I would like to open a restaurant in Lisbon. For that purpose, I would like to raise equity funds from UK-based investors into a UK-registered company, and for that Company to, in turn, invest in a newly incorporated Portuguese-registered company.
The Portuguese Company will enter into a lease for a location in Lisbon, which will in turn operate a restaurant and employ a minimum of 10 Portuguese citizens. Will all shareholders be eligible for residency over time as a result of the Portuguese company’s employing citizens?
Answers
Job creation remains one of the eligible investment routes to obtain the Portuguese Golden Visa. Therefore, the creation of at least 10 jobs may constitute a basis for a Golden Visa application, provided that all applicable legal requirements are fulfilled.
However, the mere fact that an individual is a shareholder in a Portuguese company that creates employment does not automatically mean that all shareholders or investors are entitled to residency. It is necessary to assess whether each investor’s participation in the company and their involvement meet the legal requirements of the relevant investment route.
To assess the available options, it would be necessary to review each investor’s nationality, the percentage and nature of their shareholding, their role in the management or activity of the company, and whether they intend to reside in Portugal or remain abroad.
