Portugal Residency by Investment
Tucked into Spain’s embrace along the northern and eastern borders and caressed by Atlantic waves on the western and southern flanks lies storied Portugal, home to picturesque villages, bustling cities, and a warm Mediterranean climate. A developed country with an advanced economy and high living standards, Portugal was impressively ranked nineteenth on the high quality of life global index rating as of 2005. The 10 million-plus population operates on the Euro and establishes a global presence in a variety of industries, especially a booming export sector.
Portugal, one of the oldest nations in Europe, has a significant historical and architectural legacy. The whitewashed towns and luscious vineyards of this nation, situated on the elegantly delightful Atlantic coast, radiate light, culture, and luminosity.
Portugal Golden Visa
Portugal’s Golden Visa program has developed into one of the most prosperous residence by investment schemes in Europe over the past ten years. Early in 2020, the program will surpass the €5 billion mark, making Portugal’s investment immigration one of the most well-known worldwide. However, prospective applicants are now unsure if investing in Portugal will grant citizenship.
The Portuguese Golden Visa offers several appealing possibilities, one of which is the chance to apply for citizenship or permanent residency after five years without having to spend all of your time in Portugal. For the purpose of extending the Portuguese Golden Visa throughout this time, the applicant and their family just need to travel for two weeks every two years. Learn more about how to become a Portuguese citizen.
Travel is permitted within the EU Schengen area with the Portuguese resident card issued through the golden visa program. Anywhere in the European Union is a legal place to live, work, and study for someone with Portuguese citizenship and a second passport.
Portugal’s so-called Golden Visa Program provides investment prospects. It is a scheme created for wealthy people who are interested in relocating to and making investments in Portugal. Property in Portugal, or a collection of properties, may be bought by investors among other investment alternatives permitted by the Golden Visa. In exchange, investors can gain Portuguese residency, which, after meeting the minimum residency requirement, leads to citizenship.
Benefits of Portuguese citizenship by investment
- Minimal residency obligation (2 weeks per year for 5 years)
- Fast processing time of around 6 months to issue Visa after investment
- The residency allows visa-free travel within the Schengen zone
- Right to apply for permanent residency in 5 years & citizenship in 6 years
- Citizenship allows visa-free access to 185+ countries (UK; EU; USA;Canada)
- Inclusion of dependent children below 18 years old and parents 66 years and above
- Inclusion of children above 18 yrs old (unmarried & financially dependent). Must remain a dependent student for a period of 5 years from the date of Golden Visa application is submitted
- Ranked among the best countries for doing business
- Clear tax rules with special programs for non-habitual residents
Investment Options To Get Citizenship in Portugal:
Options for Property Investment: The required investment options were updated in July 2015 as a result of Act 63/2015 and Regulatory Decree 15-A/2015, and new ones were also added. Investors now have the following options:
Acquisition of property meets any of the above requirements with a 20% reduction on the minimum amount of investment if purchased in a low-density population area (€400,000.00 or €280,000.00). Applicants may also acquire property valued at €350,000 or more for properties older than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas designated for renovation.
Investment in Capital: A minimum of €350,000 can be invested in research activities by applicants. The minimum investment that applicants may make in the arts or the restoration or upkeep of national historic projects is €250,000.A minimum investment of €500,000 is allowed from applicants for venture capital or shares in investment funds.
Employment is created; You might also decide to start a business in Portugal and add ten jobs. If the company is located in a “low-density area,” the number is lowered to eight.
Investment by Portuguese Fund: You can decide to invest a minimum of €500,000 in units in a Portuguese fund that qualifies.
Investment in scientific research: You might decide to allocate €500,000 toward funding reputable institutions that are a component of the country’s scientific and technological infrastructure.
Contribution to Culture; Additionally, investors may contribute at least €250,000 to the restoration or upkeep of the nation’s cultural heritage through recognized organizations.
Who Is Eligible to Apply for a Golden Visa for Portugal?
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You need to commit a large sum of money to the Portuguese economy.
- You must not have any prior criminal convictions.
- The money you want to invest in must be yours.
- You must promise to keep the investment active for at least a further five years.
Portugal's golden visa procedures and application deadline
Following receipt of the residence permit, each renewal requires the client to submit updated original documents as well as biometric information. Normally, the first permission is only good for a year, but because of the Covid-19 epidemic, it is now only valid for two years. The permission may then be extended for two additional two-year periods. The primary applicant for the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program must visit Portugal twice while the application is being processed:
- Selecting the acceptable investment, beginning the legal procedure, and opening a bank account
- To deliver the biometric information and authentic documents
Following receipt of the residence permit, each renewal requires the client to submit updated original documents as well as biometric information. It takes more than 18 months to obtain a Portuguese resident permit through investment.
Qualifications & Requirements for the Portugal Golden Visa Program for Investors:
To be eligible for the Golden Visa in Portugal, many conditions must be satisfied.
- The investor must be at least eighteen years old.
- have not been convicted of any crimes in Portugal or the nations where they have lived for the previous five years.
- Make the real estate investment in one of the following ways, demonstrating that you have the necessary investment funds:
- purchasing a piece of real estate in Portugal that is worth at least 500,000 Euros.
- purchasing a home for renovation with a construction date of more than 30 years for a sum equal to or greater than 350,000 euros.
Portugal Passport Visa-free Travel
The Portuguese government has been working successfully to increase the number of nations that do not require visas during the past few years. All member countries of the Schengen Area still grant visa-free travel to Portugal Golden Visa holders. After obtaining Portuguese citizenship, you can travel to:
| Albania | Andorra | Angola |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina | Armenia |
| Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan |
| Bahamas | Bahrain | Bangladesh |
| Barbados | Belarus | Belgium |
| Belize | Benin | Bolivia |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil |
| Brunei | Bulgaria | Burkina Faso |
| Cambodia | Canada | Cape Verde |
| Chile | Colombia | Comoros |
| Costa Rica | Croatia | Cuba |
| Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark |
| Djibouti | Dominica | Dominican Republic |
| Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador |
| Estonia | Ethiopia | Fiji |
| Finland | France | Gabon |
| Georgia | Germany | Greece |
| Grenada | Guatemala | Guinea-Bissau |
| Guyana | Haiti | Honduras |
| Hungary | Iceland | India |
| Indonesia | Iran | Ireland |
| Israel | Italy | Jamaica |
| Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan |
| Kenya | Kiribati | Kuwait |
| Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Latvia |
| Lebanon | Lesotho | Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania | Luxembourg | Macedonia |
| Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia |
| Maldives | Malta | Marshall Islands |
| Mauritania | Mauritius | Mexico |
| Micronesia | Moldova | Monaco |
| Montenegro | Morocco | Mozambique |
| Myanmar | Namibia | Nepal |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Nicaragua |
| Norway | Oman | Palau |
| Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay |
| Peru | Philippines | Poland |
| Qatar | Romania | Rwanda |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Samoa | San Marino | São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Senegal | Serbia | Seychelles |
| Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Solomon Islands | Somalia | South Africa |
| South Korea | Spain | Sri Lanka |
| Suriname | Swaziland | Sweden |
| Switzerland | Tajikistan | Tanzania |
| Thailand | Timor-Leste | Togo |
| Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago | Tunisia |
| Turkey | Tuvalu | Uganda |
| Ukraine | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
| United States | Uruguay | Uzbekistan |
| Vanuatu | Vatican City | Venezuela |
| Zambia | Zimbabwe |
How does non-EU immigration to Portugal work?
For a lawful stay in Portugal, non-EU nationals typically need to apply for a six-month Schengen visa. However, citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are permitted to visit Portugal and travel around without a visa for the first three months. However, they will then need to submit a visa application.
How much do I need to invest in Portugal for citizenship?
To gain citizenship, you might decide to invest in Portuguese real estate. Depending on the kind of property and the kind of region you want to concentrate on, the minimum investment need starts at €280,000, €350,000, €400,000, or €500,000.
What is the easiest way to get Portuguese citizenship?
Once you've had a temporary resident card in Portugal for five years, the simplest approach to obtaining permanent residency is to do so. You need a long-stay visa and to meet minimum stay requirements to become a permanent resident of Portugal.
Can I get residency in Portugal if I buy a house?
Yes, as long as it complies with the government's minimal investment standards and is situated inside the designated investment zones, it is possible to invest in any property of choice in Portugal. In order to fulfill customer expectations and provide a seamless and excellent experience, Arton carefully selects bespoke projects.
Does Portugal offer citizenship by investment?
A direct-by-investment citizenship program is not available in Portugal. However, you can obtain a Golden Visa residence permit by investment and submit an application for citizenship after 5 years.