The Portugal Golden Visa remains one of Europe’s most attractive residency-by-investment programmes. While most people focus on the minimum investment required, that’s only part of the overall cost. Government fees, legal assistance and document preparation should also be factored into your budget.

The good news is that these additional expenses are relatively predictable, allowing investors to plan ahead with confidence.

Portugal Golden Visa Investment Options

The first and largest cost is the qualifying investment.

Currently, the available Portugal Golden Visa options include:

  • Investment funds: from €500,000
  • Scientific research: from €500,000
  • Cultural donation: from €250,000, reduced to €200,000 for qualifying projects in low-density areas
  • Business investment: creation of at least 10 jobs or an eligible investment in a Portuguese company

Today, investment funds are by far the most popular route because they offer a straightforward way to qualify without managing a business in Portugal.

Other Costs to Budget For

In addition to the investment, every applicant should expect three main categories of expenses:

  • Government fees
  • Legal fees
  • Administrative costs such as translations, apostilles and document certification

These costs are separate from the investment itself and are generally paid throughout the application process rather than all at once.

Portugal Golden Visa Costs at a Glance

Expense Typical Cost
Qualifying investment €250,000–€500,000+
Government application fee €632.10 per applicant
Residence permit issuance €6,314.20 per applicant
Residence permit renewal €3,157.80 per applicant (each renewal)
Legal fees Typically €5,000–€8,000 for a the main applicant
Administrative expenses Usually €1,000–€3,000

Government fees apply to every family member included in the application, so the overall cost increases when applying as a family.

Legal Fees

Professional fees vary depending on the law firm, the investment route and the number of applicants.

Usually, a Golden Visa legal service will cover:

  • reviewing eligibility
  • investment co-ordination
  • obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF)
  • opening a bank account in portugal
  • application file preparation and submission
  • partnering with the Portuguese authorities
  • help with the renewal of residence permits

Legal fees for an individual applicant are normally in the region of €5,000 to €8,000 but families should allow for more.

Other Expenses

There are also a number of smaller costs that are easy to overlook when planning your budget.

These may include:

  • certified translations
  • apostilles and notarisation
  • document courier services
  • travel to Portugal for biometrics appointments
  • accommodation during appointments

Although these expenses vary from case to case, many applicants spend between €1,000 and €3,000.

A Typical Budget

For someone investing through a €500,000 investment fund, the overall cost usually looks something like this:

A single applicant should expect a total budget of approximately €512,000 to €515,000, including the investment, government fees, legal fees and administrative expenses.

For a family of four, the overall budget generally increases to around €535,000 to €540,000, mainly because government and legal fees apply to each family member, while the qualifying investment remains the same.

When Are the Fees Paid?

One advantage of the Portugal Golden Visa is that the costs are spread over different stages of the process.

You make the qualifying investment. All the documents are ready, the application is submitted and the government application fee is paid.

Applicants will then travel to Portugal for their biometrics appointment once approved. At this stage the fee for issuing the residence permit is payable.

The residence permit is then renewed from time to time and renewal fees are paid each time for the renewal application.

What Our Clients Say

Tim Evans
Tim EvansUSA
We began working with Portugal Residency Advisors (PRA) in April 2024 to consider residency in Portugal. Pedro Branco and Beatriz Garcia provided critical incite and information in helping us decide how best to apply for the Portugal Golden Visa Program. The most wonderful thing was that their advice was completely independent and they were not trying to sell us any investment scheme that they would benefit PRA. They provided professional advice and let us decide what worked best for us. We completed the process in less than two months. I highly recommend that you talk with them regardless of who you have talked with already.
Phyllis Kynas
Phyllis KynasCanada
My experience with Portugal Residency Advisors has been exceptionally good. Pedro Branco (client manager) provided me with clearly set out details of their services and costs and timeline. Right from the start, Beatriz Garcia (immigration lawyer) has promptly set out clearly what steps I needed to take for my visa application. She was always helpful and supportive (when I was feeling stressed by the process) and guided me through it with patience and a quick response. Portugal Residency Advisors took me through a complicated and detailed process efficiently and clearly, and I am sure that it would have taken me much longer, and with much more stress, without them.
Lyssa Adkins
Lyssa AdkinsUSA
I recommend to Beatriz Garcia and Portugal Residency Advisors completely. They helped us with our immigration meetings scheduling and preparation. I am quite sure that without Beatriz we would still be waiting for our immigration appointment. The onboarding process and documents collection process was incredibly smooth and professional.
Chyntia Sutton
Chyntia SuttonUSA
The best team of immigration attorneys in Portugal! Pedro and Fernanda were so attentive to every single question, nothing was too small or too big to handle for them. They guided us through every stage to the point of arrival in Portugal. They continue to be available to us whenever we have questions. We highly recommend them and we will add their contact information on one of our podcast episode as well. Thank you for your excellent expertise!
Ann-Marie Giustibelli
Ann-Marie GiustibelliUSA
Beatriz and Pedro were professional, kind most importantly (to me) is they were effective. They promptly answered all of my questions; even after my case was finished. I would hire them again in a second!
Francis Miles
Francis MilesUK
Pedro helped us through the legal minefield when purchasing a property in Portugal, along with the residency aspects as well. He is always on call, professional and extremely patient, and we are happy to recommend him and his company.
Andrew Symons
Andrew SymonsUK
Portugal Residency Advisors provided an excellent service. They took control of the whole residence permit application process, explained to me what was going on, gathered and presented all the required documentation. I received my permit 20 days after the application.
Mehmet Kidman
Mehmet KidmanTurkey
They are a highly successful team that you can completely trust and always get support from throughout our residency application process. We were very pleased with their immediate support regarding our issues.
Alejandro Castellano
Alejandro CastellanoSpain
Thank you, Pedro, for making my experience of moving to Portugal so lovely!
Piero Colafranceschi
Piero ColafranceschiItaly
Perfect assistance all along the process!

Does the Golden Visa in Portugal worth the money?

For many investors, the answer is yes.

The Portugal Golden Visa provides a Portuguese residence permit while requiring only a minimum average stay of around seven days per year. It also gives holders visa-free travel within the Schengen Area and the right to live, work and study in Portugal.

After five years of legal residence, investors may become eligible to apply for permanent residence, provided they continue to meet the legal requirements, including demonstrating Portuguese language knowledge at the required level.

Those seeking Portuguese citizenship may apply after ten years of legal residence, or seven years if they are citizens of another EU Member State or a CPLP country, subject to meeting all nationality requirements in force at the time of application.

For investors looking for European residency with limited physical presence requirements, the Portugal Golden Visa continues to be one of Europe’s most attractive long-term residency programmes.

Why Work With Us

Local Expertise

We know Portugal inside out. By focusing exclusively on one country, we provide clear and practical guidance on the Golden Visa based on deep local knowledge.

Honest Guidance

We recommend what’s truly best for you. Our advice is independent and based on real experience, helping investors choose the right Golden Visa route with transparent and fair pricing.

All-in-One Solution

A single point of contact for your entire Golden Visa process. From selecting the right investment to coordinating lawyers and completing your residency application.

Independent Advisory

Independent advice across all qualifying Golden Visa investment routes, helping you evaluate the options without being tied to any fund or investment provider.

Discover 10 Reasons to Choose Us for Your Golden Visa Application

Your Questions Answered

The minimum qualifying investment is €250,000 for eligible cultural projects and €500,000 for investment funds and scientific research. Besides the investment, applicants should budget for government fees, legal fees and administrative costs such as document translations and travel.

Each applicant submitted in the application is subject to a government fee. This means the main applicant, spouse, children, and other eligible dependants each pay the applicable application, residence permit issuance, and renewal fees.

The investment will generally need to be made from the applicant’s own money. The use of borrowed money secured against the qualifying investment itself is generally not allowed. Most of the investors sell off assets or tap into personal savings before the investment.

To stay eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa, you need to keep the qualifying investment for the duration of the required residency period. If you sell or withdraw your investment before the term is up, you will lose your Golden Visa status and will not be able to renew your residence permit.

Yes, for a lot of investors. The programme offers a flexible residency option with a minimum stay requirement of about seven days per year, visa-free travel within the Schengen Area and a pathway to permanent residence after five years. After 10 years of legal residence, or 7 years for citizens of another EU Member State or a CPLP country, eligible applicants may also apply for Portuguese citizenship, subject to all legal requirements being met.

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