The Portugal Golden Visa program, also known as the residence permit for investment activity, is a residency by investment scheme designed for non-EU citizens. It is the fastest program to obtain EU residence permit through investment activity in Europe.
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The initiative was set up by the Portuguese government to boost the economy through foreign investments. It works by granting investors Portuguese residency for investment in different areas of the country.
To obtain the Golden Visa in Portugal, you must make a qualifying investment and keep it for five years. To apply for a Portugal Golden Visa, it is advised to consult with a Portuguese lawyer or Golden Visa Consultant, who will explain the whole procedure step by step and help you to choose the best investment.
Family EU Residency (including children & parents)
EU Citizenship after 5 years, Portuguese passport 6thstrongest in the world - Free movement worldwide
No requirement to reside in Portugal, only visit of 7 days per year
Opportunity to work & conduct business in Portugal & EU
Free EU Education for your children
Booming real estate market
Possibility of renting out the property after purchase & generating stable passive income
Easy investment exit with possibility to sell the property after 5 years and benefit from price appreciation
Real Estate Investments from €280,000
The detail process of getting your golden visa in hand in the next 6 months.
Signing a contract with a law firm for the provision of Golden Visa service
Client signs power of attorney for lawyers to act on behalf of him and submit for TAX number, open bank account in Portugal
Choosing the right investment together with DRP Advisers
Investment purchase
Collection of documents and online submission of the Golden Visa application to SEF
Collecting of biometric data & submission of the original documents, personal visit to Portugal is required
Golden Visa approval
Any non-EU/EEA/Swiss national can apply for the Portugal Golden Visa;
You’re required to be at least 18 years old and hold a clean criminal record from your home country;
The funds for the investment should arrive from outside of Portugal;
Make and maintain a qualified investment for 5 years;
Spend a minimum of 7 days annually in the country;
Under family reunification, you may extend the Golden Visa to the rest of the family members;
The main applicant needs to make the investment from a bank account in Portugal (you must also have a NIF number, which is a tax identification number in Portugal, to open the account).
There are a few different investment categories that qualify an investor for the Portugal Golden Visa. PGV offers these investment options:
The lowest real estate investment threshold for the Golden Visa Program in Portugal is €280,000. In order to qualify for this option, the property needs to be older than 30 years old, renovated and located in a low-density area.
Another real estate acquisition option is getting a new property for €500,000 or choose to go with an urban where the minimum investment value drops down to €350,000. The objective of this option is to promote urban rehabilitation and offer the investors a series of benefits for contributing to the renovation of the property in return. This option is called “Urban Rehabilitation Real Estate Investment for Golden Visa”.
As of January 1st, 2022, areas where you can invest in real estate to qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa have been restricted. Residential properties purchased in Lisbon, Porto or the coastal towns do not qualify for the program. However, you can choose to invest in commercial properties and hotel investments in these locations and residential in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira.
Invest a minimum of €500,000:
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Here, you have 2 options:
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A minimum of €1,5 million capital transfer to Portugal is required.
A minimum of €500,000 subscription in a venture capital Portuguese fund is required.
Copy of a passport or the government-issued travel document;
Proof of evidence of the qualifying investment made by the main applicant individually;
Criminal record of the current country of residence;
A sworn declaration on compliance with the minimum investment requirements for the necessary time period of 5 years;
Documents outlining good standing with the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority & Social Security System;
Receipt of ARI application payment.
The Golden Visa application is quite straightforward. If you take the necessary steps, you’ll have a successful application process. Check the steps below.
Step 1:
Decide on your Investment
Step 2:
Get a NIF and Open a Bank Account
Step 3:
Finalize the Investment
Step 4:
Gather all necessary documents
Step 5:
Submit Pre-Application
Step 6:
Schedule and Attend your SEF Appointment
Step 7:
Get your Golden Visa and Renew
Step 8:
Become a Portuguese Citizen
In addition to the minimum investment, you make and the necessary fees related to the transaction of the investment property, you will be faced with legal fees and government application fees, such as:
Processing Fee:
once at the beginning and then at each renewal €533 per applicant
Initial Application Fee:
once at the beginning €5,325 per applicant
Renewal Application Fee:
at each renewal €2,663 per person
It can take up to eight months for SEF to approve and provide a biometrics appointment date. As the main applicant, you and all your dependents should book the SEF appointment. After the in-person interview, you will receive your Golden Visa Cards. It typically takes around 6-8 months to receive these residence permit cards.
Residency under the Portugal Golden Visa Program must be renewed every 2 years. In total you have two renewals before you can apply for citizenship (year 2 & 4).
From October 2012 until 2023. In total, 11,628 investors and 18,962 family members have benefited from the Portugal Golden Visa during this time period. The most popular Portugal Golden Visa investment is real estate., with a total investment amount €6.078.735.357,29
Real estate acquisition: 10,593 residence permits
Real estate acquisition at a minimum value of €500,000: 9,108 residence permits
Real estateacquisition at a minimum value of €350,000: 1,485 residence permits
Capital transfer: 920 residence permits
Capital transfer into a Portuguese bank: 535 residence permits
Capital transfer into an investment Fund: 371 residence permits
Capital transfer and the creation of jobs: 7 residence permits
A donation for the preservation of cultural heritage in Portugal: 6 residence permits
A donation for research activities in Portugal: 1 residence permit
The creation of business and ten full-time jobs: 22 applications
The Portugal Golden Visa Program is the fastest path to EU citizenship. Though it is important to know, that is not automatically granted. You must hold your investment for at least five years before you become eligible to apply for permanent residency or citizenship. With citizenship you can live, work, and study anywhere in the EU and travel visa-free to 172 destinations.
Kindly note that to acquire citizenship, you must have a clean criminal record, have a A2 Portuguese language certificate or pass a language exam, and demonstrate that you have genuine links to the country (by providing evidence of your investment, along with documents that prove your presence in Portugal such as your NIF number and Portuguese bank account).You do not need to live in Portugal, 7 days a year visit is the only requirement for Golden Visa. You and your family members can become EU citizens in just 5 years with no residence obligations.
We are the leading pioneer in Portuguese real estate consultancy and Golden Visa Program. Since 2015 our company has grown and have become a one-stop shop solution for this program offering bespoke services, expert knowledge, and custom-tailored services towards client needs. Our company works directly with you to provide expert advice on the investment and acquisition of property within Portugal – suitable for your investment requirements.
With a cosmopolitan team, our secure network of lawyers, property consultants and property developers are here to guide you every step of the way through your investment journey. DRP takes pride in its truly international team, with specialist representatives speaking French, Portuguese, English, Russian and more.
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We are delighted to offer a comprehensive selection of specialized services, with a unique Homeowner Concierge service that will assist you throughout your property investment. You’ll be given your own team that will help you through the buying process, spanning client relationship managers, interpreters all the way down to your own driver who will get you where you need to be during your trip.
Yes, investors can include their spouse, dependent children up to 26 years old, parents over 65 years old or dependent on the main applicant.
Yes.
No, they need to make their own investment and apply individually.
Purchase of commercial or residential inland & Madeira real estate with a value of at least €500,000;
Purchase of commercial or residential inland & Madeira real estate with a value of at least €400,000. This 20% reduced property investment option has the same requirements as the €500,000 investment but must be made in a low-density area;
Purchase of commercial or residential inland & Madeira real estate with a value of at least €350,000 that was constructed 30+ years ago or is located in an urban rehabilitation area. The value €350,000 must include not only the property price but also the cost of refurbishment works;
Purchase of commercial or residential inland & Madeira real estate with a value of at least €280,000. This 20% reduced property investment option has the same requirements as the €350,000 investment but property must be located in a low-density area.
Yes, as long as each investor makes the required minimum investment.
Yes, you can. However, it cannot be issued from a Portuguese financial institution. To qualify for the Golden Visa program the funds invested must come from outside of Portugal. As an alternative you can
DRP Advisers can send you calculations of all the costs for investors.
Property Purchase Tax IMT ranges from 6% to 8% from the property price.
Stamp duty tax is 0.8% from the property price.
The Notary Cost is around €1,000.
Land Registry Fees are around €200-300.
Annual Real Estate tax IMI ranges between 0.3% to 0.8%.
Legal fees - it is advised that you hire a Portuguese lawyer for the purchase of the property.
DRP Advisers can introduce you to the best legal firms in Portugal.
28% tax for any individual receiving rental income in Portugal.
If you don't spend more than 180 days a year in Portugal and become a tax resident, you are not required to pay taxes in the country.
You can enjoy the tax exemption on almost all foreign source income for 10 years.
You don’t have to move to Portugal to keep your residence permit.
Minimum stay requirement for Golden Visa is 7 days a year or 14 days in 2 years.
Your first residency is valid for 2 years with two renewals in total (year 2 & 4).
After 5 years of residency in Portugal investors and their family members can apply for citizenship.
With the residence permit issued by Portugal, you can visit or live in other Schengen states for up to 90 days in a 180 day period without a visa.
Once you become a Portuguese citizen, you get visa-free access to 188 countries and live in any EU country full-time.
If your goal is to obtain an EU passport, the Portugal Golden Visa would be the best option.
Any changes shall only apply for the future, meaning that all Golden Visas that were granted until the changes were made shall remain valid under the current terms and conditions.
Portugal’s leading real estate consultancy for locals and expats around the world.
We develop individual solutions for our clients to remove visa restrictions, create a safe haven for them and their families, legally reduce their taxes and also support them throughout the immigration process. With our extensive portfolio of properties, we provide smart, creative solutions for both buyers and sellers to ensure you optimize your purchase, sale or investment.
DRP Consultores LDA is regulated by IMPIC (Instituto dos Mercados Públicos, do Imobiliário e da Construção) holding Real Estate AMI Licence 19648
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