Portugal Golden Visa: A guide for UK residents

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that grants non-EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals a Portuguese residence permit in exchange for a qualifying investment.

This program is particularly appealing for UK investors as it allows you to access visa-free travel across the Schengen Zone, and the possibility to obtain EU citizenship after just five years—all without requiring full-time residency in Portugal!

In this guide, we’ll break down everything UK citizens need to know about the Portugal Golden Visa, including the application process, investment options, and the many benefits of securing Portuguese residency.

We’ll also look at how the money services provider Wise and the Wise account can help you during your process of getting a golden visa.

Learn more about the Wise account ➡️

Key takeaways:

• The initial investment for a Portugal Golden Visa starts from €250,000 (€200,000 for rural investments)
• Investments in real estate no longer qualify for eligibility
• Time to Portuguese citizenship is 5 years and you need to renew the visa every 2 years
• You need to spend an average of 7 days per year in Portugal
• The whole process for getting a Portugal Golden Visa takes 12 to 24 months

Portugal Golden Visa eligibility criteria and requirements for UK Citizens

Here’s a shortlist of the eligibility criteria for a Golden Visa application in Portugal:

1. Have a clean criminal record
2. Be either non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA national
3. Minimum investment of €250,000 - €500,000 (€200,000 for arts and cultural projects in areas that are sparsely populated or have a low GDP)

Statistics show that over 15,000 investors have applied for the Portugal Golden Visa since 2012, and almost 22,000 family members have joined an investor in the country.¹

Since its inception, the government has aimed to make it as attractive as possible, which naturally brings in much-needed funds. At the end 2023, the total investments reached €7,3 billion.¹

The investment types have also shifted since real estate is no longer an option, further boosting the economy.

"While the real estate investment route represented a substantial portion of Golden Visa investments, it only accounted for a small fraction of overall real estate transactions in Portugal. The other Golden Visa investment options have played a significant role in boosting Portugal’s economic development," the Global Intelligence Unit revealed in a briefing on how immigration is revitalizing Portugal’s economy and addressing the public deficit.¹

Since real estate was removed as a qualifying criteria, other options such as capital transfer, venture capital, and job creation have garnered more attention. Only 23 residence permits were granted for people creating 10 or more jobs since 2012, but that is now on a steady increase.¹

And of course, the Portugal Golden Visa has one of the shortest times to citizenship in Europe. After five years of maintaining your Golden Visa, you’re eligible for Portuguese permanent residency and citizenship.¹

Minimum investment requirements

There are several investment routes you can take:

1. Fund subscription: Contribute to a qualified investment fund (such as private equity funds or venture capital funds) worth at least €500,000.
2. Investment or donation in the arts or reconstruction of national cultural heritage with a capital transfer donation of at least €250,000 (€200,000 when investing in low populated areas or areas with low GDP
3. Scientific research: Invest at least €500,000 in research carried out by public or private scientific research institutions.
4. Creation of ten jobs: Creation and maintenance of ten jobs during the required period.
5. Share capital and job creation: Incorporation of a commercial company in the national territory or reinforcement of a company’s share capital (this company must have its head office in the national territory), in either case with an investment of €500,000, combined with the creation of five or maintaining ten jobs (including five permanent jobs)

Need a cost-effective way to send your money to Portugal? Check out the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features, and your money is safeguarded.

Over 12.8 million people worldwide use Wise to send, spend and convert money in 40+ currencies – for low, transparent fees* and no-markup exchange rates close to what you can see on Google. Plus, you’ll get dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts.

Minimum stay requirement

The Portugal Golden Visa requires you to spend an average of 7 days per year in Portugal, totaling 14 days during the validity of each residence card (issued with a validity of two years).

Required documents for Portugal Golden Visa application

Here’s a list of documents you should prepare to apply for a golden visa in Portugal:

• Golden Visa application form
• Copy of a valid passport and travel documents
• Declaration from your bank in Portugal confirming the transfer of funds from abroad
• Proof of medical insurance in Portugal (only required if the investor resides in Portugal)
• A background check or a police clearance letter from your country of origin
• A declaration of honor compromising to maintain the investment for five years
• Documents showing a good standing with the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority
• Document showing non-enrollment or a good standing with the Social Security
• A receipt showing that you already paid the application processing fee
• A clean criminal record certificate. Note that the certificates of criminal records or police clearance letters must have been issued no more than 90 days before submitting your application.

Portugal Golden Visa Application Process

Here’s how the application process for a Golden Visa in Portugal looks like step-by-step:

1. Choose and Make Your Investment – Select an eligible investment option—such as subscribing to a fund, starting a business, or making a donation—and complete it as required.
2. Submit Your Application Online – A legal representative in Portugal must submit your application and help you with the necessary documents.
3. Wait for Pre-Approval (18+ Months) – The initial approval process takes at least 18 months. During this time, you must maintain your investment and meet all requirements.
4. Attend a Biometrics Appointment – Once pre-approved, you’ll need to attend an appointment to provide fingerprints, photos, and updated documents.
5. Wait for Final Approval – After your biometrics are collected, authorities will review your application. Processing times may vary.
6. Pay Fees and Get Your Residency Card – Once approved, pay the required government fees to receive your Golden Visa residency card.

Portugal Golden Visa Program Timeline

The Portugal Golden Visa process takes 12 to 24 months, covering application submission, biometrics, and final approval. Delays can happen due to document checks or high demand. Residency cards are issued soon after approval.

Benefits of the Portuguese Golden Visa for UK Citizens

Here are some of the main benefits why you should think about getting a Golden Visa in Portugal:

1. Living in Portugal – Successful Golden Visa applicants will be able to live in a beautiful European country, offering a high quality of life, great healthcare and education facilities, and an excellent climate.
2. Flexible stay requirements – Investors are required to stay in Portugal for only seven days every year. This means they have the option to live in Portugal or still live in the UK while maintaining their old lifestyle.²
3. Pathway to Portuguese citizenship – After five years of legal residence in Portugal, Golden Visa holders can apply for citizenship. With a Portuguese passport, they can live anywhere in the EU, and travel visa-free to over 170 countries.
4. Family reunification – Family members, such as the spouse and children under 18 years old, can be included in the Golden Visa application.
5. Low cost of living and quality healthcare – British citizens will definitely notice the difference in the prices while living in Portugal. Healthcare for foreigners in Portugal is quite affordable compared to that of the UK and offers a variety of high-quality options and good services.
6. International schools with British and international curricula – International schools are a great option for UK expats living in Portugal. They offer a multicultural environment that provides students with international skills and the ability to engage more with different curricula.
7. English is widely spoken – The Portuguese speak extremely good English, particularly the younger generations, and there are many expats living in Portugal. If you learn some Portuguese words, then this will impress the locals and make it easier to settle when moving to Portugal.

Wise – A low-cost alternative to bank transfers

Sending money to Portugal to get a Golden Visa doesn’t have to be expensive. Take a look at the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

With Wise, you can send large amount transfers worldwide to 140+ countries for low, transparent fees* and you’re guaranteed the mid-market exchange rate with no markup.

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**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 21-Apr-2025