Increase In Portugal's Cultural Heritage Route To Obtain The Golden Visa.

The Beautiful Algarve

The Cultural Heritage option of the Golden Visa Program generated €12 million in investments in Portugal in 2024, marking a 165 percent increase compared to 2023's €4.5 million.

This surge in demand has been particularly noticeable since Portugal ended the real estate investment route from its Golden Visa Program.

Although Portugal’s Residency-by-Investment scheme began in 2013, the Cultural Heritage option was officially launched in 2020.

Portugal’s Golden Visa Program grants residency to affluent foreigners who opt for one of its financial investment options. Through the Cultural Heritage option, international investors can contribute to preserving Portugal’s cultural heritage.

Since 2020, approximately €22.15 million in investments have been recorded through Portugal’s Cultural Heritage Option.

Madalena Monteiro from Liberty Legal, who obtained the data from Centro Português de Fundações (CPF), informed Imi Daily that the cultural investment pathway has experienced exceptional growth throughout 2024-2025, "accelerated by the abolishment of the real estate investment option."

The report indicates that in the first quarter of 2025 alone, this pathway brought in €850,100 to Portugal, funding 38 cultural projects nationwide.

In February this year, Portuguese authorities announced plans to expedite the processing of Golden Visa applications.

Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) outlined plans to digitalize its paper-based application system, aiming to reduce waiting times.

This means AIMA will schedule biometric appointments within 30 to 90 days after foreign investors complete their online applications. Additionally, an immigration lawyer from Lisbon-based FiO Legal, Bettino Zanini, told Bloomberg News that the agency would accept untranslated documents in languages such as Spanish, French, and English.

The lawyer also mentioned to Bloomberg News that nearly half of his 50 golden visa clients have sued Portugal due to lengthy processing delays.

If successful, these lawsuits can compel AIMA to make a decision on a golden visa application in about three months instead of three years.

Portugal’s Golden Visa Program is one of Europe’s most renowned. Despite the government removing the real estate investment option to address the housing crisis, it continues to attract many internationals.

Since the program's official launch in 2012, it has brought over €7 billion ($7.2 billion) to Portugal.