A Smart Investment with Global Benefits: EU Citizenship
Portugal Golden Visa - Investment Fund Option
Secure Portuguese residency while diversifying your investment portfolio with the Portugal Golden Visa Investment Fund Option. This route allows investors to obtain EU residency and, ultimately, Portuguese citizenship while benefiting from potential financial growth.
Unlike other residency programmes requiring property acquisition or business establishment, this option provides a modern solution — an investment into professionally managed Portuguese funds approved by the government.
After five years of holding your investment and fulfilling minimal residency obligations, you will be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship, gaining full EU rights and one of the world’s most powerful passports.
The Portugal Golden Visa – Investment Funds Option is a prestigious residency-by-investment program designed for non-EU nationals seeking global mobility and a pathway to European citizenship. By investing a minimum of €500,000 in a qualifying Portuguese investment fund, participants can obtain residency rights in Portugal while diversifying their portfolio in professionally managed funds.
While investment funds carry risks by their nature, they also offer the potential for higher returns, making this option appealing to individuals seeking both residency and financial growth. Moreover, applicants and their family members become eligible to apply for Portuguese (EU) citizenship after maintaining their investment for five years. This positions the investment fund route as a superior alternative to programmes like Caribbean’s Citizenship Programmes, as it allows investors to pursue both financial gains and the opportunity to secure EU citizenship.
With minimal physical presence requirements, visa-free access to the Schengen Area, and a clear path to citizenship, this programme stands out as a gateway to unparalleled European opportunities.
The Portugal Golden Visa Donation Option is a sophisticated and impactful way to secure EU residency while contributing to the preservation of Portugal’s cultural and artistic heritage.
Key Features of the Programme
— Minimum Investment of €500,000 into one or more government-approved Portuguese investment funds.
— Professionally Managed Funds across diverse sectors, including technology, real estate, infrastructure, and venture capital.
— Pathway to Portuguese Citizenship after 5 years of holding the investment and meeting residency conditions.
— Minimal Stay Requirement: Maintain your residency with just 7 days per year in Portugal.
— Visa-Free Travel across 29 Schengen countries with your Portuguese residency card.
— Family Inclusion: Spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents can be included in the same application.
— Potential for Investment Growth: Funds offer the possibility of increasing your investment value up to 150% over the years, subject to market performance.
Sectoral Shares of Investment Funds
The Portugal Golden Visa Investment Fund option allows you to diversify your portfolio by investing across a wide range of sectors, providing both flexibility and the potential for significant returns.
Unlike traditional investment routes, this option lets you allocate your capital across multiple funds, as long as the total minimum investment threshold of €500,000 is met.
At Coates Global, we facilitate communication between you and fund managers. We do not recommend or have affiliations with any specific investment funds, ensuring unbiased service in your application process.
Timeline to EU Citizenship
Portugal’s Golden Visa program follows a structured residency-to-citizenship pathway:
Residence Visa
- The initial visa is granted for a two-year period. During this time, you are required to stay in Portugal for a minimum of 14 days.
- After the first two years, the visa can be renewed for two years at a time. The residency obligation remains minimal, requiring a stay of just 14 days within each two-year period.
Citizenship Application
- Investors become eligible after completing 5 years of residency and maintaining their investment.
- The citizenship application process can take up to 2 years. During this period, investors and their families retain their visa-free Schengen access and Portuguese residency rights.
- A basic A2-level Portuguese language test is required for citizenship, which is considered a beginner level and can typically be achieved by a new learner in about 3 months.
Required time for citizenship application:
Malta: 1 year
Portugal: 5 years
Greece: 7 years
Key Takeaway:
From Investment to citizenship, the timeline is efficient and predictable, making the Portugal Golden Visa one of the most accessible and rewarding pathways to global mobility.
Requirements
To qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa through the Investment Funds option, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum Investment: Invest a minimum of €500,000 in one or multiple eligible Portuguese investment funds that are government-approved and comply with the programme guidelines.
- Proof of Funds: Demonstrate the legal origin of the investment amount, ensuring that all funds are sourced from legitimate and traceable means.
- Eligible Nationality: Be a citizen of a country that is not subject to UN or US sanctions, as applicants from sanctioned nations are ineligible for the programme.
- Medium Risk Nature: Understand that investment funds are considered medium-risk financial instruments. While they offer the potential for high returns, they also carry the possibility of partial or full capital loss.
Meeting these requirements ensures eligibility while safeguarding the program’s integrity and your investment.
Fees & Expenses
- Golden Visa Government Fees:
Approx. €5,325 per applicant (includes residence permit issuance). - Renewal Fees:
Approx. €2,663 per applicant for each renewal (every two years). - Legal Fees:
Typically between €10,000 and €15,000 depending on family size and complexity. - Health Insurance:
Required for all applicants and dependents — annual cost approx. €300 to €1,000 per person. - Translation & Document Legalisation:
€300 to €500 depending on document volume. - Administrative Costs:
Approx. €500 to €1,000 for tax registration (NIF), local bank account opening, and other formalities.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Portugal Golden Visa offers residency in Portugal, visa-free travel across 29 Schengen countries, eligibility for Portuguese (EU) citizenship after five years, and access to a high standard of living and tax benefits.
Yes, family members, including a spouse, dependent children, and parents, can be included. They will also gain the same residency rights and can apply for citizenship after five years.
No, the programme requires a minimal stay of just seven days per year in Portugal, allowing flexibility for those who want to retain their primary residence elsewhere.
Yes, you can divide your investment across multiple eligible funds, provided the total amount meets or exceeds the €500,000 minimum requirement.
Investment funds are considered medium-risk instruments. While they offer the potential for significant returns, there is also a chance of losing part or all of your invested capital. Investors are advised to evaluate the risks thoroughly.
Currently, due to high demand, the process can take 12–18 months from the time of application submission to approval. However, the government has recently launched an initiative to streamline and expedite the process by bypassing certain bureaucratic steps, aiming to significantly reduce waiting times for applicants.
Yes, Golden Visa holders and their dependent family members can live, work, and study in Portugal. Once citizenship is obtained, they will also have the right to work freely across all EU member states.
Caribbean citizenship allows visa-free travel to EU countries for tourism purposes but does not grant the right to work, study, or live in the EU. The Portugal Golden Visa offers the same visa-free travel privileges and, after obtaining Portuguese citizenship, provides the right to work, study, and reside in any EU member state, which makes it a more comprehensive option for those seeking long-term benefits.
Yes, once you have obtained Portuguese citizenship, you are no longer required to maintain your investment. At that point, you can choose to liquidate your investment without affecting your citizenship status.
Yes, it is possible to transfer your investment to another eligible fund, provided that the new fund complies with the Golden Visa regulations and the total investment threshold remains at least €500,000. This allows flexibility if your investment preferences change during the five-year period.
Please feel free to email us at info@coatesglobal.com, and one of our experienced team members will get back to you promptly to assist with your inquiry.
Strategic Migration.
Real Results...
Talk to our legal team and find out how we make global mobility a reality.
Every time a client receives their residency or citizenship approval, we’re reminded why this work matters. It's not just paperwork — it’s about transforming lives and creating new legacies.
We don’t push clients towards just any programme — we listen, we assess, and we recommend only what we’d choose ourselves. That’s what makes Coates Global different.
I’ve seen families reunited, children enrolling in world-class schools, and entrepreneurs unlocking international markets. That’s the power of what we do.
Even in the most complex of cases, there’s always a path forward — it just takes clarity, strategy, and the right team. That’s what we bring to every client.
Helping high-net-worth clients gain citizenship is more than a transaction. It’s about long-term security, mobility, and legacy planning — and we ensure it's done with precision.
Being part of this team means being part of something bigger — we open borders, but more importantly, we open futures.
When a client tells me, ‘You’ve changed my family’s life,’ I know our commitment goes far beyond legal expertise — it’s about people.
With every investor we support, we’re contributing to a stronger, more interconnected world. It’s an honour to play that role.
The World is rising, and our clients are part of that story. We ensure they have access to the global opportunities they deserve.
As an American lawyer working globally, I’ve seen how Coates Global turns complex ambitions into concrete achievements.
