Golden Visa

The Golden Visa Programme is a fast track for foreign investors from non-EU countries to obtain a fully valid residency permit in Portugal (“Golden Visa”). Under the Golden Visa programme, non-EU citizens simply need to carry out one of the investments set out in the law to qualify to obtain a residency permit in Portugal. This residency permit will allow the investor and his family members to enter and/or live in Portugal and to travel freely within the vast majority of European countries (Schengen space).

The Golden Visa programme was recently widened to include further types of investment. As a result, the following types of investment now qualify for the Golden Visa programme:

a)     Property Investments:

i. Acquisition of property above € 500,000;

ii. Acquisition of property above € 350,000 - for properties more than 30 years old or located in areas of urban renovation.

b)     Capital Investments:

                        i. Transfer of Funds above € 1,000,000;

                        ii. Transfer of Funds above € 350,000 for research activities;

                        iii. Transfer of Funds above € 250,000 for artistic or cultural activities;

iv. Transfer of Funds above € 500,000 for capitalization of small and medium size companies.

            c)      Job creation: Creation of a minimum of 10 jobs;

In general, all investors have to comply with the following requirements:

a)             Keep the investment for a minimum period of 5 years

b)             Funds for investment should come from abroad

c)             Entry in Portugal with a valid Schengen visa

d)             Absence of references in the Portuguese Immigration and the Schengen services

e)             Absence of conviction of relevant crime

f)              Minimum stay in Portugal: 7 (seven) days during the first year and 14 (fourteen) days during each subsequent period of two years