Keeping the Portugal Golden Visa: Renewals, Taxes and the Road to Citizenship

Getting the first card is only the start. The Golden Visa is a status you keep for years, and three things decide whether it lasts: the investment, the days in the country and the renewals. After that come two bigger questions, taxes and the passport, and here the rules changed in 2026.

Renewals

The first temporary residence permit for investment is valid for two years from the date the card is issued. BRIDGES notes that renewals are generally granted for three years. At each renewal you show again that the investment is in place and that you met the stay rule, with fresh documents. BRIDGES also describes cards that were extended by special legislation while AIMA dealt with its backlog, so that people did not lose their legal status because of the agency’s delays. Renewal timing and paperwork are covered in its article on renewing a residence permit.

The stay rule

You must spend at least 7 days in Portugal in the first year and at least 14 days in each following two-year period. Keep proof of your trips, such as boarding passes, in case you need to show them later.

Keeping the investment

The application includes a sworn declaration that you will keep the investment for at least five years. BRIDGES is clear about the consequence: if you leave the fund before the status expires, the applicant and the whole family lose it. While a decision is still pending, exiting the fund removes the basis of the application and the years spent waiting.

Permanent residence

According to BRIDGES, after five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence. The conditions it lists are Portuguese at A2 level, confirmed by the CIPLE exam or a 150-hour course, and a clean criminal record. The status is open-ended, and the card is renewed every five years. AIMA notes that Golden Visa holders who meet the conditions receive a permanent version of the investment permit. For many families this is a sensible middle step, and it does not depend on the new citizenship rules. BRIDGES explains it in its article on permanent residence in Portugal.

Taxes

The card and tax residency are two separate things. BRIDGES explains that you become a Portuguese tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in the country or keep a home there with the intention of living in it. A tax resident is taxed on worldwide income, with progressive rates up to 48% plus surcharges, while a non-resident pays only on Portuguese income. With a stay of a few days a year, most Golden Visa holders remain tax residents of another country.

The famous NHR regime has been closed to new applicants since 2024, according to BRIDGES. Its replacement, IFICI, offers a flat 20% rate on qualifying Portuguese employment and self-employment income and exempts much of foreign income for 10 years, but only for specific professions linked to research and innovation, and pensions are generally not exempt. I always suggest deciding the tax question with a tax adviser before moving, not after. Details are in the BRIDGES article on tax residency in Portugal.

Citizenship under the new law

Organic Law 1/2026 was published in the Diário da República on 18 May 2026 and entered into force on 19 May. For naturalisation, the applicant must now:

• have lived legally in Portugal for at least 10 years, or 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU member states;
• prove, by a test or a certificate, sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols;
• know the fundamental rights and duties of citizens and the political organisation of the state;
• make a solemn declaration of adherence to the principles of the democratic rule of law;
• have no prison sentence of more than three years for the serious crimes listed in the law and not be subject to UN or EU restrictive measures;
• be able to support themselves.

The law adds up periods of legal residence, continuous or not, as long as they fall within a maximum window, which for nationals of other countries is 12 years. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the new rules apply only to applications filed after 19 May 2026; pending cases continue under the old wording. It also noted that several provisions still need implementing regulation.

When does the clock start?

This is the point I treat with the most caution. BRIDGES reads the new law as counting from the date the first residence card is issued, so the years spent waiting in the AIMA queue would not count, and it notes that the previous rule, under which waiting time after filing counted, was revoked. It also reports that Golden Visa holders have filed a collective lawsuit and that Portuguese lawyers disagree on whether the new period applies to people who applied for residence earlier. Until the regulation and the courts settle this, I plan with the strict reading and keep every document that proves the filing date. BRIDGES discusses this in its article on naturalisation in Portugal and in permanent residence or citizenship.

A realistic timeline

Put together: a few months to prepare, an AIMA wait that can be long, two years on the first card, renewals, permanent residence possible after five years and naturalisation after ten years of legal residence. Portugal remains a good status to hold and a good country to live in, but it is no longer a quick passport. The steps before the card are in my guide to the application process and documents, and the family side in my guide for families.

Last checked 20 October 2026.