Jimmy Kimmel’s Dual Citizenship Highlights Portugal’s Golden Visa Path

Golden Visa Explorer Investments Editorial Team
Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Culture, Americans

Jimmy Kimmel obtained Italian citizenship via ancestry — for most Americans, Portugal’s Golden Visa is the practical EU path.

American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel recently made headlines by obtaining Italian citizenship, joining a growing list of celebrities securing a coveted EU passport. Kimmel qualified through ancestry, tracing his roots back to his great-grandparents from Ischia. While this highlights the appeal of dual citizenship, the reality is that most Americans do not have a direct path to an EU passport through heritage.

For the vast majority, a more practical and accessible route is residency-by-investment, and Portugal's Golden Visa program stands out as the premier option.

The Golden Visa: The Realistic Path to EU Citizenship

Unlike the luck of the genetic draw, the Portugal Golden Visa is a strategic pathway based on a qualifying financial commitment. It allows individuals and their families to gain residency by making a sound investment, most commonly a €500,000 subscription to a regulated Portuguese investment fund.

This program offers what ancestry cannot: a clear, structured, and predictable timeline. After maintaining the investment and residency for just five years, participants are eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship and, with it, an EU passport.

Why Americans Choose the Portugal Golden Visa:

Accessibility: It does not require a specific bloodline, making it open to any qualifying investor.

Flexibility: The program requires a minimum stay of only seven days per year, allowing investors to maintain their lives in the U.S. while securing their future in Europe.

Full Family Benefits: The visa extends to the main applicant’s spouse, dependent children, and even dependent parents.

Strategic Investment: The fund route provides a professionally managed investment in a growing European economy.

While stories like Jimmy Kimmel’s are inspiring, they underscore a broader trend: the desire for global mobility and a Plan B. For Americans without Italian or Irish grandparents, the Portugal Golden Visa is not just a plan—it's the most practical and strategic gateway to Europe.