Step 1
Gather Your Documents
- Documents Needed: Collect important documents such as passports, birth and marriage certificates, proof of investment funds, and background checks.
- Translations: Make sure all documents are translated into Portuguese and certified.
Step 2
Get a NIF and Open a Bank Account
- NIF (Tax Number): Get a Portuguese NIF, which you need for financial transactions. This can often be done quickly.
- Bank Account: Open a Portuguese bank account. This might take a week or more, depending on your home country. You can have your lawyer handle this for you.
Step 3
Make Your Investment
- Complete Investment: Choose your investment type (like a real estate purchase or fund investment) and complete it according to the rules.
Step 4
Submit Your Pre-Application
- Pre-Application: Once your investment is done and documents are ready, submit your pre-application online to AIMA (formerly SEF). Your lawyer or advisor can help with this.
Step 5
Attend Your Appointment
- Biometrics Appointment: AIMA will schedule a date for you to visit their office to provide your fingerprints and finalize your application. This is a necessary step to process your Golden Visa.
Step 6
Receive Your Golden Visa
- Receive Your Card: About six months after your biometrics appointment, you’ll get your Golden Visa card. Your lawyer or advisor will help collect and send it to you.
- Card Validity: The card is valid for two years. You’ll need to renew it before it expires.
Step 7
Apply for Residency or Citizenship
- Five Years Later: After five years of holding your Golden Visa, you can apply for permanent residency or citizenship.
- Application Time: The process for citizenship can take one to 18 months. Once you have permanent residency or citizenship, you don’t need to keep your investment.
