Portugal Global Talent Residency

The program offers a two-year residence permit (renewable for three years) with eligibility for Portuguese permanent residency after five years, and a path to Portuguese citizenship thereafter (seven years of legal residency for EU or CPLP nationals, ten years for all others). It targets entrepreneurs, investors, and highly qualified executives rather than researchers, allowing them to obtain EU residency by contributing to Portuguese university research, innovation hubs, and start-up accelerators rather than purchasing real estate.

Participants should engage with Portugal's academic ecosystem through mentorship, advisory roles, consultancy, or support for early-stage startups, while maintaining their international business activities.

The all-inclusive €170,000 investment for a family of four is paid in phases across application milestones. Processing typically takes four to six months from application to residence approval.

To qualify for the Portugal Global Talent Residency Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

University Research Contribution

• €170,000 all-inclusive investment for a family of four, paid in phases across application milestones.
• Contributions support university research laboratories, innovation centers, and startup acceleration programs at partner institutions.

Professional Background

• Strong academic or professional credentials, typically including a degree and approximately ten years of relevant experience.
• The program targets entrepreneurs, investors, remote professionals, and highly qualified executives with sufficient financial resources to cover contributions and living expenses.

Partner Institutions

• Participants are matched with Portuguese universities, including the University of Coimbra, the University of Algarve, ISTEC Lisbon, the University of Évora, the University of Beira Interior, Politécnico da Guarda, and NOVA Medical School.
• Each institution offers specialized research areas from marine science and renewable energy to digital transformation and medical technology.

• Freedom of movement (upon approval) within Schengen
• Freedom of settlement (upon citizenship) within Schengen
• Path to citizenship
• Minimal physical presence requirements
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship
• Ability to include 3+ generations of family members in the application
• Lower cost of living
• Safety and security
• Warm climate
• Enhanced business access to large economies

After five years of residency, an investor may apply for permanent residency, which is a separate status from citizenship.

Under Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (in force 19 May 2026), the naturalization clock depends on the applicant's original nationality: EU and CPLP nationals may apply after seven years of legal residency, while all other nationalities must complete ten years before applying. The qualifying period is counted from the date the first residence permit is issued. Naturalization decisions can take an additional year or more after filing.

To obtain citizenship, the applicant must pass a Portuguese language test (A2) and meet standard naturalization requirements, including demonstrating ties to Portugal. All contribution commitments must be fulfilled throughout the residency period. Applications filed before 19 May 2026 continue to be processed under the previous five-year rule.

Browse 195 countries' paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.

Applications for this program may be directed to: Agency for Migration and Asylum (AIMA)

Legislation upon which this program is based: Immigration Law 23/2007 and Decree-Law 01/2024