Fund-Route Specialists for U.S. Clients
End-to-end coordination—from eligibility and documents to filings and renewals—built for American investors.
| Feature | PTPortugal | ITItaly | GRGreece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | €250K - €500K | €250K - €500K | €250K - €500K |
| Investment Type | Funds, Cultural Heritage | Real Estate, Funds | Real Estate, Funds |
| Tax Program Duration | 10 years (NHR 2.0) | 15 years (Flat Tax) | 15 years (Non-Dom) |
| Professional Income Tax | 20% (qualifying jobs) | €100K/year flat rate | €100K/year flat rate |
| Cryptocurrency Taxation | Tax-free (365+ days) | Standard rates apply | Standard rates apply |
| Annual Stay Requirement | 7 days | 183 days | None |
| Citizenship Timeline | 5 years* (proposed 10) | 10 years | 7 years |
| Processing Status | Significant backlog | Regular processing | Regular processing |
Step-by-step timeline for securing your Portuguese Golden Visa
Choose between €500K investment fund or €250K cultural heritage donation. Submit digital application through AIMA portal. Current processing takes 12+ months due to backlog.
Upon approval, consider Portuguese tax residency for NHR 2.0 benefits. Evaluate eligibility for qualifying professions under strict new criteria.
Enjoy visa-free travel in Schengen Area, potential tax benefits if eligible for NHR 2.0, and maintain investment for 5-year minimum period.
Apply for Portuguese citizenship after 5 years (current rule) or potentially 10 years if proposed changes are enacted. Gain full EU citizenship benefits
As of 2025, the main investment options are:
Real estate investment options were removed in late 2023.
NHR 2.0 (IFICI) replaced the original NHR program in 2025. Requirements include:
The program offers 20% tax on qualifying income but has much stricter eligibility than the original NHR.
Portugal faces significant Golden Visa processing delays:
The Portuguese government proposed in June 2025 to extend citizenship requirements:
Portugal's crypto taxation rules since 2023:
| Dimension | Zoark | Typical Immigration Firm | General Practice Law Firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Portugal fund-route residency for U.S. investors | Multiple visa types; broad audience | General legal services; immigration as one practice |
| U.S. Compliance | Built around IRS, FATCA & FBAR routines; coordination with your CPA | Limited U.S.-specific processes | Outside scope |
| IRA/401(k)/Trust Workflows | Custody & participation workflows aligned to eligible funds | Not offered | Not offered |
| Advice Boundaries | No recommendations or ratings; fact-only fund coverage & eligibility checks | May provide introductions; approach varies | N/A |
| Case Handling | Attorney-led filings with documented SLAs | Volume model; variable oversight | Depends on team; immigration not always core |
| Privacy | Privacy-first handling; NDA on request | Standard intake policies | Standard firm policies |
| Fees | Transparent, fixed-scope engagement | Mix of flat + add-ons | Primarily hourly billing |
| Time to file-ready | Typically ~10 business days after complete documents | Varies | Varies |
| Ongoing Support | Renewals and audit-trail documentation | Limited | Limited |
End-to-end coordination—from eligibility and documents to filings and renewals—built for American investors.
Workflows designed around IRS, FATCA and FBAR requirements; we collaborate with your CPA and counsel.
Clear custody and subscription steps for qualified accounts and trusts participating in eligible Portuguese funds.
Confidential handling, clean audit trail, and NDA availability for family offices and HNW families.
Zoark is not an investment, tax, or legal adviser. We do not recommend or rate funds. Information is factual and for eligibility/process only. Timelines depend on client document completeness and government processing, which are outside our control.
