Major OVERHAUL to This EU Golden Visa (Opportunity?)

The Portugal Golden Visa: A Straightforward Guide to a Smart Investment and EU Citizenship

Curious about how the Portugal golden visa has changed and what it means for investors in 2025? A few options have been eliminated by the Portuguese government, but there are still plenty of ways to secure residency in one of Europe’s most desirable destinations and join the fast-track path to EU citizenship through the golden visa.

If you’re new here, I’m Jennifer Harding-Marlin, an immigration lawyer at JH Marlin. In this video, I break down everything you need to know to navigate the new rules and make the most out of the Portugal golden visa program. Stay tuned to learn how you can be on your way to securing your spot in Portugal with JH Marlin’s guidance!

Visit our website at jhmarlin.com or email me at [email protected]

00:00 – Intro
00:35 – Recent changes
01:43 – 2025 investment options
02:55 – Five reasons to choose Portugal
06:02 – Before investing…

Here are the five routes you need to know:
First, capital transfer.
Invest €500,000 in venture capital funds or private equity. These funds target new and/or growing businesses in Portugal. While venture is slightly more high-risk, high-reward than private equity, the potential returns on this golden visa investment could also be huge.
Also under this category is scientific research. With your €500,000 investment, you can fund scientific research in Portugal and qualify for a residence permit while supporting groundbreaking work.
Finally, the last option under the capital transfer category is also the fastest growing sector because of its affordability. Applicants can donate €250,000 – or just €200,000 in less populated areas – in the Portugal arts scene or organizations dedicated to preserving Portuguese culture and heritage. With the elimination of the real estate option, this cultural donation has seen the largest increase in investor interest.
The second category of investments in the golden visa is business investment.In this category, applicants can invest €500,000 in a Portuguese business that creates 10 or more jobs in Portugal. It’s a direct way to boost the economy and secure your Golden Visa.

Is the Portugal residence permit still worth it? In my eyes, absolutely. Here’s why:
First, the variety of investment options and affordability:
In just the last five years, golden visas around the world have skyrocketed in interest among high-net-worth individuals. However, many countries offer applicants just one or two investment avenues at steep prices.
Allowing individuals to invest in funds, businesses, and the arts, Portugal’s program is pretty different from these more narrow golden visa investment options. Plus, applicants have a wide variety of investment entry prices too. While some of our clients choose to donate to the Portugal arts scene for €250,000, others prefer a financial return on their investment and, therefore, opt for the €500,000 fund investment.

Five reasons it’s so popular:
Variance in investment options
Tax policy (or potential tax policy)
Quality of life
Minimal physical presence
EU residency rights with citizenship (fastest, easiest path in EU)

Are you ready to apply for your Portuguese golden visa? Here’s how you do it:

Weigh Your Investment Options: You can choose from investment funds, scientific research, art sector promotion (which is potentially €300,000 less than all other investment options), or job creation.

Open a Local Bank Account: You’ll need a Portuguese bank account and an identification number to manage your investment.

Submit Your Golden Visa Application: Work with an immigration partner like us at JH Marlin, who knows the ropes to ensure everything’s in order.

Obtain Your Residence Permit: Once approved, you’ll get your physical residence permit. Just note, the Portugal immigration office is experiencing major delays, but don’t worry — you’re still a legal resident. Plus, your clock toward permanent residence and citizenship started counting when you applied.

Meet Residency Requirements: Keep your residency active by spending at least seven days per year in Portugal. This keeps you on track for citizenship in five years, if it’s of interest to you.

Stay on Top of Your Taxes: Keep track of your tax obligations and take advantage of any benefits that come your way. The return of the NHR regime — or something similar — could make being a tax resident in Portugal even more attractive. If you want to naturalize as a Portuguese citizen in five years, you can apply for citizenship. Or you can convert your temporary residence permit to permanent at the same five-year mark.

At JH Marlin we are specialists in citizenship & residency by investment. We help high-net-worth individuals establish passport & residency portfolios around the world.