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Frequently Asked Questions

Must I be an accredited investor to apply for Portugal's Golden Visa?

The application process for the Golden Visa comes after making a qualifying investment or donation. As such, the Portuguese government will not verify accredited investor status.

For investment opportunities that are using the private placement 4(a)(2) or Reg D 506(c) SEC exemptions from registration in the United States, accredited status is required. For investment opportunities that are using the Reg D 506(b) exemption in the United States, it is possible to include up to thirty-five non-accredited investors.

Accredited investor status is not required to make a donation that qualifies the donor for Portugal's Golden Visa program.

Is accredited status required for the donation path to the Golden Visa?

No. Accredited status is not required or verified for the donation path to Portugal's Golden Visa.

Applicants may donate 250,000€ to an approved Cultural project or 500,000€ to an approved Science/Technology project instead of investing 500,000 in a qualifying fund or PE opportunity or starting a business that employs 10 people full time for a minimum of 5 years.

Donation amounts may be reduced by 20% to 200,000€ or 400,000€ if the recipient is in a low-density area.

Please enquire for more information on the donation path to Portugal's Golden Visa.

What if I'm interested in investing in Portugal but not interested in the Golden Visa program?

There are many investment opportunities in Portugal that are outside of the qualifications for the Golden Visa program. Please contact Golden Visa Capital for more information.

Could my 500,000€ investment be divided among multiple funds that qualify for the Golden Visa?

Yes. Golden Visa applicants may diversify their required 500,000€ investment across multiple funds that qualify for the Golden Visa. Do be mindful of fund minimums; often set between 50,000€ - 250,000€.

Why work with Golden Visa Direct instead of finding opportunities online? Can't I DIY this?

The new rules for Portugal's Golden Visa, adopted in late 2023, caused the market to turn over almost completely. Because real estate was removed from eligibility and nearly all of the established funds held underlying assets in real estate, new funds have been created to match the new law. There are two big pitfalls to avoid here: 1. Some of those funds are quite "creative" with their interpretations of the new law and might very well be outside of the legal bounds for eligibility 2. It's too soon to know which of these "creative" funds will be rejected from the Golden Visa Program. It will only be after investors apply and their applications are reviewed - a process that often takes two years - that anyone can know with certainty whether the fund(s) in question meets the requirements of AIMA, Portugal's Immigration Authority, for Golden Visa eligibility. Investing in a "creative" fund means risk. Risk of your capital, risk of at least 2 years of your time, and risk of your qualification for the Golden Visa program. Working with Golden Visa Direct affords you guidance around these pitfalls and introductions to trusted experts in the field who can support you in this endeavor.

I want to run an investment opportunity by you to get your take on it. Are you available for consultations?

Sure. I can advise in generalities including:

the likelihood that any given investment will qualify the investor for Portugal's Golden Visa program given the new regulations
my take on the quality of the offering in comparison to the quality of other offerings on the market
why I view Portugal's Golden Visa program as superior to other EU Residency By Investment Programs
whether your situation is a better match for the Golden Visa or one of Portugal's other visa types including:
- D7: Person of Means
- D2: Startup Visa

What I cannot do is advise on the suitability of the investment for your specific situation as I am not a registered investment advisor. I can, however, have a conversation with your own registered investment advisor if you wish.

Please book a consultation here via Golden Visa Direct, the educational arm of my businesses.

What are the sources of funding for Portugal's Golden Visa?

Do I need to move to Portugal if I apply for Portugal's Golden Visa program?

Investments and donations are made by persons foreign to Portugal from all over the world. Everyone's case is different. Some examples of sources of funding are: savings, family office capital, DAF (donor advised funds) capital, private company capital, home equity, and generational pooling of capital to fund one investment - for example: varying amounts of money provided by multiple members of a family including the main investor, spouse, parents, & in-laws to create a 500,000€ pool of capital to invest.

No. There are no requirements to live in Portugal as an applicant to Portugal's Golden Visa program. You may, if you wish, reloacte to portugal once you are accepted into the program, as you will be granted legal temporary residency in two year increments for the duration of your investment period (or if you make a qualifying donation). The only in-country requirements for people enrolled in Portugal's Golden Visa program is to be in Portugal for 7 days per year or 14 days every two years. You will also be required to travel to Portugal to complete your biometrics appointment as part of the program application process. These appointments can often take place 1-2 years after application submission.