CITIZENSHIP AND RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT BLOG

Portugal Golden Residence Visa

Note (2026): Malta’s former Citizenship by Investment program has been replaced by the Citizenship by Merit framework.

January 2019: What is the Portugal Golden Residence Visa?

Answer: The Portuguese Golden Residence Permit Program is a five year investment-based residence process for non EU nationals. The residence permit allows free circulation in the Schengen Zone of 26 European countries and only requires an average of seven days per year stay in Portugal.

After five years as a resident, the applicant is eligible for citizenship if desired.

Main applicants are required to make one of three qualifying investments: A. The acquisition of real estate with a minimum value of EUR 350,000; or B. The transfer of capital with a minimum value of EUR 1 million; or C. The creation of at least 10 new jobs registered with the social security department. Applicants are free to choose one of these three investment routes.

The timeframe for application processing is approximately two months subject to having completed all documentation and the investment.

Because the time to Portuguese citizenship (EU passport) is quite long, this program has become less popular over the past few years. Unless the goal is to live in Portugal, investors now favor the residency or citizenship by investment programs of countries such as Cyprus, Malta, Greece or Bulgaria, where citizenship may be obtained as quickly as 90 - 180 days.

Because residency and citizenship frameworks can evolve over time please contact us to speak with an advisor or to receive a preliminary quotation. The information provided in this blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal or financial advice.

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MALTA INFORMATION CENTER

Everything you need to know about Malta citizenship, residency, and real estate.

Malta Citizenship

• A Comprehensive Guide to Malta Citizenship by Merit

• Does Malta allow dual citizenship with the USA?

• Do you get citizenship if you buy real estate in Malta?

• How easy is it to get Malta citizenship?

• How long does it take to get the Malta citizenship?

• What is the cost of obtaining Malta citizenship?

• What is the difference between residency and citizenship of Malta?

• What are the benefits of Malta citizenship?

Malta Residency

• How easy is it to get Malta residency?

• How do you qualify for residency in Malta?

• Can I get residency in Malta if I buy a house?

• Can I get permanent residency in Malta by investment?

• How long does it take to get a Golden Visa in Malta?

Malta Real Estate

• A Comprehensive Guide to Buying Real Estate in Malta

• A Comprehensive Guide to Renting Property in Malta

• A Comprehensive Guide to Relocation to Malta

• Discover the Malta Lifestyle

• Investing in Malta Commercial Real Estate

• Investing in the Malta Residential Real Estate

• What are Malta Special Designated Areas (SDA)?

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