Golden Visa for Americans: Leaving the US for Portugal

Why Americans are increasingly looking at Portugal

American citizens' interest in the Portuguese Golden Visa is not new — but it has grown markedly in recent years. Political instability, concerns about healthcare access, rising costs of living in major American cities, and the possibility of remote working from Europe are factors that have led a growing number of Americans to consider Portugal as a residency alternative. The Golden Visa is, for many, the most practical mechanism to formalise that move.

The Golden Visa for Americans: what is the same and what is different

The conditions of the Golden Visa are the same for all non-EU applicants, regardless of nationality — the investment requirements, timelines, and rights granted are identical. What changes for Americans is primarily the practical aspects related to their tax situation and the implications of holding residency in Portugal as an American citizen.

The tax question: what changes when leaving the US for Portugal

This is, by far, the most complex aspect for American applicants — and the one most frequently underestimated. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that taxes its citizens based on citizenship, not just residency. This means that an American with a Golden Visa in Portugal continues to have tax obligations in the US, even if they spend most of the year in Portugal or their income source is European.

In practice, this means:

• Continuing to file the American tax return (Form 1040) every year, regardless of where they live
• Reporting foreign bank accounts (FBAR — FinCEN 114) if the total balance exceeds certain thresholds
• Complying with FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) obligations regarding foreign financial assets
• Managing potential double taxation — Portugal and the US — using the tax treaties in place between the two countries

The NHR tax regime and its current status

The NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) tax regime, which for years was one of Portugal's greatest attractions for foreigners, was reformed in 2024. The current regime — designated IFICI — maintains some benefits for certain categories of taxpayers, but under different conditions from the original NHR. For Americans thinking of becoming tax residents in Portugal, this question deserves updated analysis with a specialised tax advisor.

Path to citizenship: 10 years for Americans

Under the new May 2026 nationality law, American citizens — not being EU or CPLP members — have a naturalization timeline of ten years of legal residency in Portugal. This is three years longer than for Brazilians or other CPLP citizens, but still competitive compared to other available European programs.

Dual citizenship: US and Portugal

The US allows dual citizenship, although it does not actively promote it. An American who obtains Portuguese citizenship does not automatically lose their American citizenship. However, there are nuances — notably the obligation to continue meeting American tax obligations even with a Portuguese passport — that make this topic more complex than for applicants of other nationalities.

Specific documentation for American applicants

• Criminal record: obtained from the FBI (FBI Identity History Summary) and apostilled by the US Department of State
• American apostille is done by the Secretary of State of the state where the document was issued (for state documents) or by the federal Department of State (for federal documents)
• Documents issued in English require a sworn translation into Portuguese by a Portugal-recognised translator