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Golden Visa iNSIDER
Inside the world's residency programs
Process · 10 min read

The Golden Visa due diligence checklist nobody publishes

What to verify before you wire money. Built from a decade of program reforms, fund failures and bait-and-switch projects.

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Golden Visa Insider Editorial
Updated 2026-04-23

Most Golden Visa marketing material focuses on benefits. This page focuses on what can go wrong — and the specific things to verify before signing anything.

On the program itself

On the investment vehicle

On the consultant or agent

On the fund / project itself

On your own situation

If the answer to 'when can I see audited financials?' is 'after you sign the NDA and pay the reservation fee', walk away.

Red flags worth walking away over

FAQs

How much should legal fees actually cost?+

€8k–€20k for full residency files in EU programs. CBI programs: $15k–$25k. Anything significantly less or more than these ranges deserves scrutiny.

Should I trust online reviews?+

Most are paid placements. Better signal: published case studies with verifiable client details, and direct introductions to past clients.

How do I verify a fund is actually CMVM-regulated?+

Search the CMVM public register at cmvm.pt. The fund's registration number must appear there.