Living in Portugal

The Portugal Golden Visa in 2026: what still works

The Golden Visa still exists, but the real-estate route that made it famous is gone, and knowing which paths remain is the whole point.

The Portugal Golden Visa, officially the ARI (Autorizacao de Residencia para Atividade de Investimento), is still open in 2026, but it is not the programme most people picture. The 2023 Mais Habitacao reforms removed the property-purchase routes that dominated the scheme for a decade. If your mental model of the Golden Visa is "buy an apartment, get residency", that route is closed. Here is what actually remains. This is general information, not legal or investment advice; use a licensed immigration lawyer for your case.

What changed

The headline change is the end of the real-estate qualifying routes, both direct property purchase and most property-linked fund structures. The programme pivoted toward investment that the government considers more productive: qualifying investment funds, capital transfer into certain activities, job creation, and support for culture and research. The core appeal, EU residency with very low physical-stay requirements and a path toward citizenship, remains.

The routes that generally remain

• Qualifying investment funds. The most common route now, subscribing to an eligible Portuguese venture or private-equity fund above a set threshold, with rules excluding real-estate exposure.
• Job creation. Creating and maintaining a set number of jobs in Portugal.
• Cultural and research support. Qualifying donations or investment into designated cultural and scientific activities.

Why people still pursue it

The draw was never just the visa, it is the low physical-presence requirement, roughly an average of seven days a year, that lets someone hold Portuguese residency without relocating, and after five years apply for citizenship subject to the usual conditions. That combination is rare, which is why the programme survived the reforms even after losing its most popular route.

The honest caveats

Processing has historically been slow, thresholds and eligible funds change, and the political appetite for the programme fluctuates, so timelines and rules should be confirmed current before you commit. Anyone selling certainty about a multi-year immigration and investment decision is overselling. Get advice specific to your situation from a licensed professional.

A note from Digiton

We are a Lisbon AI agency, not immigration advisors. This guide exists because so many of the international founders and operators we meet are weighing a move to Portugal. If you are building in AI and relocating, we are glad to talk. Reach us at contact@digiton.ai.

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