Updated
GL-P-01
Glossary · Citizenship and residency programs
Portugal ARI - Autorização de Residência para Investimento
Portugal ARI — the Portuguese golden visa (residence by investment), a path to permanent residence and EU citizenship; the real estate route is currently excluded.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- Portugal ARI — Portugal’s golden visa (residence by investment)
- Form
- Investment funds, business, job creation (real estate excluded)
- Advantage
- Few days of residence, a path to EU PR and citizenship
- Bottom line
- Portuguese citizenship after 10 years
- Can you prepare
- Yes: choose an investment with the route to a passport in view
02 / In plain words
What Portugal ARI means
Portugal ARI (Autorização de Residência para Investimento) is the official name of Portugal’s “golden visa”, its residence permit by investment. For many years it was one of the most popular programmes in Europe thanks to its famous advantage: a minimal residence requirement — on average only about 7 days a year — with a full path to EU permanent residence and citizenship.
An important change: since 2023 the property purchase route has been excluded from the programme. The qualifying investments now are investment in accredited investment funds, supporting a business and creating jobs, and contributions to science or culture. The amounts depend on the option chosen, and the capital goes into the real economy of Portugal.
The value of ARI lies in its combination of ease and result: you hardly need to live in the country, yet after the set period (10 years under the law in force since 19 May 2026) the right to Portuguese citizenship — a full EU passport — opens up. It is one of the most convenient routes to European citizenship for those not ready to relocate. We help choose the investment and map out the route to the passport.
A case from practice
An investor wants an EU passport but is not ready to relocate. Portugal ARI fits: they invest in an accredited investment fund, obtain a residence permit and spend only a few days a year in the country. Keeping up the renewals, after 10 years they apply for Portuguese citizenship — a full EU passport for the family.
Who Portugal ARI suits
- A path to EU citizenship without relocating
- A residence permit with minimal residence
- Investing in funds or a business
- Freedom to travel in the Schengen area
- Status for the whole family
- Portuguese citizenship after 10 years
03 / What it covers
What matters about Portugal ARI
Forms (since 2023)
- Investment funds
- Business and jobs
- Science and culture
Advantage
- ~7 days a year
- A path to an EU passport
- Schengen freedom
Bottom line
- PR and citizenship
- ~5 years to the passport
- For the family
Keep in mind
- Real estate excluded
- Funds check
- Conditions have changed
04 / How it works
How to obtain the golden visa
Choosing the investment
Preparing documents
Investment and filing
Residence permit and renewals
EU PR and citizenship
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
Portugal ARI is the official name of Portugal’s golden visa
02
Famous for minimal residence (~7 days a year)
03
Since 2023 the real estate route has been excluded
04
The investment is funds, business, jobs, science/culture
05
After ~5 years it opens the right to EU citizenship
Common mistakes
- Counting on the excluded real estate route
- Failing to evidence the source of funds
- Choosing a fund without checking its reliability
- Missing renewals and losing time towards citizenship
- Not planning the move to PR and a passport in advance
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
For ARI a qualifying investment is chosen from the current options (funds, business, jobs) — the real estate route no longer applies. The fund’s reliability is checked, evidence of the source of funds prepared, and renewals and minimum days observed. The move to PR and citizenship is planned. Then after ~5 years an EU passport opens up.
What we do for you. We handle Portugal’s ARI golden visa end to end under the current rules: we help choose a reliable qualifying investment (real estate is excluded) and prepare the documents and evidence of funds. We map out the route from a residence permit with minimal residence to EU citizenship — for you and your whole family.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
Autorização de Residência para Investimento — the official name of Portugal’s golden visa, a residence permit by investment with a path to EU citizenship.
No, since 2023 the property purchase route has been excluded from the programme. Qualifying investments now are funds, business, job creation, science and culture.
Very little — on average about 7 days a year. That is the programme’s main advantage: a path to an EU passport almost without relocating.
The right to apply for Portuguese citizenship opens after 10 years of legal residence (law in force since 19 May 2026), subject to the conditions and renewals. It is a full EU passport.
Most often an accredited investment fund; supporting a business, creating jobs, or a contribution to science or culture are also possible. We choose a reliable option.
Yes, the status is granted to the applicant and family members. They all follow the path to EU PR and citizenship together.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us what outcome your family needs
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
