The Portugal’s Permanent Residency (PR) program for Golden Visa holders remains a safe, flexible and advantageous long-term residence options in Europe, allows smooth transition from temporary to permanent residency after just 5 years of living minimally in Portugal. No other EU country has this benefit.
PR Benefits
PR can be received after 5 years of resident status. investors to meet the stay requirement of seven days per year or 14 days every two years and can still qualify for permanent residency. Proof of Portuguese language at A2 level is required. The PR status granted is indefinite but the card has to be renewed every 5 years.
- Full Right to live, work, and study in Portugal,
- Visa-free movement within the Schengen Area
- Access to nearly all rights (education, healthcare etc) except political participation.
- Exit investment after PR is granted.
- Average processing time 6 months.
- Divest investments after PR is granted
- Flexible absence permitted for Investors and family members
- Effective route to Portuguese citizenship.
After five years from the issuance of the first residence card, Golden Visa holders may apply for PR under the same legal conditions. The current average processing time is around six months, and once PR is granted, investors may divest their qualifying investment without affecting their legal residence status.
Absence Period
Portugal permanent residents must not be absent from Portugal for more than 24 consecutive months or 30 interpolated months within a three-year period. Family members are exempted, need to spend only 7 days per year to maintain PR status
AIMA Conditions
The legal basis for permanent residency is established under Article 80 of Law No. 23/2007, of July 4, which sets out the following requirements:
- Holding a valid temporary residence permit for at least five years;
- Having sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language (A2 level, per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages);
- Having no criminal conviction resulting in a custodial sentence equal to or exceeding one year, even if suspended, in cases of terrorism or organized crime;
- Demonstrating stable and regular income sufficient for personal and family needs;
- Having proof of accommodation in Portugal;
- Providing tax and social security non-debt certificates; and
- Authorizing AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) to consult the Portuguese criminal record.
Divest Investments
Once PR is granted, investors may divest their qualifying investment without affecting their legal residence status.
Tax Exemptions
The tax benefits in Portugal tied to specific statuses for new residents, not to permanent residency (PR) status alone.
