A Golden Visa is the chosen way of many to get a Portugal residence permit. Here are the details of getting a Golden Visa.
All non-EU/Swiss/EEA nationals are allowed to apply for Portugal Golden Visa.
You need to be at least 18 years old and have a clean criminal record from your home country and Portugal. Also, the investment should come from outside of Portugal.
An investment is necessary to qualify for a Golden Visa. Some of the investment categories are real estate, donation, and company formation.
A Golden Visa holder can extend the visa to the rest of the family under the provision for family reunification.
American citizens can apply for the Golden Visa. The US business owners can extend their business to Portugal to come under the Golden Visa program.
The UK citizens became eligible for a Golden Visa in Portugal as of January 1, 2021.
Portugal residency by investment comes with a number of options such as:
Real Estate Acquisition
Golden Visa Portugal properties should be over €500,000.
- The minimum amount drops to €400,000 in low-density areas
- Real estate older than 30 years can be renovated for at least €350,000 in Portugal. The minimum amount drops to €280,000 if it’s in a low-density area
If you want to buy properties in Porto, Lisbon, and the coastal mainland, note that only commercial properties meet Golden Visa Portugal requirements.
Capital Transfer
Minimum capital transfer of €1.5 million to Portugal.
Fund Subscription
Minimum subscription of €500,000 in qualifying Portuguese funds.
Company
- Creating at least 10 new full-time jobs in a Portuguese business owned by the main applicant
- Creating at least eight new full-time jobs in Portuguese businesses owned by the main applicant in a low-density region
- Invest at least €500,000 in a present Portuguese business where that business creates at least five new full-time jobs for a minimum of three years
Donation
- Invest at least €250,000 in preserving a Portuguese national heritage
- Invest at least €500,000 in a Portuguese research and development activity
The minimum requirement for residency in Portugal
The Golden Gisa holders need to stay in the country for at least seven days yearly on an average.
Making a qualified investment for at least five years
You need to present evidence that you have invested the minimally required amount. The investment has to be maintained for as long as the main applicant and the dependents have the golden visa status. The investments don’t have to be maintained after becoming a Portuguese citizen.
Documentation
The Golden Visa program Portugal requires the following documents:
Bank account details and NIF number
As the main applicant, you have to make your investment from a Portuguese bank account. Also, you need to have your NIF number – a Portuguese tax identification number – to open your account.
The process of applying for a Golden Visa for Portugal is pretty straightforward. Here are the steps you need to follow to successfully apply for the visa:
#1 Decide on the type of investment
The details of investment types have been given above. So, give it a read and decide on the kind of investment you want to go with.
#2 Gather the necessary documents
Take a look at the list of documents given above and gather all of them before proceeding with the application.
#3 Open your bank account and get the NIF
Make the investment you chose using the bank account you opened in Portugal and get the NIF.
#4 Finalize your investment for Portugal residency
Pay for your chosen investment in Portugal to secure and lock your investment.
#5 Submit your pre-application
After making the qualifying investment and getting the paperwork ready, you need to submit the online pre-application to the SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service).
#6 Attend the SEF appointment as scheduled
SEF gives you a couple of dates for the biometric appointment. You and your dependents need to show up on your chosen date.
#7 Receive the Golden Visa
You will get the Golden Visa within about four months from your SEF appointment. The visa has to be renewed timely as it expires after two years.
#8 Become a permanent resident of Portugal
After renewing your Golden Visa twice and staying in Portugal for five years, you become eligible for Portugal permanent residency, which takes nearly six months to a year for completion.
Apart from investment fees or the cost of investment properties, Golden Visa for Portugal also includes government fees and other legal charges. Legal charges vary depending on the firm and Portugal Golden Visa lawyer that you choose to work with. Government fees look somewhat like this:
In January 2022, certain changes to Golden Visa Portugal were implemented:
- Investment fund route minimum amount raised from €350,000 to €500,000
- Capital transfer investment amount raised from €1 million to €1.5 million
- Residential real estate investment was restricted to interior and only in low-density areas, along with the autonomous areas of the Madeira and Azores
That concludes the process to get Golden Visa and permanent residency Portugal.
