TOP 10 BENEFITS OF OBTAINING A PORTUGAL GOLDEN VISA

The Portugal Golden Visa has changed immensely over the last few years. Last year, the program’s real estate option ended, meaning that investors could no longer invest in real estate purchases or real estate shares in order to qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa. 

Currently, the Portugal Golden Visa allows investors to invest an amount of 500,000 EUR into qualifying funds in exchange for the Golden Visa for the investor, the investor’s spouse, and children under the age of 28 who are financially dependent on the investor. The application can also include the parents of the investor and the investor’s spouse who are financially dependent on the investor.

The benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa are endless. Some of the main benefits are included below.

Portugal Golden Visa and Passport for the full family

Under the Portugal Golden Visa Program, the full family will be qualified for the Golden Visa and eventual citizenship. This includes the investor, the investor’s spouse, and any children under 28 who are financially dependent on the investor. Unlike many other countries, this program also allows parents of both the investor and investor’s spouse to apply, if they are over the age of 55 and financially dependent on the investor.

Lenient Physical Residency Requirement

Many families and investors require more flexibility when obtaining a second residency. The Portugal Golden Visa Program is known to be one of the most flexible of the global second residency programs when it comes to physical residency requirements within the country. In order to maintain the golden visa and also to qualify for permanent residency and a passport after five years, each golden visa holder must spend on average, 7 days a year within Portugal. Specifically, 7 days within the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period, offering investors the opportunity to stay and work in their home countries while accessing the EU and working their way toward an EU passport.

Refundable Investment

Unlike many other programs which require a donation or one time payment for the passport, the Portugal Golden Visa Program involves a refundable investment. When investing in a fund, the investor will receive an investment timeline, and the funds will then be refunded back to the investor once the investment timeline is completed. Often, this also comes with returns on investments annually.

Path to Citizenship and Passport

The Portugal Golden Visa Program is not simply a second residency program. In fact, the Golden Visa Program is an eventual path to Portuguese citizenship and passport, which will then offer the ability to live and work anywhere in the EU with an EU passport. Once the golden visa is held for 5 years, there is no criminal activity, the investment has been maintained, and the golden visa holder has spent the allotted time within Portugal, they may apply for permanent residency and immediately thereafter a Portuguese passport. 

Path to Permanent Residency

For those who are simply looking for a second residency and not necessarily a second citizenship, after the golden visa is maintained for 5 years, the golden visa has the option of applying for permanent residency. It is not necessary to obtain the passport, and the individual may wish to simply keep Portugal’s permanent residency in order to access the EU.

Access to EU and Schengen with Golden Visa

With a golden visa, an individual will have access to the entire Schengen and EU visa-free. They will be treated as residents of the EU and therefore will experience ease of travel for business and leisure.

Live and Work Anywhere in the EU

Once the Portugal passport is obtained, the individual will have the right to live and work within the entire EU and will not be confined to Portugal. He/she will be treated as a citizen of the EU for all intents and purposes. 

Become a Legal Tax Resident of Portugal

Holders of the Golden Visa can become non-habitual tax residents of Portugal (NHR). This can last for up to 10 years and includes many tax benefits. For example, NHRs will be subject to a flat tax of 20% on most types of income produced in Portugal with a 0% tax on foreign income. There will also be no taxes on cryptocurrencies and no wealth tax, making Portugal a preferential EU country for tax residency purposes.

Hold Dual Citizenship

Portugal allows for dual citizenship. Therefore, if an individual’s home country also allows for this, a Portugal passport holder may hold two or more passports and citizenships.

Take Advantage of the Portugal Healthcare System

Portugal has a very extensive healthcare system which is largely publicly funded by tax dollars. This system is run by the Servico Nacional de Saude (SNS), and most essential medical services are covered while non-essential services may require a nominal co-payment. EU citizens will be able to access this healthcare system free of charge. 

Why Choose Portugal’s Golden Visa in 2025? / Conclusions 

Although there have been many changes to the Portugal Golden Visa program over the past couple of years, it still remains one of the easiest and most predictable paths to an EU passport on an affordable scale. 

For those who want the flexibility of remaining in their home country while having the opportunity to work their way to an EU passport, Portugal is the only investment immigration program that allows lenient physical residency while also allowing for naturalization and a passport after 5 years.

Along with all the benefits available with a golden visa, including visa-free travel throughout the EU and Schengen, a passport offers further benefits, including the ability to work and live in any EU country.

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