Portugal Might Become the First EU Country Offering the Golden Visa for Bitcoin Investors
Brittany Collins
Portugal may soon offer a new route to EU residency through its Golden Visa Program, potentially allowing investors holding Bitcoin to qualify for residency. This opportunity could arise through purchasing units in a new Bitcoin investment fund.
Alessandro Palombo, a tech entrepreneur, recently shared on his X account that the Unbound Fund, a crypto investment fund where he acts as the CEO and a co-founder, became eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa program. According to Palombo, foreigners investing €500,000 in Bitcoin through the Unbound Fund could qualify for residency by investment.
Palombo described the Unbound Fund as a secure and transparent path to Bitcoin investment. He also highlighted benefits such as minimised volatility, guaranteed by investments in BlackRock ETFs, and transparency, ensured by annual audits.
The Portuguese government has not yet confirmed this statement. If accepted, Portugal would be the first European country to allow decentralised cryptocurrency investments for obtaining residency.
Purchasing investment fund units remains a popular choice for the Portugal Golden Visa, especially since the real estate option was removed in 2023. To qualify, applicants must invest at least €500,000 in a certified fund, holding the investment for a minimum of 5 years. Typically, investors recover their funds after 6 to 10 years, often with a profit.
Other options under the Portugal Golden Visa include the following:
investment in cultural heritage — €250,000+;
investment in research — €500,000+;
investment in business — €500,000+ and creation of at least 5 jobs;
establishing a company with the creation of at least 10 jobs — no threshold specified.
Investors can obtain residency for themselves, their spouse, children under 26, and parents. To maintain residency, they must spend 7 days per year in Portugal. After holding residency for 5 years, they become eligible for permanent residency or citizenship.
Find out which countries offer the most popular Golden Visas, what the investment options are, the procedures, timeframes, and benefits.
