The Portuguese Golden Visa was introduced in October of 2012, offering residency to investors who make a qualifying investment. This investment opportunity unlocks a series of benefits for the investor and their family, mainly the ability to maintain European residency with very reduced stay requirements, while also increasing mobility and seamless relocation to Europe. Since its introduction, almost 10,000 investors have received their Portuguese Residency Cards. This residency program continues to prompt interest among investors, mainly due to the possibility of applying for Portuguese Citizenship after 5 years, low stay requirements, flexibility.
REQUIREMENTS IN GENERAL
To be eligible for the program, candidates should be at least 18 years of age, and present a clean criminal record.
An eligible candidate will have to complete one of the qualifying investment options:
- Capital investments.
- Property investments.
- Job creation.
Under the capital investments the candidate may invest in Portuguese companies the amount of €1,500,000 or invest €500,000 in private equity funds.
Under the property investments the candidate may choose to invest €500,000 in a property of any kind in Portugal, or to invest €350,000 in a property that is either more than 30 years old or located in an urban regeneration area and proceed with refurbishment works. These amounts can be lowered by 20%, to €400,000 and €280,000, respectively, if the investment is in a low development or low population area, as determined by the Government.
Finally, under the job creation option the applicant must create 10 permanent job posts or invest €500,000 and create 5 job posts.
After the residency is granted, the candidate must spend an average of 7 days per year in Portugal.
UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS
Passport Legacy assists with each step of the Portuguese residency application process, offering guidance with choosing a suitable investment and obtaining all the necessary documentation. It includes the following steps:
- Step 1:
an initial background check to determine the candidate’s eligibility
- Step 2:
after the qualification process, a down payment for professional fees is required
- Step 3:
the team assists with selecting the best investment option which suits the candidate’s needs and requirements and opening a bank account in Portugal.
- Step 4:
completion of the investment and gathering all the necessary documents.
- Step 5:
Online submission of the application, which takes 5 to 7 weeks to be processed.
- Step 6:
after the application has been pre-approved, applicants submit their biometric data to the government and their residency application is formally submitted
- Step 7:
the government will then issue the residency cards, which will then be delivered to the applicant
A SECURE FUTURE FOR YOUR FAMILY
Investors who successfully obtain their Portuguese Residency are afforded freedom of movement in the Schengen Area. Qualified family members can attend schools and study at universities across Portugal and have access to health care. By fulfilling the minimum requirements, residency card holders may be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship after 5 years. Portuguese citizens can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to over 186 countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Other benefits include:
- the ability to settle in any other country of the European Union without needing to go through any Immigration Procedure
- access to accounts at European banks
- legal protection under the law of the country in which they reside
OBTAIN PORTUGUESE RESIDENCY WITH PASSPORT LEGACY
Passport Legacy is a reputable Dubai-based Swiss firm, offering a range of services for the acquisition of alternative residence and citizenship through investment. Our team has 25 years of combined experience in the industry, providing step-by-step guidance in the process of acquiring a residency in Portugal. We can guide you in the process of applying for Portuguese residency and assist you to choose the best-suited program for your needs.