jobs in Portugal.
Capital transfer	€1,500,000	Transfer to Portuguese bank account or government bonds.

Eligibility check

Do your investable assets meet Portugal's golden-visa minimum?

Investable assets: $216,000

A ~$375k investable-asset profile clears this threshold.

Source: Portugal Golden Visa (Residence permit for investment activity) · checked 2026-04-16

Modelled estimate from published thresholds — not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Covers income / savings / age only; other eligibility gates are not modelled.

Check against your savings

At a glance

€200,000 minimum qualifying investment
~36–40 months expected end-to-end processing
10 years of residence citizenship timeline
Schengen access travel rights
~7 days/yr physical-presence requirement

Physical presence: 14 days in first 2-year permit, 14 days per each 2-year renewal period.

Official program source · Source: Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) · Last verified Jun 30, 2026 (3 weeks ago) · Verify current rules with an authorized immigration adviser or the destination's consulate before applying.

Next review 2026-09-30.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum investment for the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)?

The minimum qualifying investment is €200,000. €200,000 non-refundable cultural/heritage donation is the cheapest route. (The fund route is €500K.) Qualifying routes: Cultural donation (€200,000); Investment fund (€500,000); Research donation (€500,000); Job creation (€0); Capital transfer (€1,500,000) Most applicants use the Investment fund route (€500,000).

How long does the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) take to process?

Expected end-to-end processing is ~36–40 months. AIMA backlog: ~50,000 pending files as of May 2025. Government pledged 2026 resolution; 2025 pledge was broken.

Can I get citizenship through the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI), and when?

Citizenship is available after 10 years of legal residence. ENACTED (Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force 19 May 2026): 7 years for Portuguese-speaking/CPLP + EU nationals, 10 years for all others (this field shows the 10y 'others' tier). Pending applications keep the prior regime. The earlier '5-year' claim is now outdated. It can lead to EU citizenship.

What is the physical-presence requirement for the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)?

14 days in first 2-year permit, 14 days per each 2-year renewal period.

Are my spouse and children included in the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)?

Spouse, minor children, adult children in education, parents can be included.

Does the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) grant Schengen access?

Yes. Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) grants Schengen-area travel access.

Is the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) currently open to new applicants?

The programme is currently open. Nationality reform ENACTED: Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 published in Diário da República 18 May 2026, in force 19 May 2026. Citizenship clock now 7 years (Portuguese-speaking/CPLP + EU nationals) or 10 years (all others); pending applications keep the prior regime. Source: Diário da República + Ministério da Justiça.

Who regulates the Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)?

Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) is administered by Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA). The canonical source is https://www.aima.gov.pt/. Facts last verified 2026-06-30; next review 2026-09-30.

Investment routes compared

Route type	Amount (EUR)	Notes	Primary?
Cultural donation	€200,000	Donation to approved cultural/heritage projects; non-refundable.
Investment fund	€500,000	Qualifying CMVM-registered fund; ≥60% Portuguese-companies allocation; 6–8 year hold typical.	Most common
Research donation	€500,000	Contribution to Portuguese research institutions.
Job creation	No financial investment	Create and maintain 10+ full-time jobs in Portugal.
Capital transfer	€1,500,000	Transfer to Portuguese bank account or government bonds.