The Portugal Golden Visa Fund lets US citizens pursue residency via LXL Ventures, a CMVM-regulated private equity fund for Americans under Portugal’s post-2023 rules.
Instead of real estate, the newly launched investment pathway now centers on a €500,000 investment into an approved fund, and LXL Ventures is currently the only fund explicitly structured to meet both Golden Visa requirements and US tax compliance.
The fund is marketed as a simplified route for Americans navigating cross-border tax issues, banking restrictions, and Golden Visa paperwork.
It is legitimate, regulated, and viable for residency but it carries the same risks, costs, and long processing times inherent to all Golden Visa funds.
My contact details are hello@adamfayed.com and WhatsApp +44-7393-450-837 if you have any questions.
The information in this article is for general guidance only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice, and is not a recommendation or solicitation to invest. Some facts may have changed since the time of writing.
This article covers:
- LXL Ventures Portugal Golden Visa Fund Explained
- Portugal Golden Visa Updates
- What is LXL Ventures?
- How to get Portugal Golden Visa Fund
Key Takeaways:
- LXL Ventures is a Golden Visa fund built expressly for US citizens.
- The minimum investment is €500,000 with a required five-year holding period.
- It offers PFIC-friendly reporting and FATCA-compatible onboarding.
- Its portfolio mixes Portuguese and US assets while meeting Golden Visa rules.
What is the Portugal Golden Visa Fund Investment?
LXL Ventures is a legitimate Portugal Golden Visa investment vehicle, regulated by Portuguese securities authority CMVM.
It is structured to comply with the post-2023 Golden Visa rules, which removed most real estate options and placed the focus on investment funds.
The fund meets the regulatory requirement that at least 60% of capital must be deployed into Portuguese companies or assets, and its legal architecture has been built specifically to support residency-by-investment applications.
This combination aligns with Portugal’s requirement that qualifying funds contribute to the real economy rather than property speculation.
The remaining 40% of the portfolio is deployed in US-based securities, giving investors exposure to markets they already understand. This cross-border approach is central to LXL’s value proposition.
What makes it unusual is positioning. Most Golden Visa funds simply accept Americans; this one is intentionally marketed only to US citizens.
It integrates PFIC reporting, QEF election support, FATCA-compatible custodians, and the broader cross-border tax framework Americans need.
In short, it sits in the small category of funds explicitly engineered around both Portuguese immigration rules and US tax compliance, rather than forcing US investors to adapt retroactively.
How the Portugal Golden Visa Fund Works
Portugal’s 2023 amendments removed residential real estate, commercial property, and redevelopment programs from Golden Visa eligibility. The fund investment route is now the primary pathway for foreign investors.
The rules are straightforward:
- Minimum investment: €500,000 into a qualifying investment or venture capital fund.
- Fund requirements:
– Must be regulated by the CMVM.
– Must invest ≥60% of capital in Portugal-based assets or companies.
– Cannot invest in residential property or real estate development. - Investor presence:
– At least 7 days in Portugal during the first 2 years.
– At least 14 days across years 3–5. - Residency timeline:
– Approval grants renewable residence for up to 5 years.
– After 5 years of legal residence, investors may apply for permanent residency or citizenship (subject to language and legal requirements; political debates may affect future citizenship timelines).
Because the fund route is now the main surviving option, most new applicants choose regulated fund subscriptions as their entry point.
LXL Ventures is one of these, marketed as a simplified and tax-aligned choice for Americans navigating both countries’ compliance systems.
LXL Ventures Portugal Golden Visa Fund Process
The investment amount must be fully subscribed into the fund before the residency application can be filed, and proof of the transaction including source-of-funds documentation and bank verification is part of the immigration packet.
Americans must also open a Portuguese bank account or use a FATCA-compatible custodian endorsed by the fund, since the investment cannot be made directly from a US account without proper due diligence.
Once the investment is made, the mandatory holding period is five years, aligned with the duration of the Golden Visa residency timeline.
Investors cannot freely redeem or withdraw capital without jeopardizing their status. Redemptions, if allowed at all, typically occur only at the end of the fund’s lifecycle.
This illiquidity is a fundamental part of the Golden Visa model: the investment must remain intact until the applicant reaches permanent residency or citizenship eligibility. Early withdrawal almost always undermines the immigration process.
LXL Ventures Portugal Golden Visa Fund Residency Requirements
The residency obligations for Golden Visa investors remain light and unchanged despite the 2023 reforms. US citizens must spend at least seven days in Portugal during the first two years, followed by fourteen days across years three to five.
These can be non-consecutive travel days, and short visits count. The program is intentionally built for minimal physical presence, making it attractive to professionals, retirees, and globally mobile individuals.
Processing times, however, are still slow. In practice, applicants should expect 12 to 18 months from initial submission to receiving the first residence permit, despite government efforts to reduce backlog.
After approval, the permit is renewable until the five-year mark. At that point, investors may apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship, provided they pass the A2 language exam and meet all legal criteria.
Citizenship timelines remain politically sensitive, with periodic debates about extending residency requirements, but the Golden Visa continues to provide a structured route toward long-term status in the country.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process for US Citizens
The Portugal Golden Visa fund route for US citizens follows five core steps: securing a NIF, opening a FATCA-compliant bank account, subscribing to the €500,000 fund, submitting the AIMA application, and completing ongoing renewals.
Obtain a NIF (Portuguese tax number).
This is the first requirement for any financial or legal transaction in Portugal. Investors must appoint a tax representative—typically through a law firm or authorized service—to secure the NIF on their behalf. The NIF is used for banking, investment subscription, and all Golden Visa filings.
Open a FATCA-compatible Portuguese bank account.
US citizens cannot use just any European or Portuguese bank due to FATCA restrictions. The investor must open an account with a bank or custodian that accepts US persons and provides the correct annual reporting. This step requires passport copies, proof of address, and source-of-funds documentation.
Subscribe to the LXL Ventures fund.
The €500,000 investment must be transferred into the Portuguese account and then into the fund. Investors must present evidence of source of income, bank transfer receipts, and confirmation of units subscribed. The fund manager issues a subscription declaration required for the Golden Visa filing.
Submit the SEF (now AIMA) immigration application.
Through legal counsel, the applicant submits the full Golden Visa package: proof of investment, NIF, bank documents, clean criminal record, passport copies, biometric data scheduling, and health insurance. Once accepted, the file enters processing, which may take 12 to 18 months.
Maintain renewals and provide updated documentation.
After approval, the investor receives a two-year residence permit, followed by renewals until the five-year threshold is reached. Each renewal requires updated criminal checks, proof of maintaining the investment, biometric data, and evidence of meeting the minimum stay requirements.
This structured sequence remains the backbone of the Golden Visa process.
Provided the investment stays intact and the administrative requirements are met on schedule, US citizens can maintain legal residency in Portugal and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship after the fifth year.
Why The LXL Ventures Portugal Golden Visa Fund Targets US Citizens Only
Most Portuguese funds do not go out of their way to accommodate US investors because of the regulatory complexity created by American tax law. LXL Ventures was built around these challenges.
The fund provides PFIC-compliant reporting, including support for QEF elections, which helps Americans avoid punitive tax treatment under default PFIC rules.
It also integrates FATCA and Form 8938 requirements, ensuring that annual information is aligned with US disclosure obligations.
Banking and custody are also part of the design. Many European financial institutions avoid onboarding US persons due to FATCA burdens, which leads to bottlenecks for Golden Visa applicants.
LXL’s ecosystem includes partners and custodians that are willing and able to hold assets for Americans.
The result is a fund marketed exclusively to US citizens because it is tailored to the specific frictions they face like tax, compliance, reporting, banking access, and cross-border regulation, rather than simply accepting American investors as an afterthought.
Is LXL Ventures a Good Option for American Investors?
LXL Ventures is a suitable option for Americans who want a compliant, straightforward path into the Portugal Golden Visa without navigating the usual tax and banking obstacles that most European funds create.
Its structure appeals to investors who prefer a hybrid portfolio with familiar US exposure, clear PFIC reporting, and a legal framework designed to satisfy both Portuguese immigration rules and US tax law.
Those who value administrative simplicity and want fewer moving parts in cross-border filings will find the fund’s integrated ecosystem an advantage.
LXL Ventures Disadvantages
The fund is less appropriate for investors seeking liquidity, aggressive returns, or full control over allocation decisions. Golden Visa funds are inherently illiquid, and LXL is no exception.
The five-year lock-in, management fees, and a portfolio tilted toward regulatory compliance rather than active performance make it unsuitable for anyone prioritizing rapid growth or easy exit.
It is also a poor fit for investors who hope to use retirement accounts; using an IRA for Golden Visa investment introduces significant tax risk that most professionals describe as prohibitive.
The practical decision comes down to three factors:
- whether the investor can commit €500,000 for at least five years without needing access to the capital;
- whether they accept the slow, uncertainty-laden nature of Portugal’s immigration processing; and
- whether they prefer a fund engineered for US tax compliance over piecing together cross-border accountants and multiple advisors.
For Americans who want a lower-friction Golden Visa experience and can accept the program’s inherent risks, LXL Ventures offers a purpose-built, legally straightforward solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I invest more than €500,000 into the LXL Ventures fund for additional benefits?
Yes. Investors may subscribe above the minimum if they want greater exposure or diversification within the fund, but higher investment does not accelerate residency, shorten processing times, or change the five-year pathway to permanent residency or citizenship.
Does LXL Ventures guarantee returns or capital protection?
No. Portugal Golden Visa funds cannot legally offer guaranteed returns or capital protection. Performance depends on the fund’s underlying assets, market conditions, and management strategy. Investors must treat the investment as higher-risk, long-term, and illiquid.
Does investing in the LXL Ventures fund give me the right to work in Portugal?
Yes. Golden Visa residence holders may work, study, or operate a business in Portugal without restriction. The visa is not limited to passive residence.
Can my family also get residency through my LXL Ventures investment?
Yes. Spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents may be included in a single Golden Visa application. One €500,000 investment can support the entire family unit, though additional documentation is required for each dependent.
Pained by financial indecision?
Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters with over 830million answer views on Quora, a widely sold book on Amazon, and a contributor on Forbes.
