#5 worldwide
Henley Passport Index · September 2026, with an access score of 185 destinations. This combines visa-free, visa on arrival and ETA access; it excludes pre-approved e-visas.
Citizenship & residency / ProgrammesEurope / Investment residence permit · ARIPortugal
Portugal
Your next possibility.
Portugal’s Golden Visa (ARI) offers residence through qualifying cultural, fund, research and business investment routes.
Discuss PortugalProgramme outcomeResidency
Investment residence permit · ARI
Ask Zaira for a personalised cost breakdown.If Portuguese citizenship is later grantedA future passport.
A future passport.
Its potential benefits.
These are today’s Portuguese passport benefits, not benefits received with the Golden Visa. Travel rules and rankings may change before you obtain citizenship.
Live, work and study in the EU
Portuguese citizenship brings EU citizenship rights, subject to the relevant residence conditions and registration requirements. An ARI permit alone gives residence rights in Portugal.
Europe and beyond
UK visits require an ETA; eligible US visits use the Visa Waiver Programme with ESTA; Canada requires an eTA for air travel. Australia offers an eVisitor application. These permissions have conditions and are not guaranteed approvals.
Get to know Portugal
An Atlantic outlook.
Portugal combines Atlantic coastlines, historic cities and the island regions of Madeira and the Azores. Lisbon is the capital. The country is a member of the European Union, with Portuguese as its official language.
More about the country- Capital
- Lisbon
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Setting
- Southwestern Europe
The programme at a glanceUnderstand the route.
Understand the route.
Plan the conversation.
Investment residence permit · ARI
Investment options
- Cultural support
- Qualifying artistic production or national cultural heritage support.
- Eligible non-real-estate funds
- Investment in qualifying Portuguese collective investment funds, subject to maturity and investment requirements.
- Research or business
- Qualifying research investment, company investment or job-creation routes.
Including your family
Family reunification may be requested alongside the investor’s application, subject to approval of the investor’s residence permit.
Key requirements
- Stay requirement
- At least seven days in the first year and fourteen days during each subsequent two-year period, according to AIMA.
- Investment commitment
- Applicants must maintain the relevant investment conditions for the required period.
- Future status
- Naturalisation is separate from ARI. Current residence-based eligibility generally requires 10 years of legal residence, or 7 for EU / Portuguese-speaking-country nationals, plus other legal requirements and approval. Processing and passport issuance take additional time.
Good to know
New ARI applications are not based on property purchases. The ARI initially grants residence, rather than citizenship.
Official programme informationAIMA — current ARI requirements AIMA — ARI frequently asked questions Portugal — current nationality requirements Nationality Law — descent and naturalisation Henley — September 2026 passport ranking EU citizenship — residence rights Checked 8 October 2026.
About PortugalA few details.
A few details.
Made clearer.
Does a Portuguese property purchase qualify?
Property purchases are no longer listed among the current ARI investment routes. Eligible non-real-estate funds and other qualifying routes should be considered instead.
How can I understand the full cost?
Request a personalised breakdown from Zaira, including the investment, government charges, due diligence, processing, family and professional fees relevant to your circumstances.
How long will my application take?
Timing depends on the programme, your application and the checks required. Ask Zaira about the current process and expected stages; approval and completion dates cannot be guaranteed.