Sources and methodology
Where the facts come from
I use primary sources first and say which source each article relies on. The main ones:
- AIMA, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum that took over from SEF: residence permit for investment, Art. 90-A, with the investment options, family members, documents, the stay rule and the list of applicable laws (Law 23/2007, Law 56/2023, Regulatory Decree 84/2007 and Ordinance 307/2023 on fees).
- Diário da República: Organic Law 1/2026 of 18 May, which amended the Nationality Law (Law 37/81), and the Ministry of Justice note on the new rules in force from 19 May 2026.
- Cultura Portugal: residence permit for investment in the cultural sector.
- Practice notes, budgets, timelines and rule changes published by BRIDGES on its pages about the Portugal Golden Visa, its Portugal Golden Visa guide, its articles on the 2023 to 2026 changes and the AIMA queue, and the Greece Golden Visa. When I rely on BRIDGES data, I say so.
Sources by article
- The complete guide: AIMA page on Art. 90-A; Organic Law 1/2026; BRIDGES programme page and its article on the changes.
- Costs and investment options: AIMA page (investment options and documents per option); Cultura Portugal page; BRIDGES articles on costs, funds and hidden costs.
- Application process and documents: AIMA page (general documents, pre-registration, card validity); BRIDGES programme page, its article on the residence card and AIMA, and its analysis of the queue.
- Family members: AIMA page (family members and family reunification); BRIDGES programme page and its article on family reunification.
- Portugal or Greece: AIMA page; Organic Law 1/2026; BRIDGES pages on the Portugal and Greece Golden Visas and its comparison of the two.
- Keeping the status, taxes and citizenship: AIMA page; Organic Law 1/2026 and the Ministry of Justice note; BRIDGES articles on renewal, permanent residence, tax residency, the tax regimes and naturalisation.
How I check and date information
- Each article shows an "Updated" date. It changes only when the facts are reviewed, not for cosmetic edits.
- Rules are quoted as they stand in the official texts on the date of review. Where a figure comes from practice rather than from an official text, such as a typical budget, a waiting time or a fund fee, I say whose figure it is.
- Where a BRIDGES article and the official text differ, I follow the official text. I do not publish client stories, approval rates or statistics I cannot verify, and I leave out state fees that I could not confirm for the current year.
How often the guides are updated
All articles are reviewed at least once a quarter, and immediately after AIMA, the government or parliament changes the rules. The rules for counting residence towards citizenship are still being clarified by regulation and in court, so I watch that part most closely.
Corrections
If you find an error, please tell us through the contact page. Corrections are made and the update date is changed.