Residence & Citizenship

Portugal

Portugal’s “Golden Visa” is the perfect route to Portugal’s golden shores. Due to its flexibility and numerous benefits, this programme is proving to be one of the most popular programmes in Europe.

On top of that, Portugal also offers a Non-Habitual Residents Programme to individuals who become tax resident in Portugal. This allows them to enjoy a special personal tax exemption on almost all foreign source income, over a 10 year period.

Portugal detail

Portuguese Programmes

Please click into the relevant programme(s) below to view the benefits of each, the financial obligations and other criteria that might apply:

Programmes – Benefits & Criteria

Portugal

Portugal Golden Visa

The Portugal D7 Visa (Available to Non-EU/EEA nationals)

The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Enabling Residency

  • Benefits
  • Financial/Other Obligations
  • Additional Criteria

Portugal Golden Visa

The Portuguese Golden Visa enables non-EU residents not only to be resident in Portugal, but also to move freely within the Schengen Zone.

Individuals who have been resident in Portugal for 5 years can apply for permanent residence. This is usually granted, if they can demonstrate that they have held a residence visa for the last 5 years. At the end of the 5th year of being classified as resident in Portugal an individual can apply for Portuguese nationality and therefore a Portuguese passport.

Further benefits include:

  • Settlement in the EU.
  • Visa-free travel to approximately 170 countries, including free movement within the Schengen Zone (26 European countries).
  • Minimal residence requirements of only seven days in the first year and fourteen days in the subsequent two year periods. It is therefore possible to benefit from the Golden Visa programme without becoming tax resident.
  • Individuals that choose to become tax resident in Portugal can benefit from the Non-Habitual Residents Programme (it is possible for non-EU individuals to apply to the two schemes simultaneously).

Portugal Golden Visa

The following investments will each qualify for the Golden Visa:

  • Capital transfer of a minimum €500,000, for the acquisition of shares in a non-real estate collective investment entity, incorporated under Portuguese law. At the time of the investment, maturity must be at least five years in the future, and at least 60% of the value must be invested in commercial companies with headquarters in Portugal; OR
  • The creation of ten jobs; OR
  • Capital transfer of a minimum €500,000 for research activities, carried out by private or public scientific research institutions, integrated in the national scientific and technological system; OR
  • Capital transfer of a minimum €250,000 for investment in supporting artistic productions, reflecting the national cultural heritage. Such an investment can be, through; central and/or peripheral direct administration services, public institutes, entities that integrate the business and public sector, public foundations, private foundations with public utility status, inter-municipal entities, entities that are part of the local business sector, municipal associative entities and public cultural associations; OR
  • Capital transfer of a minimum €500,000 for the incorporation of a commercial company, with headquarters in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs. Alternatively a minimum €500,000 can be added to the capital of an existing commercial company, with headquarters in Portugal. This must be combined with the creation of at least five permanent jobs, or the maintenance of at least ten jobs, with a minimum five permanent employees, for a minimum period of three years.

Portugal Golden Visa

Minimum Stay Requirements in Portugal:

  • 7 days in the first year.
  • 14 days in the subsequent periods of two years (i.e. years 2-3 and 4-5).

In order to obtain Portuguese nationality an individual must provide the following:

  • A copy of an existing Portuguese Residency Card.
  • A declaration issued by the Portuguese authorities stating that an individual has been resident in Portugal for the past 6 years.
  • A Portuguese Criminal Record Check.
  • A Criminal Record Check from the individual’s country of origin, duly translated and certified by the Portuguese Consulate and Apostilled.
  • Proof that the individual has taken the official Portuguese language test for foreigners.

Download Full List of Programmes – Benefits & Criteria (PDF)


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.

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