Minimum Residence Requirement

Portugal Golden Visa programme has a minimum stay requirement.  Portugal requires Golden Visa holders to spend a minimum of seven days per year in the country on average.

                                            Validity Period                   Stay Requirement

Initial GV Residence Permit           Two (2) years         Fourteen (14) days within 2 yrs

Subsequent GV Residence Permits Three (3) years Twenty-one days within 3 yrs

Important Notice: As of April 2020, the initial residence permits are valid for two years instead of one, and successive permits are valid for three years. This was the result of a modification to the Portuguese immigration law.  If the shift is permanent, the initial card that is valid for two years will likely require the cardholder to spend at least fourteen days physically in Portugal during that period. Then, the validity of the renewal cards will be extended to three years, and petitioners will be required to spend at least twenty-one days physically in Portugal during that period.

Maintain an eligible investment for five years.

You are required to provide proof that you have invested the minimum amount individually.  As the principal applicant, you are required to maintain the investment for as long as you and your dependents maintain Portugal Golden Visa residency status.

If and when you become a permanent resident or a Portuguese citizen, you are no longer required to maintain the investment. You may then liquidate any investment you have made.

Proper Documentation

You must submit the following materials to register for the Portugal Golden Visa Programme:

1) Copy of a passport or other travel document issued by the government;

2) Evidence of the eligible investment made by the principal applicant individually:

If the property is real estate, a deed or a sale agreement with evidence of deposit payment.

If an investment fund, a subscription receipt from the fund manager.

3) Confirmation of the transmission of funds from a Portuguese financial institution

4) Proof of health insurance:

If in Portugal, from the Portuguese National Health System

If outside Portugal, from a company with international coverage.

5) Criminal history of the present nation of residence

Must be issued within three (3) months of submitting the form.

6) A form granting SEF permission to access criminal records in Portugal,

7) A sworn declaration that the minimum investment requirements have been met for the required five-year period.

8) Documents demonstrating a positive standing with the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority and the Social Security system,

Must be issued within 45 days of submitting the form.

9) Payment received for ARI application,

Unless otherwise specified, the documentation should be issued within three months of submitting your Golden Visa application.

Legalising Documents For Portugal Residency by Investment Program

All of the above documents issued by non-Portuguese entities must be authenticated.  The legalisation must be accompanied by an apostille if the country in question is a member of the Hague Convention.

Interpreting Documents

Any non-Portuguese original document must be translated and certified into Portuguese.  Typically, the certification is conducted by a notary.

NIF Number and Bank Account

Portugal requires that the investment be made from the applicant’s Portuguese bank account. Consequently, you are required to have a bank account in a Portuguese institution.  To establish the account, you must also have an NIF number, which is Portugal’s tax identification number.

Obtaining an NIF number and establishing a bank account in Portugal are both relatively simple processes. Both can be completed in half a day.

Acquiring an NIF Number

Obtain an address verification from your country of residence.

Bring your government-issued identification and proof of domicile to a Portuguese Financas office.

Obtain your NIF number immediately and within an hour.

You may also provide your attorney with a power of attorney, allowing them to complete this step even if you are not in Portugal.