Portugal Golden Visa & Citizenship in 2026
Portugal does not sell citizenship. The Golden Visa is a renewable residence permit for a fund, a donation or a business – property stopped qualifying in 2023, and since May 2026 citizenship takes ten years for most investors. What it costs, what it gives you, and how it compares with Malta.
Portugal does not offer citizenship by investment. The Portugal Golden Visa is a renewable residence permit for a €500,000 investment in a qualifying fund, a €250,000 donation to arts or cultural heritage (€200,000 in low-density areas), research funding or a business that creates jobs. Property no longer qualifies (since October 2023). You need to spend only about seven days a year in Portugal, but under the nationality law in force since 19 May 2026, citizenship requires ten years of legal residence for most non-EU nationals, plus a Portuguese language and civics test.
Portugal Golden Visa at a glance
Cultural donation (€200,000 in low-density areas); funds from €500,000
Real estate stopped qualifying in October 2023
Average stay needed to keep the permit
Legal residence before citizenship for most non-EU nationals (since May 2026)
What changed in 2023 and 2026
October 2023: Law 56/2023 (the “Mais Habitação” housing package) ended the Golden Visa for real estate, for funds with any real-estate exposure and for the €1.5 million capital transfer. Offers you may still see for a “Portugal Golden Visa from €280,000 property” are out of date. People who already held a property-based Golden Visa can keep renewing it.
May 2026: Organic Law 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026, raised the residence needed for Portuguese citizenship from five years to ten years for most non-EU nationals (seven for EU citizens and nationals of Portuguese-speaking CPLP countries), counted from the date the first residence permit is issued. Applications filed by 18 May 2026 stay under the old five-year rules. Portuguese citizenship has never been for sale: Golden Visa holders apply by naturalisation like any other long-term resident.
Want an EU passport sooner? Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework can lead to Maltese (EU) citizenship in about 12–16 months. It is discretionary and assessed case by case, and Malta allows dual citizenship. See Citizenship by Merit: steps and timeline.
How the Portugal Golden Visa works
- Free assessment and due diligence. We check your eligibility and source of funds and introduce you to our partner firm located in Portugal.
- Tax number and bank account. You obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and open a bank account, usually remotely through a lawyer with power of attorney.
- Make the investment. You subscribe to the fund, make the donation or capitalise the company, with funds transferred from abroad, before you apply.
- Apply to AIMA. The application is filed online with AIMA, Portugal’s immigration agency. You travel to Portugal once to give biometrics when an appointment is offered.
- Residence card. The first card is valid for two years. Because of AIMA’s backlog, getting it has often taken 12 months to two years or more.
Full requirements, investment options and documents: Portugal Golden Visa programme information.
Portugal vs Malta
Portugal and Malta both give non-EU families a Schengen residence card. The differences that matter most are whether property can qualify, how long the status lasts and how quickly citizenship is possible.
| Portugal | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| EU, Schengen and euro | Yes | Yes – Malta is an EU, Schengen and euro member |
| Residence by investment | €500,000 fund, €250,000 cultural donation, research funding or a business that creates jobs | MPRP: €99,000 in government fees + property bought from €375,000 or rented from €14,000 a year |
| Does property qualify? | No – removed in October 2023 | Yes – buy or rent (MPRP) |
| Status | Residence permit renewed every few years; permanent residence possible after 5 years with basic Portuguese | Permanent residence from the start (MPRP) |
| Family | Spouse, children (up to 26 if dependent students), dependent parents | Spouse, children, parents and grandparents (MPRP) |
| Presence to keep status | 7 days in the first year, then 14 days in each two-year period | No published minimum stay for the MPRP |
| Citizenship | After 10 years from the first permit (7 for EU and CPLP nationals) + Portuguese test | About 12–16 months under the discretionary Citizenship by Merit framework |
| Keep your current passport? | Yes – dual citizenship allowed | Yes – dual citizenship allowed |
| Language | Portuguese for permanent residence and citizenship | English is an official language; no language test |
| Tax for new residents | Former NHR regime closed in 2024; the IFICI regime covers only qualifying professions | Non-domiciled residents: foreign income generally taxed only if brought into Malta |
Where Portugal is stronger
- Very light stay requirement: about seven days a year
- The permit lets you live and work in Portugal
- Options that do not tie your money up in property, such as a fund you can exit after the holding period
Where Malta is stronger
- Property still qualifies: buy from €375,000 or rent from €14,000 a year
- Permanent residence from day one, not a permit to renew
- EU citizenship in about 12–16 months under the Citizenship by Merit framework, not 10 years
- English is an official language; no language test
- Grandparents can be included too
Our view: Portugal is a good fit if you are comfortable with a €500,000 fund or a €250,000 donation, plan to spend little time there, and are patient – both with AIMA and with a citizenship timeline that is now ten years for most investors. If you want residence through property, permanent status from the start or EU citizenship within a few years, Malta is usually the better choice. We handle both and will tell you honestly which suits you. Details: Malta Permanent Residence Programme.
Mainly after a low tax rate? Malta’s Global Residence Programme taxes foreign income brought into Malta at a flat 15%, with a minimum tax of €15,000 a year and a property bought from €275,000 or rented from €9,600 a year. From 1 January 2027 a new Individual Tax Programme replaces it (minimum tax €35,000; property €700,000 or €14,000 a year in rent); applications received by 31 December 2026 are expected to keep today’s terms until 2031. See Malta tax residence: the new rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does Portugal offer citizenship by investment?
No. Portugal offers a residence permit, the Golden Visa, for a qualifying investment. Citizenship is possible only by naturalisation: since 19 May 2026 that requires ten years of legal residence for most non-EU nationals, plus a Portuguese language and civics test.
What is the minimum investment for the Portugal Golden Visa in 2026?
€250,000 as a non-refundable donation to arts or cultural heritage (€200,000 in low-density areas), or €500,000 in a qualifying venture-capital or private-equity fund, in scientific research or in a Portuguese company that creates five jobs. Creating ten permanent jobs also qualifies.
Can I still get a Portugal Golden Visa by buying property?
No. Real estate, funds with real-estate exposure and the €1.5 million capital transfer were removed in October 2023. If you want EU residence through property, Malta’s MPRP accepts a home bought from €375,000 or rented from €14,000 a year.
How long until Portuguese citizenship?
Under Organic Law 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026, ten years of legal residence for most non-EU nationals and seven years for EU and CPLP nationals, counted from the date your first residence permit is issued. You also need to show knowledge of Portuguese and of Portugal’s culture and political system.
Can I get EU citizenship faster?
Yes. Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework can lead to Maltese (EU) citizenship in about 12–16 months. It is discretionary and assessed case by case, and you can keep your current passport.
Sources
- Organic Law 1/2026 amending the Nationality Law (Diário da República, 18 May 2026)
- Portugal approves new citizenship law: 7- and 10-year naturalisation (Immigrant Invest)
- Portugal Golden Visa processing time 2026 (Portugal Panorama, June 2026)
- Law 56/2023 and the Golden Visa investment options (Belion Partners)
- AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum
Checked November 2026. Programme rules and amounts change often; we confirm current figures in writing before you commit. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Talk to a licensed adviser
Tell us your goals and timeline. Portuguese applications are handled with licensed partner firms located in Portugal; Malta applications, including faster routes to EU citizenship, are handled by our own licensed team.
- Licensed in Malta: Zenturo Ltd. is a licensed agent (Residency Malta Agency licence RES-DALI), company C-39472.
- In business since 2006: one team from first question to approval.
- Fast replies: usually within one hour, by e-mail, phone, WhatsApp, Telegram or WeChat.