Are there any language requirements for the Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa provides a flexible pathway to residency through investment, and one of its most appealing benefits is that there are no language requirements at the time of application or during the initial residency period.

Applicants do not need to speak Portuguese to apply, to receive the residency permit, or to renew it during the first five years.

However, language becomes relevant if the applicant later chooses to apply for citizenship or, in some cases, for permanent residency.

The Golden Visa is designed to be accessible to international investors, but the transition to becoming a full Portuguese citizen involves demonstrating a basic level of integration into Portuguese society, which includes a Portuguese language exam at the A2 level.

No Language Requirement During Golden Visa Residency

For the initial application and all renewals throughout the five-year residency period, applicants do not need to:

• Take any language tests

• Demonstrate any level of Portuguese fluency

• Attend mandatory classes

• Complete interviews in Portuguese

This applies to the main applicant and all dependents, including spouses, children, and eligible parents.

Golden Visa holders are free to live in Portugal full-time, part-time, or even spend minimal time in the country, as long as they satisfy the 7 days per year physical stay requirement.

This flexibility is one of the main reasons the program is attractive to global investors.

Language Requirement For Citizenship

If the applicant decides to apply for Portuguese citizenship after completing five years of legal residency, they must demonstrate basic proficiency in Portuguese.

The required level is A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

A2 is a beginner level and focuses on simple, practical daily use of the language.

An A2 speaker is able to:

• Introduce themselves and describe basic personal information

• Handle simple routine conversations in shops, restaurants, and public services

• Understand and respond to simple everyday questions

• Read basic short texts such as menus, forms, schedules, and signs

The language requirement ensures a basic level of cultural integration, but it is intentionally not demanding.

Many Golden Visa applicants pass this exam successfully after periodic study.

How To Prepare For The A2 Exam

Golden Visa residents usually complete the A2 exam through:

• Local community language schools

• Certified online Portuguese language courses

• Private tutors (in person or online)

• Government or university language programs

Most applicants typically take lessons for 6 to 18 months, depending on frequency and previous language experience.

Many start studying in the third or fourth year, allowing comfortable preparation without pressure.

The exam most commonly used is the CIPLE A2 exam, administered by the University of Lisbon’s CAPLE system.

It is available worldwide in many testing centers, so it is not necessary to be in Portugal to take it.

Language Requirement For Permanent Residency

If a Golden Visa holder chooses to apply for permanent residency instead of citizenship after five years, some routes require proof of Portuguese language at the same A2 level.

Permanent residency offers long-term residency rights without requiring renewal every two years.

However, most investors choose citizenship instead, because it provides:

• The right to vote

• A Portuguese passport

• Full EU mobility benefits

In both cases, the A2 language requirement is the same.

Conclusion

There are no language requirements to apply for or renew the Portugal Golden Visa during the first five years.

This allows investors and their families to benefit from residency without needing to relocate or learn Portuguese immediately.

Language becomes relevant only if the applicant decides to apply for citizenship or permanent residency, at which point they must demonstrate basic Portuguese at the A2 level.

This level is accessible, and most Golden Visa residents prepare gradually over time through formal or informal language learning.