Portugal vs Spain Golden Visa: Which Is Better in 2026?

Key Takeaways

1. Spain’s Golden Visa real estate option ended in April 2025, so Portugal’s €500,000 fund route is now the leading EU residency path for US investors.
2. Portugal requires only 14 days of presence every two years, includes qualifying family members, and offers Schengen access with no Portuguese tax obligations unless you become a tax resident.
3. Portugal outperforms Spain on investment minimums, processing timelines of 12 to 18 months, total costs, and program stability compared to Spain’s remaining non-real estate options.
4. Investors gain a pathway to citizenship after 10 years, or 7 years for CPLP and EU nationals, supported by a booming hospitality sector and events such as the 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosting.
5. Partner with VIDA Capital for concierge guidance into secure, CMVM-regulated hospitality fund investments that support your EU Plan B.

Portugal vs Spain Golden Visa: Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Portugal’s position as the 7th safest country on the Global Peace Index 2025 reinforces its appeal for investors seeking long-term security and EU access.

Portugal’s Hospitality Growth vs Spain’s Restricted Golden Visa

Portugal’s hospitality sector now offers strong, data-backed investment potential, with tourism contributing €60.6 billion to the economy in 2024 and employing 1.2 million people. The country welcomed record visitor numbers, and tourism revenues reached nearly €30 billion in 2025. Portugal will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, projected to generate over €800 million in economic impact, and the World Travel & Tourism Council expects tourism to represent 22.6% of national GDP by 2035.

Spain’s real estate Golden Visa closure followed EU pressure on security and financial transparency, domestic housing concerns such as rising prices and shortages, and a policy shift toward active economic contributions instead of passive real estate investment. New applications still exist through non-real estate routes such as corporate investments, but these options are narrower and less flexible.

Portugal now delivers a more complete Plan B, with no relocation requirement, Schengen travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and a focus on capital preservation through asset-backed investments rather than speculative projects. The fund-only structure, in place since October 2023, channels capital into productive economic activities while keeping investor security at the center.

Portugal Golden Visa: Step-by-Step Process and Core Benefits

Investors follow a clear, structured process for the Portugal Golden Visa and benefit from professional legal guidance at each stage. The journey starts with pre-application steps such as obtaining a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and opening a Portuguese bank account, both achievable remotely through qualified legal counsel. The €500,000 fund investment must be completed before the application is submitted.

The lawyer submits the application online for the main investor and all eligible family members. After AIMA approval, the authorities schedule biometric appointments for the investor and each family member. The initial residency card remains valid for two years, and renewals require proof of at least 14 days spent in Portugal during the previous two-year period. Because card issuance often takes around one year, many investors complete only one renewal instead of two during the five-year residency window.

Key benefits include family inclusion for spouses, economically dependent children, and parents or in-laws above 65 years, or financially dependent on the main applicant.

Investors have no Portuguese tax obligations unless they choose to become tax residents. The Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal, visa-free travel across the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, access to Portuguese public healthcare and education, and the right to live, work, and study in Portugal.

Government fees currently include €618.60 per family member for the initial submission, €6,179.40 per family member for card issuance, €3,023.20 per family member for each renewal, and €250 per family member for citizenship applications. Legal fees usually range from €16,000 to €20,000, and fund subscription fees vary by provider, with VIDA Fund charging 1% of the total investment amount.

Portugal’s minimal 14-day stay requirement every two years contrasts sharply with Greece’s Golden Visa, which demands seven years of continuous residence to maintain long-term residency status. This lighter requirement makes Portugal especially attractive for investors who want a robust Plan B without full relocation.

VIDA Capital and VIDA Fund: Hospitality-Focused, CMVM-Regulated Route

Portugal’s hospitality market remains fragmented, with many independently owned hotels trying to keep pace with rising international demand. This structure creates room for consolidation and professional management, and VIDA Fund targets these gaps through its CMVM-regulated, Deloitte-audited framework.

The fund acquires and revitalizes undervalued hospitality businesses over a 6.5-year lifecycle and targets doubled returns, while reminding investors that past performance does not guarantee future results.

VIDA Capital supports three main investor profiles with tailored guidance. Rich Parents focus on capital protection and a secure, documented investment process. Worried Parents prioritize a Plan B for family security during global instability.

Savvy Investors seek strong returns while gaining EU residency with minimal disruption to their current lives. VIDA’s concierge advisory model offers direct access to the team, vetted legal partners, and clear communication throughout the Golden Visa journey.

Portugal’s Golden Visa suits investors who value minimal residency requirements, asset-backed investment security, flexible family mobility, and a defined route to EU citizenship without uprooting their lives. VIDA Capital’s hospitality specialization and hands-on advisory approach address the complexity and risk concerns that often discourage investors from generic fund options.

Secure your EU residency and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa. VIDA Capital provides smooth, concierge guidance into asset-backed investments in Portugal’s expanding hospitality industry.

Frequently Asked Questions: Portugal vs Spain Golden Visa in 2026

Is Portugal’s Golden Visa program ending?

Portugal’s Golden Visa program remains active and accessible through €500,000 fund investments such as the VIDA Fund. The program shifted to a fund-only model in October 2023 and removed real estate options, yet it still offers a clear residency and citizenship pathway for qualifying investors.

Spain Golden Visa vs Portugal: Which is better in 2026?

Portugal currently offers a stronger package than Spain’s Golden Visa, which closed its real estate track in April 2025 and now relies on limited non-real estate routes. Portugal provides a 14-day residency requirement every two years, asset-backed fund investments, broad family inclusion, and a defined 10-year pathway to citizenship under the framework approved in October 2025.

What are Portugal’s 10-year citizenship details under the new law?

Amendments approved by Portugal’s Parliament in October 2025 extended the citizenship requirement to 10 years of residency, counted from the date the first residence permit is issued. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens qualify under a reduced seven-year requirement. The new law applies to all Golden Visa applicants except those who submitted citizenship applications before the law’s publication.

What are the processing times and family inclusion rules?

Portugal Golden Visa processing usually takes 12 to 18 months from application to residence card issuance. Family inclusion covers spouses, economically dependent children who are full-time students and unmarried, and parents or in-laws above 65 years or financially dependent on the main applicant. Every family member must attend biometric appointments and meet the same residency requirements.

How does Portugal compare to other European Golden Visa programs?

Portugal offers more flexibility than most remaining European programs. Greece requires seven years of continuous residence to maintain long-term residency status and imposes tax obligations, while Portugal requires only 14 days every two years and no Portuguese tax obligations unless you become a tax resident. Portugal is currently one of the few European countries that still offers a route to citizenship without relocation.

Conclusion: Portugal and VIDA Capital for a Practical EU Plan B

Spain’s Golden Visa real estate program has ended, and Portugal now stands out as the leading option for US investors seeking EU residency and citizenship through accessible fund investments. Minimal residency requirements, asset-backed investment structures, family inclusion, and a proven pathway to citizenship position Portugal’s Golden Visa as a practical and resilient Plan B.

Secure your EU residency and a path to EU citizenship with a Portugal Golden Visa. VIDA Capital combines a hospitality-focused strategy, strong regulatory oversight, and concierge advisory support so investors can move through the process with confidence while anchoring capital in tangible assets.