Living in Portugal

Located in the south west of mainland Europe, Portugal is easily accessible in terms of travel to and from the rest of the world. The two islands of the Azores and Madeira are also autonomous regions of Portugal and, like the mainland, offers fantastic weather, a relaxed lifestyle, cosmopolitan cities and stunning coastlines.

The Golden Visa and the Non-Habitual Residents Programme (NHR)

If you are interested in Portugal’s Golden Visa, there are plenty of choices of investment routes to meet the obligations, from direct investment into property, to investing in a Portuguese Venture Capital Fund.

The main investment routes to qualify for a Golden Visa are:

• Investment of at least €1 million in Portugal (deposit in a bank account, or shares, or quotas in a company or companies); OR
• Acquisition of real estate with a value of at least €500,000; OR
• The creation of at least 10 jobs (temporary work contracts are eligible and the worker does not have to live in Portugal as long as social security is paid there).

Investing in a Venture Capital Fund requires an investment of at least €350,000 with the objective of providing capital for companies in Portugal.

The capital must be retained for a minimum of 5 years and at least 60% of the investment must be made in commercial properties, with a head office in Portugal. The good news is this is a lower investment in terms of the amount required and it could offer a higher return on the investment long-term.

There are a number of other benefits available under this route and more information can be found here: Obtaining a Golden Visa by Investing in a Portuguese Venture Capital Fund

At the same time as applying for a Golden Visa, you can simultaneously apply for the Non-Habitual Residents Programme, to enjoy the benefits of both.

The Non-Habituals Residents Programme is available to EU and non-EU citizens who become tax resident in Portugal, provided they have not been resident in Portugal for the previous 5 years. They can enjoy non-habitual status for 10 years, whereby income derived from employment or independent personal services (from a domestic source) is taxed at a special flat rate of 20%, provided the income is from high value-added activities or a scientific, artistic or technical nature. A tax exemption may apply to income derived from a foreign source.