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Portugal Golden Visa for British nationals

Since Brexit, British citizens are third country nationals for Portuguese immigration, which means the Golden Visa is open to them. This page explains the current routes, the authority and what to confirm before acting.

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Reference
Official authorityAgency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agencia para a Integracao, Migracoes e Asilo, AIMA)
ProgrammePortugal Golden Visa
For nationalityBritish
Information current as ofJune 2026
Official source →

Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.

Reviewed by the Passports for Kings editorial team. Last reviewed 16 June 2026.
Portugal revised the Golden Visa and removed the residential real estate route. Investment fund, capital and other qualifying routes remain. Confirm the current list with AIMA.

Eligibility for this nationality

British citizens qualify as third country nationals after Brexit, which is the category the Golden Visa serves. There is no nationality bar for British applicants. You will need a clean record and evidence of the lawful source of your funds. Confirm the current conditions with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum.

Routes

The residential real estate route was removed. The most commonly cited remaining route is a subscription of at least EUR 500,000 into a qualifying regulated investment fund, with a minimum maturity of five years and a defined share invested in Portuguese companies. Other routes that are commonly described include job creation and certain cultural or research contributions.

Treat these as indicative. Confirm the current routes, thresholds and approved fund conditions with the official authority before you commit.

Timeline

Processing has faced significant backlogs and timelines have varied widely. Time spent waiting is commonly reported to count toward the residence period for later citizenship eligibility. Confirm the current processing position and stay requirements with the authority.

Costs

Beyond the qualifying investment, expect government application and renewal fees per person, plus your own professional and translation costs. We do not publish a fee schedule here because these figures change. Confirm the current charges with the official authority.

What it can lead to

The Golden Visa grants residence with a low physical presence requirement. After a qualifying period, residents may become eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship, subject to separate conditions including a language test. Do not assume an automatic passport. Confirm the naturalisation rules separately.

RouteIndicative amountNotes
Qualifying investment fundFrom EUR 500,000 reportedMinimum maturity five years, regulated fund
Residential real estateRemovedNo longer a qualifying route
Government and processing feesConfirm the current figure with the official authorityCharged per applicant

Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agencia para a Integracao, Migracoes e Asilo, AIMA) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.

Common questions

Can British nationals still use real estate?

No. The residential real estate route was removed in the revision. Confirm the current routes with AIMA.

How long must I stay in Portugal?

The Golden Visa is known for a low average stay requirement, often cited as around seven days a year. Confirm the current rule with the authority.

Does this lead to a passport?

It grants residence. Citizenship is a separate application after a qualifying period, with its own conditions including a language test.

Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.

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Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.

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