Invest in Portugal
Golden Visa
Portugal’s Golden Visa Program is one of the most popular residency-by-investment programs in the world. Since it was launched in 2012, thousands of families have successfully relocated to Portugal.
The Portugal Golden Visa Program (ARI), also known as the Residence Permit Program, permits a five-year residency-by-investment opportunity for non-EU nationals. It grants qualifying investors and their family members the right to live, work and study in Portugal and permits free movement in Europe’s Schengen Area. It also permits the opportunity to become a permanent resident or citizen provided that the qualifying investment is kept for at least five years.
The Portugal Golden Visa Program (ARI), also known as the Residence Permit Program, permits a five-year residency-by-investment opportunity for non-EU nationals. It grants qualifying investors and their family members the right to live, work and study in Portugal and permits free movement in Europe’s Schengen Area. It also permits the opportunity to become a permanent resident or citizen provided that the qualifying investment is kept for at least five years.
Benefits
The Golden Visa for Portugal offers a wide range of benefits which include:
- To reside, work and study in Portugal, while being able to maintain residency in another country. There is no obligation to reside full time to maintain and renew the Visa
- Include family members: Spouse, children under the age of 18 (or up to age 26 if dependent and in full-time studies) and dependent Parents
- Visa free travel to the 26 nations in the EU & the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 day period
- Possibility of access to permanent residency, after 5 years
- Possibility of obtaining Portuguese nationality, after 6 years
- A sound investment in a buoyant market with political and social stability
What are the requirements
To qualify for the program, you must fulfil the following Golden Visa requirements:
- You must be over the age of 18
- Be either non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA.
- Have a clean criminal record
- Make a minimum investment in line with the applicable legislation, own the money that you invest and maintain the investment for a minimum of 5 years.
- Spend a minimum of seven days in Portugal for the first year, then no less than 14 days each subsequent two-year period (the stay requirement).
How to obtain the golden visa through Real Estate Investment
- Acquisition of real estate with a value equal to or above 500 thousand euros. This value may be reduced 20% (400 thousand euros) when it is carried out in a low density territory.
- Acquisition of real estate built at least 30 years ago (or located in an urban rehabilitation area) and completion of rehabilitation works, totalling at least 350 thousand euros
- Register your application through the competent local authorities together with the required documents. You must have already performed your investment before you apply, as this is part of the documentation to be presented.
- If you do not wish to apply in-person, you can hire a legal representative to apply on your behalf. The Portuguese authorities will accept this application as well.
IMPORTANT Golden Visa changes in 2021
- On the 22nd of December 2020, Portugal’s Council of Ministers approved an amendment in a decree-law which will change the parameters regarding where investors can purchase property to qualify for the Golden Visa programme. In February 2022 it was confirmed that the updated legislation will come into effect on the 1st of January 2022.
- The principal objective of the change is to increase foreign investment across the interior of Portugal, specifically in low-density regions. Therefore, from the beginning of 2022, investment in housing in coastal locations including the cities of Lisbon and Porto as well as areas such as the Algarve will no longer qualify. This leaves a window until the end of 2021 to invest in these principal cities and coastal areas where, at present, it is still possible to apply for the Golden visa.