It is important to note that the Portuguese “Golden Visa” is a residence by investment program and not a nationality by investment program. In this sense, to obtain the nationality based on the Golden Visa it is important to fulfill two requirements: 1. Have at least five years of legal residence; 2. Have a Portuguese language knowledge test (level A2). Please take a look at RPBA’s infographic on the topic.

1. From residence to Portuguese nationality:
relevant steps
DISCLAIMER: Although great care has been taken when drafting this document, Ricardo da Palma Borges & Associados (RPBA) - Sociedade de
Advogados, S.P., R.L. does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any consequences arising from the use of the information contained herein.
The information is provided solely for general purposes and cannot be regarded as legal or other advice. It is strongly recommended to take
professional legal advice appropriate for your case before making any decisions. This Chart was last updated on April 10, 2024.
ALEXANDRA GONÇALVES MARQUES
ADVOGADA | LAWYER
alexandra@rpba.pt
Due to the increase of interest in the qualification for a Portuguese nationality via a prior residence we
hereby present the relevant steps involved:
Procedure Summary
1. Residence Visa
Residence Visa waiver
(or Schengen visa)
• You may need a visa to come to Portugal to study, work, live out of income
or pension, join family. In most cases, you will need to get a Residence Visa
at a Portuguese Consulate.
• If you are willing to perform a relevant investment, mainly through the
Residence Permit for an Investment Activity (ARI) / Golden Visa (GV), you
can apply for a Residence Permit without a prior Residence Visa.
Before you apply, you must check if you need a visa and what type you need.
2. Temporary residence
5 years
• For most cases, a Temporary Residence Permit is granted for 2 years, subject
to renovation every 3 years.
• For Golden Visa residents, a Temporary Residence Permit is granted for 2
years, subject to renovation every 2 years.
• After 5 years you can:
o Request a Permanent Residence Permit in Portugal.
o Apply for the Portuguese Nationality.
3. Permanent residence After 5 years of legal residence in Portugal you can apply for a Permanent
Residence Permit which will allow you to live in Portugal. A Permanent Residence
Card is issued for 5 years, subject to renovation each 5 years.
4. Portuguese nationality • Naturalization entails important citizenship rights, such as passport,
eligibility to vote and running for public offices.
• It opens new possibilities under European Union rules, such as the right to
set residence in any European Union country.
• Foreigners who have legally resided in Portugal in the previous 5 years can
attain citizenship if they fulfill certain additional criteria, such as:
1. Legal age (above 18 years old).
2. Knowledge of the Portuguese language (A2 level).
3. Not having been convicted of a crime with a jail sentence of three or
more years.
4. Not having exercised public duties (excluding technic or administrative)
in favor of a foreign State.
5. Not having rendered non-mandatory military service for a foreign State.
6. Not representing a danger or threat to national security or defense (in
accordance with the Terrorist Act).
Family reunification
• Close family members, like spouse, underaged family children and
dependent ascendants in direct line are entitled to residence.
Presence in Portugal
• Holders of a Temporary Residence Permit should typically remain in Portugal.
• Holders of an ARI / GV residence have to remain in Portugal for at least 7 days
in the first year and 14 days in each period of 2 years.
Taxes in Portugal
• Portuguese tax residents: Personal Income Tax (PIT) on worldwide income.
• Non-Portuguese tax residents: PIT on Portuguese source income only.
• New inpatriate regime – NIR (“tax incentive for scientific research and
innovation”, also known as NHR 2.0): (i) A 20% PIT rate for employment and
self-employment income deriving from certain high value activities in eligible
Portuguese entities, compared to a full tax rate up to 53%; (ii) For taxpayers
that fulfill (i), non-Portuguese employment and self-employment income
performed abroad, foreign rental income, financial income and capital gains
on foreign based assets are tax exempted, with progression (except for tax
haven income).
FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE CHECK HTTPS://NONHABITUALTAXRESIDENT.COM/