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ARI — Portugal Golden Visa
VisasPortugalARI — Portugal Golden Visa
PortugalPortugal•Europe
Open

ARI — Portugal Golden Visa

Golden Visa PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa.

At a Glance

Processing Time

3-6 months

Application Fee

6,314 EUR

Stay Duration

5 years

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Overview

Portugal's Residence Permit for Investment (ARI / Golden Visa) granting low-presence residency through qualifying non-real-estate investment.

Portugal's Golden Visa, formally the Residence Permit for Investment (ARI), launched in October 2012 and is now run by AIMA, which replaced SEF in October 2023. The Mais Habitacao law (Law 56/2023) closed the real estate route on 7 October 2023, leaving an active-investment program aimed at productive capital, not housing.

Qualifying routes are EUR 500,000 into a regulated non-real-estate Portuguese fund, EUR 500,000 into scientific research, EUR 500,000 to incorporate a company creating 5 jobs, EUR 250,000 supporting cultural heritage, or creating 10 jobs. EU, EEA, Andorran and Swiss nationals are ineligible; presence is just 7 days year one, 14 days per year after.

This visa is ideal for non-EU investors seeking Schengen mobility and a path to Portuguese citizenship after 5 years without full-time relocation.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant5 years

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

D2 Visa — D2 Entrepreneur Visa
Portugal flagPortugal

D2 Visa — D2 Entrepreneur Visa

Validity2 years
Processing2-3 months
View Visa Details
D3 — Highly Qualified Activity Visa (D3)
Portugal flagPortugal

D3 — Highly Qualified Activity Visa (D3)

Validity2 years (renewable for 3-year periods)
Processing60 days
View Visa Details

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Non-EU/EEA/Andorra/Swiss citizenship (Portuguese nationals also excluded)

Age 18 or older

Clean criminal record (no conviction punishable by imprisonment over 1 year under Portuguese law)

One qualifying investment: 10 jobs created; or €500,000 to scientific research; or €250,000 to cultural heritage/artistic production; or €500,000 in a regulated non-real-estate Portuguese fund (5-yr maturity, 60% in Portuguese companies); or €500,000 to establish a Portuguese company creating 5 permanent jobs

Funds must be sourced from outside Portugal

Minimum physical presence: 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent year

Real estate acquisition no longer qualifies (Law 56/2023 'Mais Habitacao', effective 7 October 2023)

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

Investment

250,000 EUR

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport

Proof of qualifying investment

Declaration of intent to maintain investment for 5 years

Clean criminal record certificate

Proof of health insurance coverage in Portugal

Proof of legal entry into Portugal

Completed AIMA application form

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Pathway to permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship after 5 years of legal residence
  • Right to live, work and study in Portugal, plus visa-free Schengen travel
  • Very low presence requirement (7 days year 1, 14 days/year thereafter)
  • Family reunification covers spouse, dependent children and dependent parents
  • No need to become Portuguese tax resident if days are kept below threshold

Worth Knowing

  • Real estate investment no longer qualifies (Law 56/2023, eff. 7 Oct 2023)
  • Significant upfront investment (€250K-€500K) plus due-diligence and AML screening
  • AIMA backlog has driven actual processing well beyond the 12-18 month nominal target
  • A2 Portuguese language test required for citizenship by naturalisation
  • Funds must originate outside Portugal and be maintained for at least 5 years
  • EU, EEA, Andorran or Swiss nationality (ineligible)
  • Criminal conviction punishable in Portugal by imprisonment over 1 year
  • Inability to demonstrate sourced-from-abroad qualifying capital

Application Process

1

Obtain a Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF)

2

Open a Portuguese bank account

3

Make the qualifying investment and obtain proof of capital transfer

4

Register on the ARI Portal (ari.sef.pt) and submit the online application with required documents

5

Pay the analysis fee via the Single Collection Document (DUC) within the 10-day window

6

Await AIMA acceptance email and schedule an in-person appointment at an AIMA office

7

Attend the appointment for document submission and biometric data collection

8

Receive the residence permit (initial 2 years, then renewals)

Verified Claims (4)

Last verified Jun 18, 2026
Application StepsObtain a Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF); Open a Portuguese bank account; Make the qualif…aima.gov.pt
ConsiderationsReal estate investment no longer qualifies (Law 56/2023, eff. 7 Oct 2023); Significant upfront inves…portugal.gov.pt
DescResidence by investment (€250K-500K, no real estate) with minimal physical presence requirement.aima.gov.pt
RequirementsNon-EU/EEA/Andorra/Swiss citizenship (Portuguese nationals also excluded); Age 18 or older; Clean cr…aima.gov.pt

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