With a Portuguese Golden Visa, you can obtain residency in Portugal and, after five years, apply for citizenship if all legal requirements are met. Beyond the financial benefits of getting Portugal citizenship by investment, is the ability to bring your close dependents along, through the family reunification process.
This article describes in detail:
- The main requirements for family reunification after obtaining Portugal citizenship by investment;
- Rules for family reunification and including dependents;
- Different ways in which Portugal Citizenship by Investment can be passed down to descendants.
How does the Golden Visa lead to Portuguese citizenship?
The Golden Visa program is a way to get access to Portugal citizenship by investment. These are the key steps to achieve it:
1. Choose an eligible investment fund
To qualify for the Portuguese Golden Visa, the majority of investors choose the investment option, due to its financial benefits and long-term stability.
If you also choose the investment fund option, you need to invest €500,000 in an eligible investment fund and keep it for 5 years. At Magnify Partners, we offer a full service and all the legal support throughout the process of obtaining your Portuguese Golden Visa by investment.
2. Maintain your investment and meet the residency requirements
To qualify for the Golden Visa in Portugal, applicants are required to stay in the country for a minimum period of:
- 7 days, during the first year;
- 14 days, every two years after that.
3. After 5 years, you can apply for Portuguese Citizenship
After a 5-year period, the applicants can ask for Portuguese Citizenship, without renouncing their nationality, as long as their original country allows this option.
These are some additional requirements to apply for citizenship, such as:
- Prove 5 years of legal residency in Portugal;
- Pass a basic Portuguese language test (A2 level);
- Have no criminal record.
When you and your family gain citizenship, you will all be able to live, study and work in Portugal, as well as travel visa-free in the Schengen Zone.
What are the rules for Family Reunification and including dependents?
For citizens of other member states of the European Union, it’s relatively easy to apply for Portuguese nationality. The Portuguese Golden Visa opens up this possibility to other foreigners, living outside the European Union, the EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland.
The rules are simple and apply to the following family members:
- Spouse or common-law partner of the main applicant;
- Biological or adopted children under the age of 18;
- Dependent children over 18 years old, as long as they are financially dependent on the main applicant, unmarried, and enrolled as students;
- Dependent parents of the main applicant or spouse;
- Siblings under 18 years old of the main applicant or spouse.
The family reunification process usually takes place at the same time as the applicant's Golden Visa application. These are the documents to be presented:
- Proof of the main applicant's legal residence in Portugal;
- Proof of sufficient means of subsistence;
- Proof of ties with the family members.
Getting Portugal citizenship by investment it’s an opportunity for you and your family to start a new life in an EU country renowned for its safety and beauty.
Does Portugal Citizenship (by Investment) extend to descendants automatically?
Portuguese citizenship obtained through naturalization after the Golden Visa is not automatically extended to descendants. However, children born after the applicant becomes a Portuguese citizen can acquire nationality at birth if at least one parent is Portuguese at the time of birth.
When the applicant obtains Portuguese citizenship, their children can apply to also become Portuguese citizens.
How can Portugal Citizenship by Investment be passed to descendants?
As soon as the main applicant obtains access to Portugal citizenship by investment, becomes a Portuguese citizen with full rights. These include the possibility of passing on citizenship to their descendants.
In other words, your children and future generations can inherit Portuguese citizenship, as long as certain criteria are met. Let's look at three possible situations:
- Children born before the applicant was granted nationality can apply for Portuguese citizenship if they already live and study in Portugal.
- Children born after citizenship is granted will automatically be Portuguese citizens. All that is required is that at least one of the parents is a Portuguese citizen at the time of birth.
- The grandchildren of a Portuguese citizen can also apply for Portuguese nationality if they can prove that they have ties to Portugal, such as cultural knowledge, proficiency in the language or residence in this country.
Portugal citizenship by investment has been one of the main choices for those seeking European residency. This program allows future generations to gain the right to live, work, and study in this country. Learn about all the possibilities and celebrate the beginning of a happy new life in Portugal, for you and your family.
