Portugal Golden Visa Requirements — 2026 Complete Eligibility Checklist

The Portugal Golden Visa requirements changed substantially in October 2023 with the Mais Habitação reform, which closed all real-estate routes. The current framework — six qualifying investment routes, source-of-funds AML/KYC scrutiny, minimum-presence rules, and the 5-year maintenance period — is the regime applicable in 2026.

This page lays out the complete requirements: who is eligible, the six qualifying investment routes with their thresholds, the documentary requirements, AML/KYC source-of-funds standards, family inclusion rules, and the ongoing maintenance requirements over the 5-year qualifying period. Application mechanics are covered on our Golden Visa main page.

Who is eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa

• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals aged 18 or over.
• Clean criminal record in country of nationality and in any country where you have lived for more than 12 months in the last 5 years. Convictions carrying more than 1 year imprisonment may be disqualifying.
• Demonstrated ability to fund the qualifying investment with legitimate, traceable source of funds. AML/KYC scrutiny is substantial post-2020 reforms.
• Willingness to maintain the qualifying investment for the full 5-year qualifying period.
• Commitment to minimum-presence requirements — 7 days in year 1, 14 days in each subsequent 2-year period.
• Health insurance valid in Portugal during periods of physical presence.

The six qualifying investment routes (2026)

• Cultural patronage — €250,000 minimum. Donation to support cultural heritage, artistic activity or recovery of national cultural property. The lowest entry point post-reform.
• Qualifying investment fund — €500,000 minimum. Portuguese-registered venture capital, private equity, debt or infrastructure fund. At least 60% Portuguese-asset composition required. The most popular route post-2023.
• Scientific research — €500,000 minimum. Contribution to qualifying Portuguese scientific or technological R&D activity.
• Capitalisation of Portuguese companies — €500,000 minimum. Investment in an existing Portuguese company that maintains or creates at least 5 permanent jobs for 3 years.
• Capital transfer — €1,500,000 minimum. Transfer to a Portuguese bank account or qualifying Portuguese financial instruments. The highest-ticket route.
• Job creation — 10 permanent jobs (8 in low-density regions). No minimum capital but ongoing employment obligations.

All investment minimums refer to capital deployed at subscription. Market fluctuations in fund NAV do not disqualify; voluntary disposal below threshold during the 5-year period does.

Source-of-funds documentation (AML/KYC)

Source-of-funds documentation has become the single biggest practical hurdle to Golden Visa approval. AIMA, in coordination with Banco de Portugal and Portuguese banks, applies bank-grade AML standards. The documentary trail must go back several years and be defensible without challenge.

• Bank statements showing the funds in the applicant's accounts for at least 6–12 months prior to the investment.
• Source-of-wealth narrative — a documented explanation of how the funds were originally generated (business sale, employment income over multiple years, inheritance, investment returns, etc.).
• Tax returns from country of origin for the last 2–5 years confirming the income trail.
• Business-sale documentation where applicable — share purchase agreements, completion accounts, tax-filing of capital gains.
• Inheritance documentation where applicable — probate documents, estate distribution.
• Politically Exposed Person (PEP) screening by Portuguese banks and AIMA.
• Adverse-media checks by AIMA and the receiving institution.

Files with vague or thin source-of-funds documentation are the leading cause of Golden Visa rejection post-2020. A lawyer reviews and pre-empts AML issues before the investment is made, not after.

Personal documentation requirements

• Valid passport with at least 12 months validity
• Criminal-record certificate from country of nationality and any country lived in more than 12 months in last 5 years, apostilled
• Portuguese NIF in the applicant's name
• Portuguese bank account in the applicant's name
• Health insurance valid in Portugal for periods of presence
• Sworn declaration of compliance with Golden Visa investment maintenance
• Power of attorney for legal representation throughout the process
• Two recent passport-size photos meeting Portuguese consular spec
• Visa application form completed via AIMA online portal
• Application fee payment receipt

Family inclusion rules

The Golden Visa allows family reunification at the initial application stage. Eligible family members:

• Spouse or registered partner — included without additional investment requirement. Same documentary and criminal-record requirements as the primary applicant.
• Dependent children under 18 — included as standard. Requires birth certificates apostilled.
• Dependent children over 18 in higher education — included if they remain unmarried and financially dependent. Requires proof of enrolment.
• Dependent parents over 65 — included with proof of dependency on the primary applicant.
• Dependent siblings under 18 — included in specific cases with proof of dependency and absence of other guardians.

Each family member triggers separate AIMA fees (~€10,000 cumulative per applicant over 5 years) and incremental legal fees. A family of 4 via the fund route runs approximately €625,000–€680,000 all-in over 5 years.

Ongoing maintenance requirements (year-by-year)

The Golden Visa requires ongoing compliance over the 5-year qualifying period. Failure at any year voids the path to permanent residence and citizenship.

• Year 1: minimum 7 days in Portugal during the year. Investment maintained at qualifying threshold. Initial AIMA biometric appointment attended.
• Year 2: minimum 14 days in Portugal across years 2–3. First card renewal (approximately €3,000 AIMA fee per applicant). Investment maintenance proof from fund or institution.
• Year 3: continued residence card under year-2 renewal. Investment continues.
• Year 4: minimum 14 days in Portugal across years 4–5. Second card renewal. Investment maintenance proof.
• Year 5: qualifying period complete. Apply for permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship (CIPLE A2 exam required for citizenship route). Investment can be disposed after citizenship granted.

What disqualifies a Golden Visa application

• Real-estate investment — closed since October 2023. Includes residential property, commercial property, and capital transfers used solely for real estate.
• Funds not meeting the 60% Portuguese-asset threshold — even if otherwise legitimate Portuguese funds.
• Investment below the minimum threshold — even €499,000 in a fund route disqualifies; the minimum is strict.
• Voluntary disposal of the qualifying investment during the 5-year qualifying period.
• Insufficient or undocumented source of funds — the leading cause of AML/KYC refusal.
• Disqualifying criminal record — convictions carrying more than 1 year imprisonment.
• PEP or adverse-media flags that survive due diligence.
• Failure to meet minimum-presence requirements in any qualifying period.