Mercan Group of Companies

How long does a golden visa take to process?

Processing times depend on the country and program. Panama's Qualified Investor Program issues residency in approximately 30 days. Greece's Golden Visa typically takes 6–8 months. Portugal's Golden Visa currently runs 18–24 months end-to-end. We manage the file from initial eligibility check through biometrics and card issuance.

Is the Portugal €500K fund investment refundable?

The fund is redeemable at the end of its regulated lifecycle (typically 6–10 years depending on the vehicle), not on demand. Capital is exposed to the fund's underlying asset performance — it is a real investment, not a deposit. All funds we advise on are CMVM-regulated; we only place clients into vehicles we've personally diligenced.

Do I need to live in Portugal, Greece, or Panama to keep the visa?

Minimum-stay requirements are far lighter than most clients expect. Portugal requires only 7 days per year (14 days every 2 years). Greece has no minimum-stay requirement. Panama also has no minimum-stay requirement once residency is issued. This is a deliberate feature of these programs — they're designed for investors who need optionality, not relocation.

Are my spouse and children included in the application?

Yes. All programs we advise on allow dependent family members to obtain residency through the same application. Portugal includes spouse, children (dependent at any age if in full-time study), and parents. Greece and Panama include spouse and dependent children. Family members gain the same rights of travel, residency, and eventual citizenship eligibility as the primary applicant.

What happens to my residency if the fund underperforms?

Residency status is tied to the investment being held for the required period (typically 5 years), not to its market performance. If the fund's NAV declines, your residency is unaffected. If the fund is liquidated before the holding period ends, you must redeploy capital into another qualifying investment to maintain the visa. We model this risk up front.

When can I apply for citizenship?

Portugal and Panama both offer a 5-year path to citizenship. Greece is 7 years. Each country has its own language, residency-continuity, and clean-record requirements — Portugal's A2 Portuguese test and a basic clean-record are the usual hurdles. We provide a full citizenship-readiness review before you submit the naturalization file.