Portugal Golden Visa Invest in Portugal and Get the Residence Permit

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residence visa issued to non-EU nationals who have made a significant investment in Portugal, such as purchasing real estate, making a capital investment, or creating employment opportunities.

It is a fast-track process for obtaining permanent residence and citizenship in an EU country – via the Golden Visa, you can become eligible for Portuguese citizenship in as little as five years.

Portugal Golden Visa Investment Options

To be eligible for a Golden Visa in Portugal, you must make one of the following investments:

• Purchase a property worth at least €500,000. If you purchase in a low-density area, the investment amount is €400,000.
• Invest €350,000 in a property in a Portuguese urban regeneration area. If you invest in a low-density area, the investment amount is €280,000. The project should qualify for investment by the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service – SEF.
• Invest at least €350,000 in a qualifying Investment Fund. The investment options are regulated by the Portuguese CMVM (Securities Market Commission), and usually include venture capital investment in real estate or start-up tech companies.
• Make a capital transfer of at least €1 million in a Portuguese bank account.
• Purchase company shares worth at least €1 million.
• Invest at least €1 million in a company.
• Create at least ten jobs for Portuguese nationals.
• Invest at least €350,000 for the creation of a commercial company or to reinforce the share capital of a commercial company, through which you create at least five full-time jobs.
• Make a capital transfer of at least €350,000 for research activities in science or technology by either public or private scientific research institutions.
• Make a capital transfer of at least €250,000 to support the arts or reconstruction of national heritage.

Important note: From July 2021, you will not qualify for a Golden Visa if you invest/purchase property in metropolitan or coastal cities such as Lisbon or Agrave, as the Portuguese government is hoping to increase foreign investment in low-density areas of the country.

Who Is Eligible to Apply for a Golden Visa for Portugal?

To be eligible for a Golden Visa for Portugal, you have to fulfil the following requirements:

• You must be over the age of 18
• You must make a significant investment that is beneficial to the Portuguese economy
• You must have no history of criminal records
• You must own the money you seek to invest
• You must commit to maintaining the investment for at least another five years

Can You Get Portugal Citizenship by Investment?

Yes, if you receive a Golden Visa, you become eligible for citizenship after five years. Unlike other countries, you do not actually need to live in Portugal during that period to acquire citizenship via the Golden Visa route. You only need to spend seven to fourteen days per year in the country.

However, you will have to prove you have accommodation in Portugal, a steady income, as well as knowledge of the Portuguese language, at least on a basic level.

Benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa

The Golden Visa for Portugal is a coveted visa for wealthy investors as it offers a wide range of benefits, such as:

• You can include the following family members on the visa with you:
  • Your spouse
  • Children under the age of 18
  • Dependent adult children who are full-time students (up to age 26)
  • Dependent parents of either yourself or your spouse
  • Any other dependents, such as minor siblings
• You and your family members will enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Zone countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• You don’t need to stay in Portugal full-time to renew the visa. You only need to stay for seven days every year.
• If you chose to, you and your family members can live in Portugal and have access to its healthcare and education.
• You can apply for a Portugal passport after 5 years. Since Portugal is part of the EU, a Portuguese passport will give you access to the EU free market as well as the freedom to travel to more than 100 countries around the world.

How to Apply for a Portugal Golden Visa?

You have to apply for a Portugal Golden Visa at the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service’s (SEF).

• Register with the ARI Portal (here), which is the SEF’s online portal for handling Golden Visa Application (Residence Permits for Investment Activities – ARI). You can register yourself or a legal representative may do it on your behalf.
• Attach electronic copies of the required documents (in PDF, and no bigger than 4MB).
• Pay all the relevant fees.
• Wait for confirmation from the SEF.
• Schedule an appointment to submit your Golden Visa application at a local branch of the SEF.

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.

You must have already performed your investment before you apply, as you must submit proof of the investment as well as the fact that you intend to maintain it for at least five years.

Application for family members: If applying for family reunification, then your family members can apply via the same portal and method. They can apply at the same time as you or later on.

Required Documents for Portugal Golden Visa Application

When submitting the Portugal Golden Visa application, you must have the following documents:

• The official Portugal Visa Application Form. This is downloadable from the Portuguese visa portal.
• Valid passport.
• Two passport-size pictures, which are in line with Portugal visa photo requirements.
• Proof of having obtained health insurance valid in Portugal.
• Proof of having no previous criminal records. You need a certificate from any country in which you have lived longer than one year. The certificate has to be issued by the relevant authorities within the previous three months and translated into Portuguese.
• Sworn Statement that you will maintain your investment for a minimum period of five years.
• Payment receipt from the ARI portal.
• Any documents related to your investment, as detailed below.

Purchasing real estate property worth at least €500,000

• Acquisition deed of the property or the pre-contract agreement.
• Declaration from a financial institution authorised or registered in Portugal, which proves the effective international transfer of the assets.
• The Land Register Certificate along with the records, endorsements, and registration in force, attests to the ownership of the property.
• The legal description of the property, if applicable.

Investment of  €350,000 in a property in a Portuguese urban regeneration area

• The above-mentioned documents
• Declaration from a competent entity proving that the property is in a regeneration area

Capital transfer of at least €1 million in a bank account

• Declaration from a financial institution that is registered in Portugal, attesting to the deposit. The transfer must be free from any charges and obligations.

Creation of at least ten job positions

• Declaration from a financial institution that is registered in Portugal, attesting to the required deposit.
• Individual employment contracts between the employer and the employees.
• If you are a shareholder in a company: Extract from the register of companies

Investment in the arts

• A Declaration issued by the Portuguese Strategy, Planning and Cultural Assessment Office, stating they have consulted with the competent authorities in the sector and attesting your investment in the support of the arts or restoration and maintenance of the national cultural heritage
• A Declaration from a financial institution in Portugal attesting the transfer of the assets

Investment in research activities

• A Declaration from the public or private scientific research institution, attesting the investment
• A Declaration from a financial institution in Portugal attesting the transfer of the assets

The Validity of Portugal Golden Visa

The Portugal Golden Visa is initially valid for one year. You can then continue to renew it for two-year periods, provided that you have maintained your investment. After five years (1+2+2) you become eligible for permanent residence or citizenship.

Obtaining a Portuguese passport gives you access to EU citizen rights, such as the freedom of movement and access to the free market.

How Long Do You Have to Live in Portugal to Maintain Golden Visa?

To maintain your Portugal Golden Visa, you have to stay in the country for at least 7 days in the first year and then fourteen days in the following two-year periods.

Unlike other types of investment visas, you do not have to live in Portugal permanently in order to renew your Golden Visa or to receive permanent residence or citizenship.

Changes to the Portugal Golden Visa Program 2021 

Starting from July 2021, if you invest in a high-density, metropolitan area of Portugal, such as Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, the Silver Coast, or Setubal, you will not qualify for a Golden Visa. These new changes intended to promote foreign investment in low-density areas of the country, considering that the majority of investment since the Golden Visa Program was implemented in 2012 have been in metropolitan and coastal areas.

After the new rules come into effect, there will be a transition period that will run to the end of December 2021, so that investors who applied in the first half of 2021 will be able to finalize their investment and visa applications.

Changes to the Portugal Golden Visa in January 2022

Starting from January 2022, requirements for certain investment options will change. Namely: 

• Purchasing real estate: Only properties in low-density and rural areas, as well as certain portside territories, will be eligible (listed here). 
• Capital transfer in a Portuguese bank account: You will have to invest €1.5 million instead of €1 million.
• Capital transfer for research activities: You will have to invest €500,000 instead of €350,000.
• Capital transfer in a qualifying Investment Fund: You will have to invest €500,000 instead of €350,000.

Creation of a company and jobs: You will have to invest €500,000 instead of €350,000 for the incorporation of a commercial company or to reinforce the share capital of a commercial company, and create at least five jobs (this remains the same).