Where you can find all the relevant information on Portugal Golden Visa Fund option all in one place
Portugal Golden Visa Investment Fund
Getting a Portugal Golden Visa through an investment in funds is getting more popular by the day. But, we realise the lack of a single resource where you can find all the necessary information from A to Z on the subject. So, here it is!
Our objective is to provide you with easy-to-digest resources, in case you are interested in finding out about Golden Visa Funds in Portugal.
On this site, you’ll find:
- Ample information on the Portuguese Golden Visa Funds option, gathered from reliable sources, categorised in a way to be the ultimate guide on the subject
- A comprehensive list of all available qualifying funds in Portugal, compared with each other
- A glossary of technical terms
- What the 2022 Changes to Portugal’s Golden Visa program mean for the funds option
- A link to directly connect with any of the available the fund managers
- Ability to contact legal professionals and fund investment advisors, who may assist you with the technical details of the Golden Visa application through fund investment
Mind you, we are not financial advisors ourselves. But, we have done our homework and put together an easy-to-navigate resource to allow you to discover this option. Once you are ready to move forward and take your search to the next level, we can gladly direct you to the right professionals.
We provide investors, entrepreneurs, and their families guidance on their search for the ideal Portugal Golden Visa investment funds. Our outstanding track record reflects our significant knowledge and expertise as the industry’s pioneer and leader in fund advisory in Portugal.
In their quest to get Portugal Golden Visa, we assist our clients in evaluating and selecting the most appropriate investment fund. We optimize the process and provide a transparent journey from investment decisions to Golden Visa acceptance.
Diversification of Investments
Global Reach with a Local Presence
Flexible Approach
Independent Fund Advisory Services
According to the Portuguese Government:
A capital transfer in the amount of 500,000€ or higher invested in the acquisition of units of investment funds and/or venture capital funds, qualifies the investor for a Portuguese Golden Visa, where:
- The maturity of the funds, at the moment of the investment is, at least five years, and
- At least 60% of the investments are realised in commercial companies with the head office in Portugal
The Portuguese government allows anyone that is (1) a non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizen (2) with a clean criminal record that (3) makes an investment which fits the above criteria to apply for a Golden Visa in Portugal.
In some cases, the funds may also request additional information from the applicant such as:
- Provide source of funds,
- Be a ‘qualified financial investor’, which is correlated to the total wealth of the investor, as well as the investor’s general understanding of investment tools and financial instruments
Portugal’s Golden Visa program provides you with a variety of investment options to pursue the residency program. If you’re still not convinced on the investment method and wonder why the ‘Golden Visa Investment Fund’ option may be the most suitable option for you, check out some common reasons:
You’re not interested in buying a property in any of the eligible areas
You don’t want to pay an arm and a leg in acquisition taxes for a property
You don’t want to manage a property in a foreign country
You want your investment to be managed by expert professionals, rightfully incentivized
While at it, let’s dive into some of the most noteworthy benefits of investing in a Golden Visa fund in Portugal:
Professional Third Party Managers
Fast Investment Process
Tax-Efficient
Safety of Investment
Let us introduce you to fund advisors who will help you explore Portugal Golden Visa Investment funds.
When you’re applying for a Portugal Golden Visa through a fund subscription, there are certain documents that you’ll need to present.
- Your passport or another valid travel document
- Your healthcare coverage proofÂ
- It can be a document that proves coverage by the Portuguese National Health Service, orÂ
- A document that proves coverage by an internationally recognized health insurance
- Your criminal record, obtained from your country of origin or residence;
- It should be issued up to three months before you submit your, and translated into Portuguese
- Your tax identification number from your country of origin or tax residenceÂ
- A signed form that authorizes the consultation of the criminal record in Portugal
- Letter of Statement in which you state you declare to comply with the minimum time requirements for the investment activity in PortugalÂ
- Payment receipt for the ARI application fee.Â
Along with the general application documents, there are other supporting documents that need to be included in your application:
- A declaration by a recognized Portuguese institution stating that the minimum investment requirement has been fulfilled
- Supporting document stating that you are the sole owner of the participation units, free of any responsibilities or charges.
- A declaration by the investment fund’s managing company, detailing the business plan, maturity dates – at least five years – and the investment of at least 60 percent of the fund’s portfolio in Portugal
Portugal Golden Visa Fund Application Process
Below, you’ll find a step-by-step outline of the application process:
Choose Your Advisors
You will need a legal professional and a professional investment advisor to guide you throughout your Golden Visa application and investment process. Your law firm will ensure the paperwork and application process are in order. Your investment advisor will help you assess funds and make the right fund choice in line with your criteria.
Get a NIF & Open Bank Account
NIF is your Tax ID Number in Portugal, your fiscal representative or lawyer will help you get one. Once you get your NIF, your representative can then open a bank account for you in Portugal. This account is where you need to deposit your money from outside of Portugal.
Make Your Fund Investment
Once you choose the fund or funds you will invest in with the help of a professional investment advisor, you can then proceed with transferring the necessary amounts to the funds. This step is often referred to as subscribing to a fund.
Submit Your Application to SEF
Once your investment is complete, your legal representative will help you collect the necessary documentation from you and your dependents in regards to your residency application. Your law firm will then submit your official Golden Visa application to SEF.
Get Your Biometrics Appointment
Once SEF acknowledges receipt of your application, they will provide you with an appointment date. On this date, you and your dependents need to physically appear in front of a SEF officer in Portugal to provide biometric data.
Enjoy Your Golden Visa
After your SEF appointment, your Golden Visa Portuguese residency cards will be mailed to you. You can use these to live, work, study in Portugal and travel across Europe.
Contact us to be introduced to a Portugal Golden Visa expert who can assist you with your application.
Who We Are
What is Portugal Golden Visa?
The Portuguese Golden Visa program is a residency by investment program that started off in 2012. The program allows non-EU citizens to get Portuguese residence through various investment types.
Once you get a Golden Visa in Portugal, you have the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, as well as travel freely across the European Schengen Region. If you keep the Golden Visa status for five years and fulfil the necessary requirements, you can then become a Portuguese Citizen and live, work, and study anywhere in Europe.
Portugal Golden Visa 2022
Here are the details of getting a Golden VisaGolden Visa Funds vs. Real Estate
Definitions
The fund manager is the responsible person in charge of putting the fund’s investment strategy into action, overseeing trading activity, and adhering to CMVM requirements.
The fund’s investment strategy is guided and directed by the fund advisor. The fund advisors usually have a lot of experience and are exceptionally knowledgeable in a specific industry.
This shows the target countries of the fund. The majority of funds primarily focus on Portugal, as the law requires that 60 percent of the fund’s assets be invested in Portugal. However, the remaining 40 percent can be invested anywhere else.
The management fee is a fee that is paid to the fund managers and advisors annually. It usually varies from 1 percent to 2.5 percent.
The types of investments the fund is targeting within a certain sector are referred to as its investment strategy. In the case of real estate, for example, there are investment opportunities in a variety of profiles, including residential, tourism, retail, hospitality, and student housing.
Minimum investment refers to the amount of money that you as an investor must put into the fund in order to participate. The criterion for Golden Visa eligible funds is normally €500,000, however, other Golden Visa-eligible funds have minimum investment amounts starting at €50,000.
This refers to the amount you as an investor will be receiving annually. Although not guaranteed, you can expect the figure to range between three to five percent.
As the fund period ends, the fund advisors receive the percentage of final profits. The performance fee varies from fund to fund but it’s defined depending on two criteria:Â
- How active the Fund Advisors have been during the course of the fund’s lifetime
- The overall profit
Fund term is another name for this term and it implies the period the fund will be open. The subscription period, investment period, and liquidation period are the three periods that make up the overall fund maturity. It normally lasts between 6 and 10 years but extensions are possible.
Investment industry refers to the industry where the fund’s resources will be invested. The majority of Golden Visa funds in Portugal specialize in real estate. Some funds focus on a single industry, while others spread their investments across numerous industries.
The term stated the annualized return that the investors will be receiving. The return will be expressed as a percentage of your initial investment. This figure will be a combination of the annual distribution target and the net profit distribution, minus the performance fee, divided by the number of years you’ve invested.
This fee refers to an additional amount you pay as an investor when you decide to subscribe to a fund. The subscription fee is paid to cover the expenses such as marketing and administration. The exact amount differs from fund to fund.
The subscription period defines the period in which the fund will be open to investment. Sometimes a fund reaches its maximum investment capacity before the conclusion of the subscription term. In this case, the fund is closed to new investments.
FAQ
It is a residence-by-investment program given by the Portuguese government to non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss persons who are interested to invest in Portugal. It is an investment migration program that brings capital into the Portuguese economy via international investors who invest in real estate or in Portugal Golden Visa investment funds. Individuals can gain permanent residency in Portugal or Portuguese citizenship after five years.
If you are a non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss national with a clean criminal background and have completed the required minimum investment, you are welcome to apply for the Portuguese Golden Visa.
The waiting period for a Golden Visa application varies greatly depending on which SEF (Immigration and Borders office) you apply to. SEF offices in big cities, such as Lisbon, usually have long lines, while those in rural regions offer shorter lines. Normally, it takes six to eight months to acquire your Golden Visa residency card through your investment.
While you may open a bank account, receive your NIF, and make investments remotely you must go to Portugal to complete your SEF session for your interviews, biometric photos, and fingerprints.
Yes. Following five years of having the Golden Visa, you will be permitted to claim Portuguese citizenship if you retain your investment and meet the other conditions. It will give you EU citizenship privileges as Portugal is a member of the EU.
Via family reunification, your spouse, underage children, dependent children, and dependent parents can all acquire a Golden Visa.
Yes, citizens of the United States are eligible to apply for a Golden Visa in Portugal. However, foreign financial institutions and some non-financial foreign businesses are required by the IRS to report on the foreign assets held by their U.S. account holders. This means that any bank, Portugal investment fund, or fund manager in Portugal with an American client or investor must comply with the US government’s stringent regulations.
Yes, you will have temporary residency rights in Portugal directly, and after 5 years, you will also be eligible to apply for permanent residency.
To apply for a Golden Visa, you must submit the necessary documentation:
1) Passport or other government-issued travel document copy
2) Evidence of the qualifying investment
3) A statement from a Portuguese financial institution verifying the money transfer
4) Proof of healthcare insurance
5) Criminal record from the primary residence country which must be given in three months of submitting the form
6) A signed document granting SEF access to criminal backgrounds in Portugal.
7) A certified statement that the minimum investment criteria will be met for the five-year required period
8) Documentation demonstrating compliance with the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority, as well as the Portuguese Social Security System
9) ARI registration fees payment receipt
Note that unless otherwise stated, your paperwork should be issued within three months after the submission of your Golden Visa application.
Yes, they can work in Portugal.
Although you are not obliged to hire a lawyer to apply for the Golden Visa, it is strongly recommended that you have an attorney who will assist you with the procedure.
The big factor for this is the efficiency of use and tax savings. Funds are easier to administer than typical real estate investments, and they eliminate the 6.5 percent property tax. Non-resident Portugal investment fund investors pay 0 percent tax on their earnings in Portugal, making the funds extremely tax efficient.
Yes, you can invest €500,000 in a variety of funds. If you want more variety, it could be a good option for you. Please keep in mind that it may result in more administrative obligations, which could result in an increase in the fees.
Traveling visa-free between Schengen countries, the right to work and live in Portugal, the ability to include each qualifying family member in the residence program, and the chance of applying for Portuguese citizenship after holding the Golden Visa for at least five years are all benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa.
One option is purchasing real estate in Portugal worth at least €500,000 or purchasing real estate in an urban renovation project worth at least €350,000. Both sums decline by 20 percent if the investment is made in a low-density area.
- Funds transfer: €1.5 million in capital to a Portuguese bank account or €500,000 in an eligible Portugal investment fund.
- Job creation: At least 10 jobs creation in Portugal.
Donations: €250,000 for cultural heritage and €500,000 for research conducted by public or private scientific research institutes.
At the end of your fifth year as a Golden Visa holder, you can request citizenship in Portugal. After you have been naturalized as a citizen, you can apply for a passport instantly.
Through Portugal’s Golden Visa, you can receive a Portuguese resident status by making a qualifying investment. You can claim citizenship in Portugal after receiving your Golden Visa if you keep your investment for a minimum of five years.
Your initial Golden Visa card is good for two years; you must meet the 14-day stay requirement within those two years. After that, you can extend your Golden Visa residence card which will be valid for three years. For this three-year period, the stay requirement is 21 days. If you don’t want to apply for permanent residency or citizenship at the end of five years, you can extend your Golden Visa when it expires.
The same regulations apply to both the first application and subsequent renewals. The candidate for a Golden Visa must meet the required investment criterion and other eligibility requirements.
No. The fact that the minimum stay is only seven days on average per year. Over the five years, it is only 35 days.
No, passing a language exam is not required to be eligible for the Golden Visa. When you desire to become a permanent citizen or resident of Portugal after five (5) years on a Golden Visa, you just need to take a Portuguese exam.
The Portuguese Golden Visa permits people to live, work, and study in Portugal.
Yes, you can. However, there are some geographical restrictions.
SEF makes the final decision, and you (or any family member) will be denied a Golden Visa (or renewal) if you (or your family members):
- Haven’t kept your investment for the required five years (years)
- You haven’t yet adhered to the minimum stay requirements in Portugal, you have been convicted of crimes, and you’ve been barred from entering Portuguese territories.
- The Golden Visa might be denied due to public safety, safety, or health concerns.
Portugal mandates the principal candidate to bring the required investment amount into the country. A bank in Portugal won’t lend you that amount. However, outside of Portugal, it can be obtained as a loan via a non-Portuguese bank.
Yes, it’s still available. However, the minimum investment amount has been raised to €500,000 from €350,000.
Fill out the form to be introduced to Portugal Golden Visa legal professionals and fund advisors.
