--- title: "Portugal Golden Visa · €500k company vs Italy Investor Visa · €500k company" url: https://settleanywhere.com/compare/italy-investor-company-500k-vs-portugal-ari-company-500k/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Head to head # Portugal Golden Visa · €500k company vs Italy Investor Visa · €500k company Two investor routes side by side: money, stay, family, fees and tax, from the official sources. The official authority decides every application. ## Key differences - **Money** Portugal Golden Visa · €500k company asks for an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k; Italy Investor Visa · €500k company for an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k. - **First stay** Both give a first stay of 2 yrs. - **Renewal** Renewable on both. - **Permanent residence** After 5 years of residence on both. - **Citizenship** After 10 years of residence on both. - **Family** Spouse can work on both. - **Government fees** The first government fee listed is €843 ≈ $940 for Portugal Golden Visa · €500k company and €116 ≈ $130 for Italy Investor Visa · €500k company; the table lists every fee. - **Tax residence** Portugal: more than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year). Italy: at least 183 days (tax year (184 days in leap years)). ## Side by side | | Portugal [Golden Visa · €500k company](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/ari-company-500k/) | Italy [Investor Visa · €500k company](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/investor-company-500k/) | | --- | --- | --- | | **Country:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company [Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company [Italy](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/) | | **Type:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company Investing | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company Investing | | **Money needed:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k** | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k** | | **First stay:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **2 yrs** | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **2 yrs** | | **Renewal:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **Renewable** Details Valid two years from issue and renewed in two-year periods while one of the investment requirements is still met; the investment must run at least five years. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **Renewable** Details The permit lasts two years and renews in three-year periods while the investment or donation is maintained; the renewal request is filed at least 60 days before the permit expires and needs a new committee clearance. [Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/it/investor-visa-come-funziona) [Ministry of Economic Development](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/images/documenti/decreto_interministeriale_21_luglio_2017_ingresso_e_soggiorno_investitori.pdf) | | **Spouse can work:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **Can work** | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **Can work** | | **Government fees:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **€843 ≈ $940 · €8,419 ≈ $9,400 · +1 more** Details €843 ≈ $940 Application review fee for the investment residence permit, which also covers the holder's family reunification applications; EUR 632.10 (≈ $710) when filed digitally. €8,419 ≈ $9,400 Fee for granting the investment residence permit; EUR 6,314.20 (≈ $7,050) when applied for digitally. €4,210 ≈ $4,700 Fee for each renewal of the investment residence permit; EUR 3,157.80 (≈ $3,530) when applied for digitally. | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **€116 ≈ $130 · €30.46 ≈ $34** Details €116 ≈ $130 National long-stay visa (type D) fee for work and family reasons, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate. €30.46 ≈ $34 Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable. | | **Permanent residence:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **After 5 years of residence** Details Permanent residence needs five years on a temporary residence authorization, no serious recent conviction, means of subsistence, housing and basic Portuguese. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **After 5 years of residence** Details After five years of continuous investment an EU long-term residence permit can be requested; it also needs income at least the annual social allowance and an Italian language test. [Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/it/investor-visa-come-funziona) [Normattiva](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1998-07-25;286~art9) | | **Citizenship:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **After 10 years of residence** Details Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence on any residence title or visa (7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU states), plus Portuguese language and culture, and means of subsistence. [Diário da República / Assembleia da República](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **After 10 years of residence** Details Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence (4 years for EU citizens) and Italian at level B1 or above. [Ministero dell'Interno](https://libertaciviliimmigrazione.dlci.interno.gov.it/temi/concessione-della-cittadinanza-italiana-residenza-sul-territorio-italiano-ai-sensi-dellart-9) [Normattiva](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1992-02-05;91~art9) | | **Processing:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **Up to 90 days** Details AIMA must decide a residence permit application within 90 days, extendable by 30 days in exceptional cases; renewals within 60 days. The ARI file also requires prior online pre-registration. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **Up to 30 days** Details The investor committee issues its clearance (nulla osta) within 30 days; the residence permit is then decided within 90 days. [Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/it/investor-visa-come-funziona) [Normattiva](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1998-07-25;286~art5) | | **Where to apply:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **Inside the country** Details Enter Portugal on a valid Schengen visa and apply to AIMA within 90 days of first entry; no residence visa is needed. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **From abroad** Details Request the clearance through the government Investor Visa portal, then apply for the visa at the Italian consulate within 6 months. [Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/it/investor-visa-come-funziona) | | **Employer needed:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **No** | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **No** | | **Tax residence test:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company **More than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year)** | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **At least 183 days (tax year (184 days in leap years))** | | **Foreign-source income:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income. | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company **Flat lump sum EUR 300,000** Details Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years. | | **Tax note:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company [Tax relief · Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/tax/) | | **Official source:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company [Embassy of Italy in Pretoria](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/en/) | | **Checked against official sources:** | *1* Golden Visa · €500k company 12 Oct 2026 · [Rule changed 18 May 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/2026-05-18-portugal-c53a9d/) | *2* Investor Visa · €500k company 12 Oct 2026 | ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. **Official sources** ### Portugal Golden Visa · €500k company 1. [Residence Authorization for Investment Activity (ARI), Art. 90-A](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-investimento-art-90-o-a) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10 3. [AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026)](https://aima.gov.pt/documents/tabela-de-taxas-e-demais-encargos-a-cobrar-pelos-procedimentos-administrativos.pdf) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-em-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-2) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10 5. [Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11 ### Italy Investor Visa · €500k company 1. [Investor Visa for Italy Program (Law 232/2016)](https://ambpretoria.esteri.it/en/news/dall_ambasciata/2024/05/visa-for-italy-investor-program/) · Embassy of Italy in Pretoria (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Investor visa: categories and documents](https://conslondra.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/investors/) · Consulate General of Italy in London (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Investor Visa checklist (updated 21 July 2026)](https://conssydney.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/INVESTOR-VISA-checklist.pdf) · Consulate General of Italy in Sydney (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10 4. [Investor Visa for Italy: how it works (visa, residence permit, renewal)](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/it/investor-visa-come-funziona) · Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy · checked 2026-10-10 5. [Interministerial decree of 21 July 2017 on entry and residence of investors](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/images/documenti/decreto_interministeriale_21_luglio_2017_ingresso_e_soggiorno_investitori.pdf) · Ministry of Economic Development · checked 2026-10-10 6. [Cost for a visa and how to pay](https://ambaddisabeba.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/quanto-costa-un-visto-e-come-pagare/) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa) · checked 2026-10-11 7. [How, where and how much: applying for a residence permit](https://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/come-dove-e-quanto-costa) · State Police (Polizia di Stato) · checked 2026-10-11 8. [Investor Visa for Italy: programme overview](https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/en/) · Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · checked 2026-10-11 9. [Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 26-bis: entry and residence of investors](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1998-07-25;286~art26bis) · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12 10. [Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 30: residence permit for family reasons](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1998-07-25;286~art30) · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12 11. [Legislative Decree 286/1998, Articles 28-30 (family reunification and family-reasons permit)](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1998-07-25;286~art29) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-10 12. [Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 9 (EU long-term resident permit)](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1998-07-25;286~art9) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11 13. [Citizenship by residence, Art. 9 of Law 91/1992](https://libertaciviliimmigrazione.dlci.interno.gov.it/temi/concessione-della-cittadinanza-italiana-residenza-sul-territorio-italiano-ai-sensi-dellart-9) · Ministero dell'Interno · checked 2026-10-11 14. [Law 91/1992, Art. 9.1 (Italian language level B1 for citizenship)](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1992-02-05;91~art9) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11 15. [Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 5 (residence permit)](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1998-07-25;286~art5) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11