Residence in Portugal through qualifying investment
Portugal's Residence Permit for Investment (ARI) gives third-country nationals who make a qualifying investment a temporary residence permit, with no residence visa needed to enter Portugal. We coordinate it from first call to renewal, and an independent Portuguese lawyer files your application.
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Qualifying routes and their minimums
Read about the programme| Route | What it involves | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Investment fundsSubalínea vii | Buying units in Portuguese-law collective investment undertakings that are not real-estate funds. | €500,000 |
| Company creation or recapitalisationSubalínea viii | Setting up a company headquartered in Portugal, or recapitalising an existing one. | €500,000 |
| Scientific researchSubalínea v | Capital for research carried out by public or private scientific institutions in the national science and technology system. | €500,000€400,000 in low-density territories |
| Arts and cultural heritageSubalínea vi | Capital for artistic production, or for restoring or maintaining national cultural heritage, through eligible public or public-interest entities. | €250,000 |
| Job creationSubalínea ii | Creating jobs in Portugal. The minimum is set in jobs, not in capital. | 10 jobs8 in low-density territories |
Investment funds
- Minimum
- €500,000
- What it involves
- Buying units in Portuguese-law collective investment undertakings that are not real-estate funds.
Subalínea vii
Company creation or recapitalisation
- Minimum
- €500,000
- What it involves
- Setting up a company headquartered in Portugal, or recapitalising an existing one.
Subalínea viii
Scientific research
- Minimum
- €500,000€400,000 in low-density territories
- What it involves
- Capital for research carried out by public or private scientific institutions in the national science and technology system.
Subalínea v
Arts and cultural heritage
- Minimum
- €250,000
- What it involves
- Capital for artistic production, or for restoring or maintaining national cultural heritage, through eligible public or public-interest entities.
Subalínea vi
Job creation
- Minimum
- 10 jobs8 in low-density territories
- What it involves
- Creating jobs in Portugal. The minimum is set in jobs, not in capital.
Subalínea ii
All amounts are minimums. Official fees are payable in addition to the investment. They are set in AIMA's fee table (Portaria 307/2023). Buying property does not qualify. The investment cannot go, directly or indirectly, into real estate.
Who ARI suits
Non-EU individuals and families who want the right to live in Portugal and move freely in the Schengen area, without relocating full time.
You must spend at least 7 days in Portugal in the first year and at least 14 days in each following year.
Who it is not for
ARI does not apply to Portuguese nationals, or to nationals of the EU, the EEA, Andorra or Switzerland.
ARI isn't the route for you, but our relocation help is still available. See relocation help
How coordination works
Every step has an owner. This is who does what.
- You
- Decide on a route, make the investment, sign what's needed and attend one appointment in Portugal.
- Us
- We coordinate the whole process: orientation on the official routes, introductions to licensed providers, documents, translations, scheduling, travel and renewal deadlines.
- Your lawyer
- An independent, licensed Portuguese lawyer you engage directly. Legal advice, registration and filing on Portal ARI sit with your lawyer.
- AIMA
- Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum reviews each application and decides on it.
- Other providers
- Banks, fund managers, translators and other licensed providers carry out their own part, such as the investment transfer.
The process at a glance
See the full processStep 1: Get a Portuguese tax number (NIF)
Who: Other provider or your lawyer · With support from us
Step 2: Make the qualifying investment
Who: You and another provider · With support from us
Step 3: Register on Portal ARI
Who: Your lawyer
Step 4: Complete the application and upload documents
Who: Us, then your lawyer
Step 5: Pay the analysis fee
Who: Your lawyer or you
Step 6: AIMA reviews the application
Who: AIMA
Step 7: Attend one in-person appointment
Who: You · In person · With support from us and AIMA
Step 8: Add family members
Who: Your lawyer
Step 9: Renew the permit
Who: You or your lawyer · With support from us
Who does each step reflects how we work with you and your lawyer. The steps themselves come from AIMA.
Talk it through privately
A 30-minute call to understand your situation, the routes worth discussing and how coordination would work for you. There's no obligation.
Private and without obligation · reply within two business days · enquiries stored in the EU