With a minimum stay requirement of only seven days per year, the programme continues to attract foreigners interested in living and investing in Portugal.
The Residence Permit for Investment Activity in Portugal, better known as the ‘Golden Visa’, was ranked 3rd in the Global Residence Programme Index 2025, according to Henley & Partners’ annual report. The study compares the most important citizenship and residency investment programmes worldwide.
Greece’s popular golden visa programme, which allows investments from €250,000 in real estate and other economic options, secured the top spot this year, toppling Portugal, which had held or shared first place for the past nine years.
The Portuguese programme, which ranks third alongside Italy and the United Kingdom, allows non-European investors to reside, work, and study in Portugal and allows visa-free movement in the Schengen area.
With a minimum stay requirement of only seven days per year, the programme continues to attract foreigners interested in living and investing in Portugal.
Among the programme’s benefits are the possibility of visa-free travel in the Schengen area, the ability to apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years without the need to renounce another nationality, a high quality of life with a mild climate, safety, renowned gastronomy, and a world-class health system, and access to excellent schools and universities.
Applicants for the ‘Golden Visa‘ can choose from several investment modalities, including transferring capital of at least €500,000 to investment funds or scientific research, investing in culture and heritage from €250,000, creating a minimum of 10 jobs, and constituting or reinforcing the capital of Portuguese companies with a minimum of €500,000.
Lower amounts are also available for investments in areas of low population density, with reductions reaching €200,000.
