How Portugal's Golden Visa can benefit families

This residency-by-investment programme is open to eligible non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals who make a qualifying investment under Portuguese law - and, importantly, it does not require applicants to move to Portugal full-time.

Under current legislation, Golden Visa holders generally need to spend, on average, around seven days a year in Portugal - roughly 14 days in total across the first two-year residence period, and around 21 days across the following three-year period.

For families balancing businesses, schools and commitments in different countries, this minimal requirement is often what tips the decision. Portugal becomes somewhere a family can ease into over time, rather than somewhere they must uproot their lives to embrace immediately.

This flexibility also extends to who is eligible to benefit. Family members may be included under a single qualifying investment, although family reunification is subject to legal requirements and approval from Portugal's immigration authority, AIMA.

Those who can generally be included are: the main applicant, their spouse or legal partner, unmarried dependent children (including adult children still in full-time education, typically up to around age 26), and dependent parents or grandparents of the investor or spouse - with those aged 65 or over usually presumed dependent.

Beyond the light-touch presence requirement, residency also opens the door to Portugal itself, along with visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for short stays - generally up to 90 days in any 180-day period - under current rules.

It's worth noting that the Golden Visa is no longer a property route; property investment was removed from the list of qualifying options back in 2023. Current qualifying routes include regulated investment funds, as well as scientific research, cultural or artistic contributions, and certain business or job-creation categories set out in Portuguese law.

For many families, the real value lies not in the investment itself, but in what it unlocks: residency rights, the ability to include family members, freedom of movement across Europe, and long-term flexibility - a base in Europe that slots around the life a family already has, rather than requiring them to start over.

Whether the programme is the right fit depends on individual goals, nationality, family situation and financial circumstances, so it's worth taking the time to see how it aligns with your family's own plans.

Arrange a free discovery call with Portugal Pathways to explore whether Portugal's Golden Visa is right for your family.

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About Portugal Pathways

‍‍Portugal Pathways has supported hundreds of Golden Visa residency-by-investment applications and provides expert guidance through its professional supply chain network on estate planning, wealth management, Golden Visa and tax optimisation, including post-NHR / IFICI tax regime planning, as well as private healthcare, money transfers and bespoke relocation and luxury real estate solutions to enhance life and investment in Portugal

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Disclaimer: The information on the Portugal Pathways and Portugal Investment Owners Club (P Club for short) websites and in email communications is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, or financial advice. You should consult and check with a qualified professional advisor before relying on any information provided on this website or in email communications. As it relates to investments in Golden Visas or other wealth management solutions offered by regulated and professional advisors, it is important to note that past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Private equities can be highly illiquid and come with risk and should always be under professional independent advice. Golden Visa investments need to be held for 6 to 7 years to allow for permanent citizenship/passport in the EU.

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