Portugal

Portugal Investment Immigration Programs Overview

Portugal offers a five-year pathway to the Portuguese (European) passport, which ranks amongst the top 10 passports for ease of travel across many passport strength indexes in 2023.

The country offers a golden visa to foreign investors. Until October 2023, the program’s most popular route was the real estate investment, but it was scrapped due to a hike in property prices.

There are several paths still available for foreign investors to pursue the golden visa in Portugal:

1. €250,000 Contribution: to nationally recognized research institutions.
2. €250,000 Contribution: to government-approved projects focused on preserving national cultural heritage or those with artistic and cultural significance.
3. €500,000 Venture Capital Investment: Foreign investors looking to put their money in venture capital funds can consider this option. However, the investment must mature in at least five years.
4. €500,000 Direct Business Investment: Entrepreneurs can invest €500,000 directly in a commercial enterprise. To meet this threshold, the enterprise must create a minimum of five permanent jobs for locals and sustain them for at least three years.
5. Job Creation Investment: Open to any investment that generates at least 10 jobs for local workers.

This program can couple with the NHR Tax program to grant 10 years of tax exemption on foreign personal income and a lower flat rate on income obtained in Portugal from qualified activities.

Portugal Citizenship By Investment

Although Portugal doesn’t offer a CBI program per se, successful residency applicants can obtain citizenship — and a well-regarded EU passport — after five years of holding this residence card, which only demands a minimum stay of seven days per year in Portuguese territory and works as a Schengen Visa to allow free travel around Europe.

How to Apply for Portuguese Golden Visa

The application process is straightforward, especially for the real estate pathway. Applicants must request a Portuguese Taxpayer Number (NIF), open a Portuguese bank account and transfer the necessary investment amounts. Once the real estate purchase is completed, applicants must submit their application through the Immigration and Borders Service’s online platform. After the online approval, they must visit Portugal to submit the biometric data.

The application is painless, requiring only basic personal documentation along with a police background check. If an applicant wants to bring the spouse and children to Portugal, a marriage certificate and birth certificates are needed.

Investments in areas other than real estate are also very appealing, with different documentation and complexity required to demonstrate qualifying investment. After approval, the Investor or his representative can collect the residence card.

Mobility

Portuguese residency confers the right to live, study and work in Portugal, as well as visa-free travel across the European Schengen Zone. It doesn’t bring any travel benefits outside the European Union.

Investors who gain citizenship can obtain a Portuguese passport, which is among the world’s strongest, allowing visa-free travel to 187 countries.

Country

Portugal enjoys a high standard of living with low costs, an internationally well-developed healthcare system, and quality educational offerings. The country is ranked for consecutive years as the seventh safest country in the world, according to the 2013 Global Peace Index. It is also putting considerable resources into attracting entrepreneurs and startups, and into renewable energy, supporting the development of green and blue projects.

Updated by Tiago Gali Macedo, Sara Sousa Rebolo and Staff

Powered by Froala Editor