Golden visa cost
What the Portugal golden visa costs in 2026
Beyond the €500,000 that goes into the fund, each person in the family pays AIMA €6,946.30 for the first card and €3,789.90 at each renewal two years later, €14,526.10 over five years at the rates in force since 1 March 2026. Lawyers and the fund's own fees come on top.
AIMA's fees
AIMA, the agency that decides residence permits, charges each applicant for the analysis of every application and then for the permit itself, the investor and each family member alike.
| Per person | Analysis | Permit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| First card | €632.10 | €6,314.20 | €6,946.30 |
| Each renewal, every two years | €632.10 | €3,157.80 | €3,789.90 |
| Permanent residence, from year five | €632.10 | €8,840.00 | €9,472.10 |
Over the five years the investment must be held, that is the first card and the renewals at years two and four:
| AIMA's fees over five years | 2026 rates |
|---|---|
| One applicant | €14,526.10 |
| A couple | €29,052.20 |
| A couple with two children | €58,104.40 |
The rates rise with inflation each March, so a family that files in 2027 pays the table in force then.
Lawyers
Lawyers' fees vary more than anything else here. Guides that survey them put the main applicant at about €4,000 to €6,000 and each family member at €1,000 to €2,500, the largest firms at €20,000 to €30,000 a family, and each renewal at around €1,500. Ask for one fixed figure for the whole family, the renewals included, before you sign.
The fund's own fees
The fund charges for managing your money for as long as you hold the units: a subscription fee when you enter, a management fee every year, and a share of the gains above a hurdle. The management fee weighs most, because you pay it every year of the term: at 2% it is €10,000 a year on €500,000, €60,000 over a six-year term. The Portugal golden visa funds page shows each open fund's fees side by side.
The smaller costs
A criminal record certificate from your country, apostilled and translated into Portuguese; certified translations of the family documents; the Portuguese bank account; and the flights for the biometrics appointment and your seven days. None of them changes the total much, and all of them are cheaper done once for the whole family.
What comes back
The €500,000 buys units in the fund, and they stay yours. At the end of the fund's term you receive what they are worth, which can be more or less than you put in, and a non-resident outside Portugal's list of tax havens pays no Portuguese tax on it. Americans also owe US tax on the fund, which the golden visa for US citizens explains.
Questions about the cost
How much does the Portugal golden visa cost in total?
€500,000 goes into the fund, and over five years each person pays AIMA €14,526.10 at the 2026 rates. Lawyers and the fund's own fees come on top, and they vary most from one family to the next.
Do I get the €500,000 back?
You get what your units are worth when the fund returns the money at the end of its term, which can be more or less than you invested.
Tell us who would apply with you, and we work out your family's full cost with you in a free consultation.
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