TheThe Portugal Golden Visaprogramme is a residence-by-investment programme allowing non-EU nationals to invest in Portugal to obtain a residence permit. This permit allows applicants to live, work and study in Portugal, travel freely throughout Europe, and ultimately to become Portuguese citizens after 5 years.
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AIMA’s Portugal Golden Visa statistics for September 2023
Total applications in 2023: a total of 4,455 people applied for a Portugal Golden Visa during 2023, of whom 2,901 applied as families and 1,554 applied individually.
On nationality in September 2023: the United States led with 567 applications, followed by China with 306, the United Kingdom with 234, Brazil with 219 and India with 199.
On investment route in September 2023: 99 applicants came through property purchase (of whom 49 bought property of EUR 500,000 or more or EUR 400,000 or more, and 50 bought renovated property from EUR 350,000 or EUR 280,000); 57 through capital transfer; and 50 invested in Portuguese investment funds.
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Portugal Golden Visa statistics for the whole period: 2012-2023
Applicant nationalities (2012-2023)
To date, 12,718 main applicants have been granted a Portugal Golden Visa, together with 20,424 dependent family members. China has consistently led on application numbers since the programme launched in 2012, followed by Brazil and the UAE.
Family reunification
Under the Portugal Golden Visa family reunification rules, the main applicant’s dependent family members also benefit from the programme. The number of accompanying family members (20,424) considerably exceeds the number of main applicants (12,718), showing the programme’s strong appeal to families seeking to settle long term.
Investment routes
Although property has predominated over the programme’s history, investment in Portuguese investment/venture capital funds is becoming an increasingly popular trend. This route accounts for a small share of total applications because it only really attracted attention from 2019, when the minimum investment fell from EUR 500,000 to EUR 350,000, before rising back to EUR 500,000 on 01/01/2022.
After the property investment route was removed, fund investment became the most popular option for Portugal Golden Visa applications.
Frequently asked questions about Portugal Golden Visa statistics
According to AIMA, many cases are still pending. The agency is rolling out a new digital system to address this and reduce waiting times for investors.
5 years from the date of the initial residence application, applicants may apply for long-term residence and Portuguese citizenship. However, in October 2025 the Portuguese Parliament passed amendments to the Nationality Act which may extend the general residence period for citizenship from 5 years to 10 years for most people, once those amendments take effect.
As the implementation timetable and final details may change, applicants should check the latest information from official Portuguese government sources before applying.
Since the programme launched in 2012, a total of around 13,000 residence permits have been granted to Portugal Golden Visa investors.
After the property investment route was removed, fund investment became the most popular option for Portugal Golden Visa applications.
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