Portugal Golden Visa Costs and Fees: A Full Breakdown for 2026
Beyond the €500,000: What the Full Programme Actually Costs
The headline number for the Portugal Golden Visa is €500,000 — the minimum qualifying investment in a CMVM-regulated fund. But that's the investment, not the cost. Understanding the full cost picture is essential for budgeting and avoiding surprises, particularly the government fees at the biometrics stage that catch many investors off guard.
Here's a complete breakdown of every cost you should expect across the full programme, from application to citizenship.
The Qualifying Investment: €500,000
This is your investment in a qualifying fund, not a fee. It remains your capital throughout the programme. Depending on the fund's strategy, it may generate returns during the holding period. The investment must be maintained until you obtain citizenship or permanent residency.
For Tejo Ventures' SFFIII fund, the target return is 8% net IRR with 4% net annual distributions commencing approximately 24 months after investment as assets reach operational status.
Government Fees at Biometrics: ~€6,045 Per Adult
This is the single largest government fee and the one that most surprises investors. Approximately €6,045–6,179 per adult is payable by card at the AIMA office on the day of your biometrics appointment. This is the residence permit processing fee.
It is not invoiced in advance. You pay it in person, by debit or credit card, during the appointment. For a couple, budget approximately €12,000 for this stage alone.
Children also require a fee, though at a reduced rate — confirm the exact amount with your law firm before the appointment.
Legal Fees
Your Portuguese law firm charges fees covering the entire programme lifecycle: initial Golden Visa application, biometrics preparation, two-year card renewals, and eventually the citizenship application. These fees are agreed directly with the law firm at engagement and vary by firm.
Expect to pay separately for: initial application filing, each biometrics preparation and attendance, each two-year renewal, and the final citizenship submission. Some firms offer all-inclusive packages; others charge per stage. Clarify this upfront.
Card Renewal Fees: Every Two Years
The residence card is valid for two years and must be renewed. Government renewal fees are payable at each renewal and are expected to be similar in scale to the initial biometrics fee. Your law firm advises on the exact amounts in advance of each renewal.
Between biometrics and your first card renewal, there are no ongoing annual government fees.
Portuguese Bank Account Fees
A Portuguese bank account is required for the programme. Account maintenance and transfer fees are agreed with the bank at account opening. These are typically modest — comparable to standard international banking fees — but they are ongoing for the duration of the programme.
Foreign Exchange and Transfer Fees
The qualifying investment must be transferred to Portugal in euros. If your capital is held in another currency (USD, GBP, etc.), you will incur FX conversion costs. These can be significant on a €500,000 transfer, so it's worth using a specialist FX provider rather than your bank's standard exchange rate. The difference can easily be several thousand dollars.
Citizenship Application Fees
At the five-year mark, when you apply for Portuguese citizenship with the IRN, additional costs include: the IRN government processing fee, legal fees for your law firm to prepare and submit the citizenship application, current criminal record certificates (which must be recently issued), apostille fees, and certified translation costs for any documents not in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish.
A2 Language Certificate
The CIPLE exam costs approximately €75 per person. If you choose the PLA course route (150+ hours of instruction), the cost will be higher and varies by provider. Each adult applicant needs their own certificate.
Travel Costs
You will need to travel to mainland Portugal for biometrics (AIMA assigns the location — you cannot choose). After that, you need to accumulate 14 days in Portugal within each two-year renewal period. While these trips can double as holidays, the flights and accommodation are a real cost to budget for, especially for families.
What It All Adds Up To
For a single applicant, a realistic total cost budget beyond the €500,000 investment is approximately €15,000–25,000 over the full five-year programme, depending on legal fees, number of renewals, and travel costs.
For a family of four (two adults, two children), budget approximately €25,000–40,000 in total programme costs beyond the investment.
These are estimates and will vary based on your law firm, travel patterns, and specific circumstances. The key costs to confirm with your law firm upfront are: their fee structure across all stages, the government fees at biometrics for each family member, and the renewal fee schedule.
What You're Getting for the Cost
For context: the total programme cost of roughly €15,000–40,000 on top of a €500,000 investment buys EU residency and a path to citizenship for your entire family. A Portuguese passport grants visa-free access to 180+ countries and the right to live and work across all 27 EU member states — permanently, and passed down to your children. Very few investment programmes anywhere in the world offer this combination of value, flexibility, and outcome.
Contact Tejo Ventures to discuss costs, timelines, and next steps for your family.
