Portugal Experiences Surge in Cultural Heritage Golden Visa Applications, Reaching €12 Million in Investments

Portugal Experiences Surge in Cultural Heritage Golden Visa Applications, Reaching €12 Million in Investments

Portugal’s Cultural Heritage Golden Visa Sees Surge in Investment, Reaching €12 Million

Key Insights:

  1. Portugal’s Cultural Heritage Golden Visa attracted nearly €12 million in investments in 2024.
  2. This marks a 165% increase compared to €4.5 million in 2023.
  3. Since its introduction in 2020, the program has accumulated €22.15 million in total investments.

Cultural Heritage Investment Sees Significant Growth

Portugal’s Cultural Heritage option under the Golden Visa Program saw a remarkable rise in investments, reaching nearly €12 million in 2024—a 165% increase from the €4.5 million recorded in 2023.

The surge in interest followed Portugal’s decision to remove real estate investment as an eligibility route for its Golden Visa Program. Since its launch in 2020, the Cultural Heritage pathway has contributed €22.15 million toward preserving Portugal’s rich cultural heritage.

According to Imi Daily, data obtained from Centro Português de Fundações (CPF) shows that the Cultural Heritage investment route has grown significantly, particularly in 2024-2025, due to the abolishment of the real estate option.

In just the first quarter of 2025, this investment pathway generated €850,100, funding 38 cultural projects across Portugal.

Portugal Accelerates Golden Visa Processing

In February 2024, Portuguese authorities announced plans to expedite the processing of Golden Visa applications through digitalization.

The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) aims to:

  • Digitize the previously paper-based application process.
  • Schedule biometric appointments within 30 to 90 days of submitting an online application.
  • Accept documents in multiple languages (Spanish, French, and English) without requiring translations.

However, processing delays have led to frustration among investors. Lisbon-based immigration lawyer Bettino Zanini told Bloomberg News that nearly half of his 50 Golden Visa clients have filed lawsuits against Portugal over excessive delays.

When successful, these lawsuits can compel AIMA to process applications in three months—significantly faster than the usual three-year wait time.

Portugal’s Golden Visa Remains a Top Investment Residency Program

Despite removing real estate investment as an option to tackle the housing crisis, Portugal’s Golden Visa Program remains one of Europe’s most popular residency-by-investment schemes.

Since its launch in 2012, the program has attracted more than €7 billion ($7.2 billion) in total foreign investment.

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