Short answer: Portugal’s golden visa is now mainly a qualifying fund investment of about EUR 500,000 (current rules). From May 2026 the nationality law generally requires ten years of legal residence before citizenship, usually counted from the residence card. Holders can still keep status with relatively low stay duties, but passport planning must use a ten-year horizon.
Fund route essentials
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Investment | Qualifying funds about EUR 500,000 |
| Status | Renewable residence; permanent residence if conditions met |
| Stay duties | Relatively low (official day counts) |
| Family | Spouse and dependent children typically included |
| Citizenship | Generally ten years’ legal residence plus other statutory tests |
Funds must meet immigration and financial definitions of “qualifying.” Diligence should cover the manager, underlying assets and lock-up—not marketing yields alone.
What ten years means for families
A card granted in 2026 may push citizenship assessment toward about 2036 (subject to start date and gaps). Maintain lawful status, avoid damaging absences, and watch further nationality amendments. Permanent residence and citizenship are separate: PR may be available earlier, but the passport remains under the ten-year rule.
Versus Greece
Greece remains property-led with low stay duties and its own citizenship timeline and language tests. Portugal’s fund route reduces direct property management but lengthens citizenship under the new law. Stress-test both if the goal is a fast European passport; if the goal is low-stay EU residence, the trade-offs differ.
Global Immigrate note
Write whether the goal is residence or a passport. Residence-only households can still discuss funds and low stay; passport-driven plans must calendar ten years or parallel other routes. AIMA backlog affects when the card—and thus the clock—starts; allow extra administrative time.
Backlog and the start date
When AIMA timelines stretch, the card issue date moves and the ten-year citizenship clock moves with it. Families should plan uncertainty from filing to card—not optimistic “two years to card plus ten.” Keep insurance, address and compliant travel records to reduce renewal disputes.
Information current as of October 2026.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. See Portugal Golden Visa.