Portugal Golden Visa: Step-by-Step Application Process – Complete Guide

One of the most alluring residency-by-investment schemes in Europe is Portugal’s Golden Visa. It was founded in 2012 with the main objective of luring foreign investments into the nation and giving non-EU nationals a route to Portuguese residency, which can result in citizenship and permanent residency.

It provides several advantages, including the ability to live, work, and study in Portugal as well as free travel throughout the Schengen Area. It also gives you the option to apply together with family members and, in five years, the opportunity to apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Everything you need to know about the Portugal Golden Visa program will be covered in this article, including the requirements for eligibility, instructions for applying without an agent’s assistance, and the advantages of applying for a visa, particularly if you want to apply with family.

The Portugal Golden Visa may be the ideal option for you whether you’re an investor, an entrepreneur, or just seeking a new chapter in your life.

Is It Possible to Get a Portugal Golden Visa for Your Family?

Indeed! You can apply for a Portugal Golden Visa with your family, which is one of its most alluring features. Your family members will be able to get residency and receive the same privileges as you once your visa has been approved.

A Golden Visa application may be submitted for any of the following family members:

• Spouse or legal partner.
• Dependent children (under 18 or financially dependent).
• Dependent parents (of either spouse) who are financially reliant.
• Dependent siblings (minors or those under guardianship).

For families wishing to move together, this makes the Portugal Golden Visa program a great option. Family members who meet the requirements in your application are granted the same rights as the primary visa holder to live, work, and study in Portugal.

Does a Portugal Golden Visa Allow You to Work?

You can live and work in Portugal if you have a Portugal Golden Visa. In contrast to several residency programs that just grant residence without granting the ability to work, the Golden Visa enables you to work or launch your own business in Portugal.

Family members who obtain residency permits as a result of your Golden Visa application are also eligible for this work flexibility. They will also be entitled to work in Portugal in the same capacities as nationals of Portugal.

Applying for the Portugal Golden Visa Without an Agent

It is feasible to apply for the Portugal Golden Visa on your own, even though doing so can facilitate the procedure more. This is a thorough how-to guide that will walk you through the entire application process without the need for an agent, saving you money and giving you back control.

1: Select Your Investment

Choosing the investment you will make in Portugal is the first stage in the Golden Visa application process. Among the investing choices that qualify are:

• Investing in Real Estate: Acquiring property in Portugal for a minimum of €500,000, or €350,000 if it’s situated in a region with low population density.
• Capital Transfer: Investing in Portugal or transferring at least €1.5 million to a Portuguese bank account.
• At least ten jobs must be created for Portuguese nationals.
• Arts and Scientific/Technological Research: Making a minimum €500,000 investment in artistic or scientific endeavors.
• Investing a minimum of €500,000 in venture capital funds specifically allocated for Portuguese companies.

2: Get Your Records Ready

Next, collect all the paperwork required to bolster your application. These documents need to be notarized and, if necessary, translated into Portuguese. The necessary records consist of:

• Each candidate must have a valid passport, including family members.
• Evidence of Investment (such as a real estate purchase agreement or evidence of monies transferred).
• Certificate of Criminal History from both your native country and any country you have been in for more than a year.
• Portuguese Tax ID (NIF), available online or through a local Portuguese tax office.
• Evidence of Portuguese health insurance coverage.
• Evidence of your legal residency in Portugal, such as a lease agreement if you’re renting while applying.
• Marriage certificate or evidence of partnership, if you are applying jointly with your partner or spouse.
• Birth certificates for kids who are dependents.

3. Establish a bank account in Portugal

To meet the residency criteria and transfer the investment funds, you will need to open a Portuguese bank account. Non-residents can open accounts with most banks, but you might need to physically visit a location to finish the procedure.

4: Make the Investment

Transfer the money required to make your investment in Portugal as soon as your bank account is opened. Keep any contracts, receipts, and evidence of payment, whether you’re buying property or contributing money; these will be necessary for your application.

5: Complete the Online Application

The Golden Visa application procedure is managed by Portugal’s immigration authorities, SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) https://eportugal.gov.pt/en/migrantes-viver-e-trabalhar-em-portugal/migrantes-vistos-e-autorizacoes-para-entrar-e-viver-em-portugal. The SEF web site (https://www.sef.pt/pt/Pages/homepage.aspx) is where you must submit your application and upload the necessary files.

Here is a summary of the procedure:

• Register on the ARI portal of SEF.
• Complete the application by entering personal data, investment details, and, if relevant, family member information.
• Upload all supporting documents, such as passports, criminal background reports, and investment proof.
• The application fee is €83 for each family member and €533 for the primary applicant.

6: Show up for your biometrics appointment

After your application is pre-approved, you will need to make an appointment at a SEF office to undergo biometrics. Providing your fingerprints and a picture of your residency card will be necessary for this. This appointment requires your presence in Portugal, so make appropriate travel arrangements. The biometrics appointment requires the attendance of family members listed on the application.

7: Get your cards of residency

Following the completion of your biometrics, your application will be examined; if accepted, Golden Visa residency cards will be sent to you. Please be patient as this procedure may take several months. During the two years that the cards are valid, you have to spend a minimum of seven days annually in Portugal.

8: Continue Your Golden Visa Renewal and Citizenship Process

You have to keep up your investment for a minimum of five years and renew your Golden Visa every two years. You can seek Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency after five years.