Portugal Golden Visa Program

The Portugal Golden Visa Program is one of the most popular residency by investment programs in Europe and in the world. The program offers residency in Portugal after the investor makes a significant investment in the Portuguese economy. In five years, investors may be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship by keeping their Portugal Golden Visa and meeting requirements.

Portugal Golden Visa announced some new rules in 2024 and before, experiencing serious changes.

Here are some important changes to the Portuguese Golden Visa Program applied until 2025:

• The program ceases to accept real estate purchases and real estate-related funds as qualifying options.

• Fund investment, cultural donation, and job creation are among the investment options for applying for a Portugal Golden Visa in 2025.

You can read the details of the changes here.

Your Guide to Portugal Golden Visa

At Get Golden Visa, we helped thousands of investors and families from 41 different countries obtain a Golden Visa in Portugal.

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Portugal Golden Visa

• Portuguese Golden Visa provides a range of relatively affordable investment options for you to choose from in obtaining your residence permit,

• You are only required to spend a minimum of seven days in Portugal per year,

• Portugal Golden Visa Program gives you visa-free access to the Schengen states,

• You can become a Portuguese citizen within five to six years,

• Portugal is a safe, secure, affordable country with a high quality of life, solid infrastructure, superb climate, and good health and education systems.

What Is Portugal Golden Visa?

The Portugal Golden Visa program, also known as the residence permit for investment activity (ARI), is a residency by investment scheme designed for non-EU citizens.

Portugal launched the program in October 2012. The main objective was to attract international capital into the country, as it was much in need after the 2008 economic crisis. The program proved to be a great success, raising over €7.5 billion since then.

Portugal offers a wide coastline, a great climate, hospitable people, and delicious cuisine. Better yet, it provides this high quality of life at an affordable cost of living. These factors make Portugal a very attractive destination for international investors to invest in and obtain the right to live, work, and study in the country.

Furthermore, the Portugal Golden Visa program provides the opportunity to become a permanent resident or a citizen in Portugal in only five years.

Benefits: What Are the Benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa?

• You can qualify for residency by contributing a minimum of €250,000 which is one of the lowest investment thresholds in Europe,

• You don’t have to move to Portugal to keep your residence permit. Staying in the country for seven days on average per year will suffice,

• You can be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship in five years. This is one of the quickest in Europe,

• Once you become a Portuguese citizen, you get visa-free access to 191 countries.

Visa-Free Travel

The Golden Visa permit registers you in the Schengen Area central system. So, you can freely travel within Europe without an additional visa.

At the end of five years, if you decide to get Portuguese citizenship, you can get a Portuguese passport. The Portuguese passport allows you to travel to 191 countries without the need for a visa.

Living, Working, and Studying in Portugal

Portuguese Golden Visa allows you to live, work, and study in Portugal.

If you decide to live in Portugal full-time with your Portuguese Golden Visa, then you will be required to have medical insurance. You will, however, have full access to all public services including healthcare and education.

State schools follow the Portuguese curriculum, though there are numerous private British and American international schools.

The work permit allows you to work anywhere, as well as start and run your own business in Portugal.

Security

Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world to live in, with a high level of public safety. This aspect alone makes people regain their freedom and let go of the feeling of fear and constant surveillance.

Portugal has an excellent ranking among the most peaceful places in the world. According to the Global Peace Index 2024, the country was ranked the 7th safest in the world.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Portugal is lower compared to other countries on the continent.

Another point to note is that the cost of living varies greatly depending on the city or region in which you live. For example, in Lisbon and Porto, costs are higher than in inland municipalities or rural areas.

Currently, a couple spends around €2,000 and €2,500 a month to live normally in a more expensive city like Lisbon without overspending. This includes rent, food, and other basic expenses such as water, electricity, transportation, and leisure.

Although the health system is not completely free, the care offered is of high quality, and the fees charged are affordable. For example, a regular consultation costs around €5, and emergency consultations can reach €20.

Private consultations cost an average of €60, depending on the specialty. With a health insurance plan, the cost is much lower – around €15 to €20.

Another advantage of living in Portugal is the price of medicines. There is a government subsidy program that covers part of the cost of medicines. With a doctor’s prescription, you can get up to 90% off the total price.

Health

Here are some more advantages of living in Portugal:

Environment

Portugal is a country where it’s usually sunny about 300 days of the year. Of course, it is possible to find colder regions where there is even snow, but the country is known for its pleasant climate amidst beautiful natural landscapes.

The heating system must also be taken into account. Gas heating and heating are practical in Portugal. The shower is warm and the taps in both the bathroom and the kitchen are adapted to the heating system.

Family Reunification

As the main applicant, you may extend your Portuguese Golden Visa to your family members. The application process is simultaneous for the main applicant and the dependents.

The following members of the family are eligible to apply along with the main applicant:

• Spouse,

• Children under the age of 18

• Financially dependent 18+ children provided that they are full-time students and not married,

• Parents of the main applicant, if over the age of 65 years old.

Citizenship and Passport

You may apply for citizenship after five years of holding a Golden Visa in Portugal.

In order to qualify for citizenship, you must have:

• No outstanding tax payments in Portugal,

• Clean criminal records from Portugal and from your home country,

• Obtain an A2 level language certification in Portuguese.

Later in the article, we will touch on the specifics of the Portuguese language requirement.

Important Note: In 2024, the Portuguese Parliament has approved changes to the citizenship law, affecting how the 5-year residency period required for citizenship eligibility is calculated. With the change, the countdown for these five years begins on the day you submit your application, rather than when you receive your residence permit. Check out the details.

Tax Benefits

Portugal Golden Visa Program will not bring any tax responsibility to you unless you spend more than 183 days of the year in Portugal. In case you do, then you become a tax resident in Portugal. The country offers a competitive tax system to those who are tax residents in Portugal.

Overall Benefits

As a Portuguese Golden Visa applicant, you have the right to live and work in Portugal, but there is no requirement to do so. With your Golden Visa, you can enjoy free travel within the European Schengen visa zone. After holding a Golden Visa for five years, you can apply for citizenship or permanent residency in Portugal, leading to a passport. The Portuguese passport allows you to live, work, study anywhere within the European Union.

Eligibility: Who Is Eligible for a Golden Visa in Portugal?

Who is eligible for Portugal Golden Visa? Let’s discover below:

• Nationalities

Any non-EU/EEA/Swiss national can apply for the Portugal Golden Visa.

• Pre-requisites

You’re required to be at least 18 years old and hold a clean criminal record from your home country, as well as from Portugal. The funds for the investment should arrive from outside of Portugal.

• Golden Visa Minimum Investment

In order to qualify for Portugal’s Golden Visa, a qualifying investment has to be made. Investment categories include venture capital fund, company formation / employer responsibilities, and donation. Later on in this guide, you can find a list of qualifying investments.

• Family Members

Under family reunification, you may extend the Golden Visa to the rest of the family members. A comprehensive list of eligible dependents is listed in the previous section.

American Applicants

US citizens are eligible to apply for the Portuguese Golden Visa. American Golden Visa applicants typically prefer to invest in a qualifying private equity or venture capital fund.

The number of American expats in Portugal surged above 10,000 as of 2024, a big increase over previous years. This rise is often attributed to the affordability, pleasant climate, and safety in Portugal.

British Applicants

UK citizens target Portugal for three reasons: travel rights across Europe, a desirable lifestyle, and ultimately European citizenship by investment.

The British expats constitute the second-largest expatriate group in Portugal, with over 50,000 British residents residing across the country.

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