🇵🇹Portugal
Golden Residence Permit (ARI)
Investor-friendly EU passport route; real-estate route closed in 2023, fund route remains open.
Required documents
- ·Proof of qualifying investment (fund subscription, donation receipt)
- ·Portuguese NIF and bank account
- ·Criminal record certificates from country of residence
- ·Health insurance valid in Portugal
Things to know
- ·Further qualifying routes: creating 10 jobs (8 in low-density areas), or €500,000 into an existing Portuguese company creating at least 5 jobs for three years.
- ·Only 7 days/year of presence required to maintain status.
- ·A2 Portuguese language test required at citizenship stage.
Apostille & legalization
Apostille routeApostille only — both United States and Portugal are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Documents that must be apostilled
- ·Police / criminal-record clearance
Bank statements, employment contracts, photos, passport copies and the application form itself do not need an apostille.
- Obtain originals or certified copies of each civil/criminal record (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance, diploma, etc.).
- Have each document apostilled by the competent authority in United States (U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications).
- Translate the apostilled document into the official language of Portugal — the apostille itself is also translated.
- Submit the apostilled + translated bundle directly to the Portugal immigration authority or consulate; no further consular stamp is required.
Translation: Portugal only accepts translations from a court-sworn / officially recognised translator — agency translations are routinely rejected.
Issuing authority in United States: U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications
Documents older than 3–6 months are often rejected. Plan to obtain fresh originals shortly before your visa application.
Last verified 20 September 2026 — reconfirm on the official portal before applying.
Other residency programs in Europe
