The Portugal Golden Visa offers residence to investors from outside the European Union who place qualifying funds in approved options. This page explains how it works for Chinese nationals and names the official authority.
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.
The Portugal Golden Visa is open to investors from outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland, which includes Chinese nationals. Chinese nationals have historically been among the most active applicants to the programme.
Eligibility rests on making and maintaining a qualifying investment, holding a clean record and meeting minimum physical presence in Portugal. Confirm the current eligibility conditions with the official authority.
Since the 2023 changes, the direct and indirect real estate routes have been removed. The most used remaining route is a subscription of EUR 500,000 in a qualifying fund regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, with funds that hold Portuguese real estate excluded.
Other reported categories include a cultural heritage donation from EUR 250,000, capital transfer for research, and job creation routes. Amounts and qualifying categories change, so confirm the current routes and thresholds with the official authority.
After the investment is made and the application filed, processing depends heavily on case volume and AIMA scheduling, and recent reporting describes long waits before biometrics and approval. Treat any quoted period as indicative and confirm it with the official authority.
The Golden Visa is a residence route that can lead to permanent residence and naturalisation after a qualifying period. The residence period required before citizenship has been under review, so verify the current naturalisation rules before relying on a timeline.
The main cost is the qualifying investment itself, most commonly the EUR 500,000 fund subscription, which is held rather than spent. Beyond that, budget for government application and renewal fees per family member, fund subscription and management costs, legal and tax advice and translations. We do not name or rank firms. To compare vetted independent advisors, use Get Matched below.
| Route | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying fund subscription | EUR 500,000 | Funds holding Portuguese real estate are excluded |
| Cultural heritage donation | From EUR 250,000 | Donation to approved cultural projects |
| Real estate routes | Removed | Abolished in the 2023 changes |
| Government and processing fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Per applicant, set by the authority |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
Yes. The route is open to investors from outside the European Union, which includes Chinese nationals, and they have long been active applicants. Confirm the current eligibility rules with the official authority.
No. The direct and indirect real estate routes were removed in 2023. The current focus is on qualifying funds and other approved categories. Confirm the current routes with the official authority.
The Golden Visa can lead to naturalisation after a qualifying residence period, but that period has been under review. Verify the current naturalisation timeline with the official authority.
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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