Many students want to pursue higher education in foreign countries but do not have the knowledge on how to do so. A golden immigration visa is a perfect opportunity for students to pursue their dream life. Eventually, a golden visa can lead to citizenship to foreign countries and be used for education, lifestyle, retirement and healthcare arbitrage.
What is a golden visa?
A golden visa is an immigration program where an individual invests into a country’s economy in exchange for residency in the country.
Golden visas typically have been utilized as a Plan B but recently have become more popular for healthcare arbitrage, lifestyle benefits, retirement arbitrage and educational expansion. Some students are brilliant and want to experience education in foreign countries where unique opportunities to grow and learn are abundant. To make this dream a reality, parents have been utilizing golden visas to give their children a chance to pursue education abroad.
How to obtain a Golden Visa for a Student?
The students’ parents must apply for the golden visa. There are a lot of different investment routes depending on which country the investor family is targeting. An analysis of the investor families goals and financial situation is imperative to deciding on what program makes the most sense for the investor.
A golden visa is an excellent opportunity for an investor and an investor’s children to pursue unique avenues in their lives. Some of the most popular countries for golden visa acquisition include Italy, Greece and Portugal. These countries provide excellent education and access to international schools and universities at a fraction of the cost compared to similar education in the United States.
Portugal Golden Visa
Portugal’s golden visa program is likely the most attractive for investors because of its low physical presence requirement. Investors only have to stay in the country 7 days per year. The Portugal Golden Visa presents a perfect unity of educational goals, potential retirement arbitrage, high quality and affordable healthcare access and a “Plan B” all while generating substantial financial savings.
Over a 10 – 12 year period, a family of four can reduce their educational and healthcare expenses significantly. This combination of flexibility for the future, substantial savings and unique optionality makes Portugal’s program particularly attractive for investors.
How does the Portugal Golden Visa support Long-term Family Planning?
Portugal offers a streamlined path for non-EU nationals to secure legal residency with minimal time spent in the country. For investors who are still active in their home country, this golden visa represents the only opportunity on the market for investors to stay in their home country and receive an EU golden visa. Once the golden visa is granted, families may reside in Portugal or abroad while still enjoying benefits such as:
– Residency rights extended to spouses, children and dependent parents
– Full access to live, work and study within the EU
– Eligibility for citizenship after five years of legal residence
A lot of Portugal GV investors spend more than the minimum physical requirement in Portugal to fully access benefits like local schooling and take advantage of the low cost of living and impressive healthcare system.
Portugal also ranks as one of the safest countries in the world and consistently scores high in quality-of-life metrics and overall happiness of its population.
Education Costs in Portugal vs USA
International schools In Portugal and the EU combine global academic standards with a unique personal community focus. Class sizes are smaller than in many U.S. schools and offer bilingual and trilingual programs, integrating English with Portuguese, French , German and Spanish.
Some families have saved up to $280k+ over a 12-year cycle for two children by enrolling in Portuguese international schools versus its United States counterparts.
University and Postgraduate Education: Portugal and EU vs. Portugal
Higer education in Portugal and in the EU can provide significant savings compared to the United States. According to the European Commission Eurydice database, annual tuition at public universities in Portugal range from € 697 to €3500 for most undergraduate programs.
In Portugal, bachelor’s degrees typically take three years instead of four which reduces tuition and living costs for the student. Degrees are congruent with the Bologna Process which makes them recognized across the EU.
Even private universities in Portugal are substantially cheaper than private universities in the United States or Canada. Universidade Catolica Portuguesa typically costs $6,000 – $15,000 which is still well below US / Canada averages.
Sources: European Commission Eurydice database (2024), official university fee schedules (2024), OECD Education at a Glance (2023).
MBA Programs Represent The Largest Gap In Value
Postgraduate business education is the most asymmetrical benefit for USA / Canadian prospective students. Savings can range from $50,000 – $80,000+ per year for select MBA programs.
We understand cost isn’t the only factor when deciding between MBA programs. Often times, networks, alumni reach and brand recognition are considered. U.S. programs may offer stronger domestic connections while European MBAs can provide broader international exposure at a fraction of the cost.
Beyond Portugal
Beyond Portugal, Golden Visa holders can leverage their residency and attend Universities anywhere in the EU. Institutions like:
– Paris Saclay University (France)
– University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
– University of Bonn (Germany)
– Sorbonne University (France
– University of Bologna (Italy)
– Complutense University of Madrid (Spain)
Many European universities offer specialized programs not widely available in the U.S., particularly in fields like sustainable agriculture, marine sciences, art restoration and international relations / business. In addition to a more diversified range of courses, studying in Europe provides an immersive language-learning experience that gives students a significant comparative advantage to their peers.
Healthcare Costs in Portugal vs USA
Healthcare costs and quality of healthcare in Portugal have a significant advantage over the United States. In the U.S., even insured families face high premiums, high deductibles and out of pocket expenses. Portugal’s public healthcare system, the Servico Nacional de Saude (SNS), offers residents access to healthcare with low copays. Even private insurance in Portugal sustains an advantage over the United States by providing fast access to top hospitals at a fraction of U.S. prices.
Savings for a family of four
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average U.S. family of four with private health insurance pays about 22,000 per year in premiums plus several thousand in deductibles and copays. Comparable private coverage in Portugal costs around $2,000/year with low copays. This results in an annual average savings of $20,000 per year.
In education, two children in Portuguese international schools (K-12) can save families up to $280,000+ per year over 12 compares compared to U.S. tuition (International schools Database, 2025)
Combining just education and health benefits alone can result in savings of $400,000+ over 10-12 years while maintaining access to high quality education and healthcare.
How to qualify for Portugal’s Golden Visa
– Invest €500,000 into a qualifying fund regulated by the Portuguese securities commission
– Spend a minimum of 14 days every two years in Portugal
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