Luxury 'golden' visa program targets rich Americans as ordinary folks are left behind

With the increasing interest in "golden" visa programs, Portugal has now become the latest country to hop on the trend by exclusively targeting Americans. 

The LXL Ventures Fund offers a five-year residence-by-investment program for non-EU nationals. 

The specialized private equity fund offers "secure and familiar assets matching U.S. investor preference," and "structure for NHR [Non-Habitual Resident tax] 2.0 compliance," according to the fund's website. 

Lisbon-based Vida Capital has seen a 571% increase in traffic from the U.S. in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024, Forbes reported. 

About $250,000 of that can be invested in cultural heritage preservation, or in creating at least 10 full-time jobs in Portugal, according to the country's site. 

Mo Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, a global financial advisory and consultancy firm, previously told Fox News Digital that Americans are realizing these special visas are "the ultimate insurance policy against uncertainty."

He added, "The countries with the most smooth and streamlined processes are often the most popular."