Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) 2026: €500K fund route
Portugal's ARI is still open, but it is no longer a property visa. Since October 2023 the realistic route for most families is €500,000 in qualifying Portuguese funds — and since 19 May 2026 citizenship takes 10 years for non-EU/CPLP nationals.
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🇵🇹 Portugal · ARI (Golden Visa)
| Min investment | €500,000 |
|---|---|
| Routes | Qualifying Portuguese non-real-estate funds (≥5-year maturity, ≥60% in Portuguese companies); company creation €500K + 5 jobs; research €500K; culture €250K; 10 jobs. Real estate and the €1.5M capital transfer were removed in 10/2023 |
| Time to citizenship | 10 yrs non-EU/CPLP; 7 yrs EU/CPLP (Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force 19.05.2026; counted from permit issue) |
| RU/BY passports | Not excluded by law; enhanced AML / source-of-funds checks. Bank and fund practice variesbeing verified |
| Official source | |
| Last checked |
Last checked:
Not legal advice. Rules change — verify with the official source.
Who it suits
- You want an EU residence permit without moving full-time in year one.
- You can hold €500,000 in a regulated fund for at least five years.
- Your source of funds is documented and bankable in the EU.
Who it doesn't suit
- You want to buy an apartment and get a visa — property no longer qualifies.
- You need an EU passport in five years — the new rule is 10 years for most non-EU/CPLP nationals.
- You cannot tolerate a five-year lock-up or fund risk.
Russian and Belarusian passports
Russian and Belarusian passports are not excluded by the ARI law, but banks and funds apply enhanced AML and source-of-funds checks. Expect more questions and longer onboarding; some funds decline RU/BY investors.
Steps
- Check the passport, budget and family composition against the ARI routes (free match below).
- Get a Portuguese NIF and open a bank account; document the source of funds.
- Subscribe to a qualifying fund (≥5-year maturity, ≥60% in Portuguese companies) and keep the proof.
- File the ARI application with AIMA; attend biometrics when scheduled.
- Keep the investment and the minimum stay for each renewal; plan citizenship on the 10-year clock.
FAQ
Is the Portugal golden visa open in 2026?
Yes. ARI still accepts applications, but real estate and the €1.5M capital transfer were removed in October 2023. The main route is €500,000 in qualifying Portuguese funds; company creation, research and culture routes also exist.
What is the minimum investment?
€500,000 for the fund, company-creation and research routes; €250,000 for the cultural-heritage route, which is rarely practical for private investors. Fees and lawyer costs come on top.
Can Russian or Belarusian citizens apply?
The ARI law does not exclude them. In practice banks and funds run enhanced AML and source-of-funds checks, and some funds decline RU/BY investors — check this before committing money.
How long to Portuguese citizenship via golden visa in 2026?
Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026, requires 10 years of legal residence for most non-EU/CPLP nationals (7 for EU and CPLP), counted from the first permit's issue date. Nationality applications filed by 18 May 2026 keep the old 5-year rule.
How long does processing take?
There is no reliable official service level. AIMA backlogs have historically stretched ARI decisions well beyond a year, so plan the fund lock-up and family timeline with that buffer.
Do I need to live in Portugal?
No full-time residence is needed to keep ARI, but there is a short minimum-stay requirement per permit period. Citizenship, by contrast, counts years of legal residence, so the 10-year clock matters more than the stay minimum.
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