For many families, the Portugal Golden Visa is no longer just a “Plan B passport project”. It is a way to rebase their lives in a safe, sunny EU country with good schools, accessible healthcare and a clear path to citizenship – underpinned by a regulated investment fund rather than random property.
By Explorer Investments • Updated 9 December 2025
Route
Golden Visa
Fund-based
Timeline
~5 yrs
To citizenship app.
Focus
Family
Schools & lifestyle
Investment
€500k
CMVM fund
“The most successful Golden Visa projects are not just about the passport. They are about designing a life that your children will thank you for – with schooling, healthcare and community built in from day one.”
Portugal consistently scores highly on indices of quality of life, safety and cost of living. For families, the draw is usually:
The Golden Visa is a residency by investment program. The most robust route today is the fund route, where a family:
For a deeper technical look at fund structures, see our article on private equity funds for the Portugal Golden Visa.
One of the biggest drivers for Golden Visa families is schooling. In and around Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve you will find:
Many families choose a hybrid strategy: start with international schools to ease the transition, then consider more local options as children pick up Portuguese.
Portugal offers both a public healthcare system and a wide range of private options. Many Golden Visa families:
A Golden Visa family plan stands or falls on the quality of its underlying investment. CMVM-regulated funds help by offering:
Explorer’s role is to make sure that the immigration logic (5-year timeline, renewals) and the investment logic (risk, returns, exits) are aligned rather than in conflict.
A typical path for a Golden Visa family:
No. The Golden Visa allows for a phased move. Some families start with part-time stays and only later transition to full residency.
Lisbon, Cascais and the Algarve are common choices because of international schools and expat communities. Porto is another strong contender for families who prefer a slightly quieter, more traditional environment.
In many cases, yes – for example, if you later take up employment or start a local business. Your legal team can advise on transitions.
A family move is bigger than a Golden Visa. But the Golden Visa – when anchored in a CMVM-regulated fund – is often the most efficient legal and financial backbone for that move.
Explorer can help you translate your goals around lifestyle, schooling and long-term citizenship into a concrete investment and residency structure that makes sense over the full five-year horizon.
Get personalized guidance on the fund process. Our Investor Relations team can clarify the steps, discuss Explorer's fund options, and connect you with trusted legal experts. Schedule your confidential, no-obligation consultation today.
André Bandeira
ab@explorerinvestments.com
Maria Campos Silva
mcs@explorerinvestments.com
Step-by-step Portugal Golden Visa checklist for the €500k fund route in 2026: CMVM fund selection, NIF and bank account, documentation, subscription, application filing and common mistakes to avoid.
Canadian interest in the Algarve has surged thanks to direct Toronto–Faro flights, mild winters and lower living costs. This guide explains how Canadians are using the D7 passive income visa, the D2 entrepreneur visa and the €500k Portugal Golden Visa fund route to relocate, invest and secure EU residency.
Discover how investors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the wider GCC are using €500k CMVM-regulated Portugal Golden Visa funds to secure EU residency, euro exposure and a five-year path to citizenship for their families.
Get your complete, free guide to the Portuguese Golden Visa. Learn how to invest with confidence through Explorer Investments, the country's largest private equity fund.
André Bandeira
ab@explorerinvestments.comMaria Campos Silva
mcs@explorerinvestments.comCopyright © 2025 Explorer Investments
It is recommended to consult Chapter V of Decree-Law nº 162/2014, of October 31st, published in the Official Gazette, as well as its revision by Law nº 2/2020, of March 31st. The information included here is of a general nature, and therefore each potential investor should seek independent advice (e.g., legal, financial, tax, etc.)