You can obtain Portuguese residency from a minimum investment of EURO 350,000 (after Jan of 2022 it will be EUROS 500,000) into an officially registered investment fund. The Residence Permit for Investment Activity also known as Portugal Golden Visa allows any investor to freely circulate and work in Europe (Schengen Area), without any restrictions.
An investment fund is a type of collective investment under which all fund participants invest money together into stocks or other capital investments. The fund’s activity is regulated and overseen by the European Central Bank, Bank of Portugal, the Portuguese Securities Markets Commission (CMVM), and audited by statutory auditors. Asset appraisers are also duly registered with the Portuguese Securities Markets Commission (CMVM). All Fund resources are deposited with a top-tier European Bank.
In order to qualify for a temporary residence permit, the investor must perform and maintain, an investment activity for a minimum period of 5 years. The investment activities that may entitle the investor to a temporary residence permit are foreseen in the relevant law. The investment activity may be performed directly by the applicant or through a single shareholder limited liability company incorporated in Portugal (or in other EU Member State, as long as it has a permanent establishment in Portugal).
The Portugal Golden Visa allows nationals of non-EU and non-EEE countries to be entitled to:
- Residence visa waiver for entering Portugal;
- Living and working in Portugal, as long they stay in the country for a period of 7 or more days, in the first year, and 14 or more days, in the subsequent years;
- Visa exemption for traveling within the Schengen Area;
- Family reunification;
- Applying for permanent residence;
- Applying for Portuguese citizenship by naturalization.
Who can apply?
All citizens who are not nationals of an EU, nor EEA, Member States who carry out an investment activity, personally or through a company, incorporated in Portugal or incorporated in another EU State and a permanent establishment in Portugal.
The Portugal Golden Visa Programme has handed out nearly 20.000 visas since 2012, yielding €5.3 billion of investment, according to the latest figures from SEF (Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service).
Disclaimer: Prior to making any investment, potential investors should consult with their own legal, investment, accounting, regulatory, tax and other advisors in order to make an independent evaluation of those potential investment options and opportunities that best fit their own criteria and investment profile and capacity.In the last few years, we developed several processes to advise and assist companies from a range of sectors in their process of new business in Portugal.
