Portugal Golden Visa demand surges as global wealth migration enters new phase

Interest in Golden Visas and broader residency-by-investment programmes has reached unprecedented levels over the past year, with online searches rising by as much as 378%.

That’s according to new data reported in Business Standard.

This surge reflects a decisive shift in how high-net-worth individuals are responding to growing economic uncertainty, particularly in the UK, where the upcoming Budget is expected to usher in higher wealth-related taxes and tighter rules for non-domiciled residents.

Search activity for Portugal’s Golden Visa programme alone rose by 189.8% year-on-year.

Analysis of Google Trends illustrates the sheer scale of the global shift.

Searches for the term ‘Investment Visa’ more than tripled, jumping from a score of 6.75 in October 2024 to 32.25 in October 2025.

Interest in ‘Residency by Investment’ also climbed sharply over the same period, moving from 11.75 to 39.75, with the late-summer months driving much of this momentum.

Taken together, the data suggests that wealthy individuals are actively researching alternative residency strategies in anticipation of fiscal tightening across major Western economies.

Paul Stannard, CEO of Portugal Pathways, said: “It’s fair to say this data backs up what we’ve already seen ourselves. We’ve seen record levels of interest in Portugal’s Golden Visa with no signs of it slowing down.

“Families, investors, and entrepreneurs all ultimately want the same thing: security. Uncertainty in the UK, North America, and other major economies is resulting in affluent people wanting a way out or, at the very least, a ‘plan B’.

“Portugal is perfectly positioned to take full advantage of this trend, giving people the flexibility they need and the knowledge that if things go wrong in their home country, they can move to a more stable destination.”

Portugal Golden Visa requires an investment of €500,000 in one or more eligible alternative investment funds.

Golden Visa holders gain freedom of movement across the 29 EU Schengen region countries, the opportunity to include eligible family members in one application, and a pathway to dual citizenship and an EU passport after the qualifying residency period.

Cementing its position as an ideal ‘Plan B’, investors only need to spend seven days per year in Portugal to maintain Golden Visa residency status.

To find out more about applying for Portugal’s Golden Visa programme, arrange a free discovery call with one of Portugal Pathways’ experts.

External data reinforces Portugal’s position as a safe and stable destination. The Global Peace Index 2024, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, places Portugal among the ten most peaceful nations globally.

Meanwhile, the most recent Global Passport Power and Appeal Index ranks Portuguese citizenship among the world’s strongest in terms of international travel access.

Taxation also plays a role in Portugal’s enduring appeal. While its Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime is no longer open to new applicants, it continues to offer advantageous treatment of certain categories of foreign-sourced income through the new IFICI (NHR 2.0) tax regime.

Compared with the UK’s expected shift towards stricter treatment of non-doms, Portugal remains competitive for individuals seeking to restructure their financial affairs without sacrificing lifestyle standards.

Looking ahead, the report expects interest in EU-based residency routes to intensify through 2026.

With many jurisdictions tightening citizenship-by-investment schemes, residency-first models are likely to become the dominant avenue for global mobility planning.

Continued migration from high-tax countries, including the UK, parts of Western Europe and the United States, is expected to sustain demand, particularly for programmes offering long-term security and a clear route to citizenship.

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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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