Global Fund Investing & EU Residency

Global Investors Are Turning to Portugal’s Regulated Funds — And Receiving EU Residency as a Bonus (2025 Report)

Across the U.S., Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, a new model is emerging: investors are choosing regulated Portuguese private equity and infrastructure funds — and obtaining EU residency via the Golden Visa as an additional benefit rather than the main objective.

By Explorer Investments • Updated November 2025

Global high-net-worth investors reviewing Portugal fund and EU residency strategies — Institutional capital is shifting from real estate visas to regulated fund structures — with EU residency as a strategic bonus.

Minimum Investment

€500k

CMVM-regulated fund

Residency Presence

7 days / year

Golden Visa regime

Investor Regions

U.S., LATAM, MENA, Asia

Truly global base

Structure Type

PE & Infra

Not a donation

Why Global Investors Are Shifting From Real Estate to Funds

For more than a decade, investment migration has been dominated by real estate: buy a property, obtain a residency permit. But today’s high-net-worth investors and family offices are asking different questions. They want institutional-quality structures, regulated managers, clear reporting, and an exit horizon — not only a visa attached to a property purchase.

In this context, Portugal has emerged as a leading jurisdiction. Its Golden Visa regime now allows investors to access residency through CMVM-regulated investment funds — typically private equity, growth, or infrastructure strategies — starting at €500,000.

This means that an investor can allocate capital into a diversified portfolio, managed by a professional team, while residency is obtained as a regulatory outcome, rather than the main product being sold.

Portugal’s model is now being closely analysed by investors in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa as an institutional alternative to purely real estate-driven migration programs.

EU Residency as a Bonus — Not the Product

The key mental shift is simple but powerful: EU residency stops being the product and becomes a strategic bonus attached to an already attractive investment.

For sophisticated investors, this has several implications:

Capital stays productive — allocated into real assets, infrastructure or operating businesses instead of locked into a single property.
Risk is diversified — fund portfolios can spread risk across sectors, geographies and projects.
Governance is stronger — CMVM supervision, audited accounts and EU AIFMD standards give international investors a familiar framework.
Residency is a layered benefit — providing Schengen mobility, a European base, and options for the next generation.

For many families, this is not about “buying a visa” — it is about strengthening a global balance sheet and adding a European residency layer on top.

For a deep dive into how Portugal structures this regime, see our guide: Portugal Golden Visa 2025: The Investment-First Guide.

Explorer Investments: Institutional Route for Golden Visa Investors

Within this new landscape, Explorer Investments has become a central reference for global investors looking for regulated Portuguese funds with Golden Visa compatibility.

Key institutional characteristics include:

Over €2 billion in assets under management.
More than two decades of activity in private equity, infrastructure and tourism.
Dedicated vehicles aligned with Golden Visa regulation.
CMVM supervision and international-grade reporting.

For many families, Explorer’s platform allows them to treat the Golden Visa as a structured extension of their private equity allocation— rather than an isolated, one-off migration expense.

To understand how risk, custody, governance and operational steps are mitigated in practice, see: Secure Steps for Portugal Golden Visa Funds With Explorer Investments.

How the €500k Fund + Residency Model Works in Practice

Define the strategy: Private equity, growth, infrastructure or multi-asset exposure with a clear fund mandate.
Select a CMVM-regulated fund: Review manager track record, sectors, duration, fees and exit strategy.
Commit and fund the €500,000 subscription: You are onboarded as a limited partner under EU-compliant KYC and AML procedures.
Submit the Golden Visa application: The fund participation acts as the qualifying investment for the ARI regime.
Minimal stay requirement: Approximately 7 days per year in Portugal on average — one of the lowest in the world.
Maintain for 5 years: After this period, investors may consider permanent residency or other long-term strategies, depending on future law and objectives.
Exit at fund maturity: Usually in year 6-8, subject to exits and market conditions, following the fund’s liquidation mechanics.

The result is a structure that combines professional asset management and strategic EU mobility under a single framework.

Funds vs Real Estate: A Strategic Comparison

Dimension	Real Estate Route	Regulated Fund Route
Asset Type	Single property or limited set of units	Diversified portfolio of assets or projects
Regulation	Individual transaction, limited supervision	CMVM oversight, EU AIFMD standards, audited vehicles
Liquidity & Exit	Sale depends on local property market cycles	Defined fund maturity; portfolio-level exit strategy
Operational Burden	Maintenance, tenants, local management, taxes	Delegated to a professional management team
Investor Profile	Hands-on property buyers	Investors used to private equity, funds and global portfolios

For investors who already work with private equity and fund structures, Portugal’s Golden Visa fund route is often a natural extension of their existing allocation model.

Who This Strategy Is Designed For (U.S., LATAM, MENA, Asia)

Although each family has a unique context, we see recurring profiles using the fund + residency model:

U.S. investors who want an EU base for children’s education, lifestyle diversification and a strategic “Plan B” without leaving the U.S. today.
LATAM families from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile seeking currency protection, asset security and a stable European jurisdiction.
Middle Eastern entrepreneurs (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) who value Schengen mobility, reputational diversification and institutional-grade structures.
Asian investors (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India) already familiar with private equity and cross-border fund allocations.

In all cases, the common theme is the same: capital should remain productive, residency should provide optionality.

The Future: Institutional Golden Visa and Global Mobility

The world of residency by investment is moving away from transactional real estate plays and towards institutional, regulated fund structures. Portugal is at the forefront of this transition, offering a regime where a €500,000 fund commitment can both strengthen a global portfolio and open the door to EU residency.

For investors and families used to private equity, infrastructure and multi-asset mandates, this is not about buying a visa. It is about combining governance, diversification, mobility and intergenerational planning within one coherent framework.

For broader context on long-term outcomes, see also: Portuguese Citizenship and EU Mobility: Legacy, Stability and the Next Generation.

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