The Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) grants Portuguese residency to foreign investors. Since October 2023, real-estate-based investment has no longer been eligible and a range of alternative investment routes has been introduced. The program channels real contributions into the Portuguese economy while offering investors residency and a long-term pathway to citizenship.
The Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) grants Portuguese residency to foreign investors. Since October 2023, real-estate-based investment has no longer been eligible and a range of alternative investment routes has been introduced. The program channels real contributions into the Portuguese economy while offering investors residency and a long-term pathway to citizenship.
Invest in venture capital or private equity funds that allocate at least 60% to companies headquartered in Portugal.
Fund maturity must be at least 5 years and real-estate-related activities are prohibited.
Returns vary by fund and principal is not guaranteed, so the fund structure and manager should be reviewed in advance.
Establish a new business in Portugal and create at least 10 full-time jobs.
In low-density areas (NUTS III with population density below 100/km²), the threshold drops to 8 jobs.
Invest at least €500,000 in an existing Portuguese-headquartered company and create or maintain at least 5 full-time jobs.
Jobs must be maintained for at least 3 years after investment.
Donate to national cultural heritage restoration or arts projects.
In low-density areas the threshold drops to a minimum of €200,000.
Invest in public or private research institutions.
In low-density areas the threshold drops to a minimum of €400,000.
Pick one of the options above and arrange the required capital.
Open an account for investment and fund transfer purposes.
Carry out the chosen investment and lodge the required paperwork.
After review, the Golden Visa is granted.
Citizenship may be applied for once 10 years have passed since the first residence card was issued and the Portuguese-language and other nationality-law requirements are met.
Real-estate-based investments have been excluded from Golden Visa eligibility since October 2023.
Investment funds must be transferred in euros through a Portuguese bank.
Funds must be held for at least 5 years; early withdrawal may affect Golden Visa status.
For citizenship, applicants must demonstrate Portuguese-language proficiency (A2 or higher) and meet the residency period requirement.
Under Korea's Nationality Act (Article 15), a Korean national who voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship generally loses Korean nationality automatically, so nationality implications must be reviewed before planning to acquire citizenship.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and in good health.
Applicants must have no criminal record in Portugal; a record may lead to refusal.
Must meet the minimum investment amount and provide legal proof of fund origin.
After receiving the visa you must stay in Portugal for at least 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent 2-year period. Under the amended Nationality Law in force since May 2026, citizenship can be applied for only after 10 years from the issuance of the first residence card.
Spouse and children may be included. Children include minors and unmarried adult children who are financially dependent and studying, and dependent parents may also be included.
Schengen travel:
Live in Portugal and travel visa-free in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (this does not grant residence in other EU countries).
Tax system:
Taxation depends on actual residence; the former Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime closed to new applicants in 2024, so the requirements of its successor regime (IFICI) must be reviewed separately.
PR and citizenship pathway:
Eligible to apply for citizenship after 10 years of residence (subject to nationality-law requirements).
Family inclusion:
Spouse, children, and other direct family members may be included.
High quality of life:
Safe environment, excellent healthcare, and strong education system.
Since October 2023 the Portugal Golden Visa has excluded real-estate-based investment and opened up a broader range of routes — giving investors more choice and better diversification while channeling positive impact into the Portuguese economy. The program offers Portuguese residency, a long-term path to citizenship, and the safe, high-quality life Portugal is known for.
No. The 2025 revision removed real-estate investment from the list of qualifying routes for the Golden Visa (ARI). The program was restructured around alternatives: investment funds, creating a new business with job creation, investing in an existing company, contributing to cultural heritage, and funding scientific or technological research.
Investment funds start at €500,000. Creating a new business requires 10 full-time jobs, reduced to 8 in low-density areas. Investing in an existing company requires €500,000 plus creating or maintaining 5 full-time jobs. Cultural heritage contributions start at €250,000, or €200,000 in low-density areas, and scientific or technological research investment starts at €500,000, or €400,000 in low-density areas.
You invest at least €500,000 in a venture capital or private equity fund that allocates at least 60% of its capital to companies headquartered in Portugal. The fund must have a maturity of at least five years and cannot invest in real-estate-related activity.
The Golden Visa carries a light stay requirement and is maintained with roughly seven days per year in Portugal. Applying for citizenship after five years is a separate matter with its own residence requirement, and Portuguese language ability may be required at that stage.
The investment must be transferred in euros through a Portuguese bank. The capital must then be maintained for at least five years, and withdrawing early affects whether the Golden Visa conditions are still met.
DaeYang works through each stage: selecting the investment type and preparing funds, opening a local bank account, executing the investment and filing documents, and following the case to Golden Visa approval. The rules move sharply, as the 2025 removal of the property route shows, so the applicable requirements are re-confirmed as of your consultation date.
