Portugal

Residency & Citizenship by Investment

One of Europe’s oldest countries, Portugal boasts a rich historical and architectural heritage. Luminosity, radiance and culture beam through the whitewashed villages and lush vineyards of this country positioned on the blissfully elegant shores of the Atlantic ocean.

WHY CHOOSE PORTUGAL?

Portugal boasts a rich and diverse culture, Mediterranean climate, and a safe and stable setting ideal for raising families, conducting business or traveling. Investors find many opportunities in Portugal’s secure and fast-developing market, including the following:

  • Residence visa waiver for entering Portugal.
  • Live and work in Portugal.
  • Visa-free travel within the Schengen member states.
  • Permanent residency or citizenship of Portugal after five years as a temporary resident.
  • Inclusion of family members, such as spouse or partner, dependent children and dependent parents.

Qualifications

Portugal’s Golden Resident Permit Program is offered in accordance with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Department of Consular Affairs and the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP).

Aimed at attracting foreign direct investments to the country, the program yields a residency permit in Portugal to non-EU investors who fulfill one of the investment options below and meet the following requirements:

  • Provide proof that investment funds originate from abroad.
  • Hold no criminal record.
  • The main applicant’s property is not frozen within the boundaries of the EU.
  • Pay application and processing fees where applicable.
  • Enter Portugal for the first time on a valid Schengen visa.
  • Meet or exceed the minimum stay requirements. (Seven days for the first year, 14 days for subsequent two-year periods.)

INVESTMENT OPTIONS

Establishing the program in 2012 and being the first country to offer a Golden Visa, Portugal remains one of the most popular options for investors seeking European residency, having surpassed the €5 billion mark in foreign direct investment.

Over the years, the program has offered investors a diverse range of qualifying options while also evolving to focus on key strategic areas of economic development. Under the latest iteration of the program, investors can choose from the following investment options to qualify for the Golden Visa:

Capital Option

  • €500,000 – Acquisition of shares in non-real estate entities.

Capital and Employment Option

  • €500,000 – Incorporation of a company in Portugal that creates 5 permanent jobs, or investment in an existing company with the creation of 5 permanent jobs or maintenance of at least 10 jobs.

Donation Options

  • €500,000 – Investment in research activities;
  • €250,000 – Investment in arts or the reconstruction of national heritage projects.

DOES PORTUGAL OFFER A CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM?

Portugal’s Golden Visa allows foreign investors to become residents of the country, granting the freedom to live, work, and study in Portugal and to move within the Schengen Zone. After 5 years holding a temporary residency status, investors and their families can apply for Portuguese citizenship.

DO I NEED TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL TO MAINTAIN MY RESIDENCY?

To maintain your Golden Visa residency, you must spend 7 days in Portugal in the first year, and 14 days in subsequent years. They do not need to be consecutive.

DO I HAVE TO PAY ANY TAXES IF I DON’T LIVE IN PORTUGAL?

As a rule of thumb, if you spend less than half of the year in Portugal, you are considered a non-tax resident, and are in consequence only taxed on income obtained in Portugal. If you become a tax resident in Portugal, there is the option to become a non-habitual resident of Portugal and be exempt from paying taxes on worldwide income in Portugal. However, Portuguese-sourced income would be taxed at a flat rate of 20% during the first 10 years, with the ability to pass your wealth to a spouse or dependent without any incurring inheritance taxes.

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ARTON INDEX SCORE

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Updated yearly, the Arton Index is an overall assessment and comparative benchmark of the country and its investment program.


Portugal

10,833,816

Population Growth: 0.07%

28,500 USD

GDP (per capita)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

297.1 billion USD

175

Visa free countries


LOCATION

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

CAPITAL

Lisbon

DIFFERENCE

UTC 0

TOTAL AREA

92,090 sq. km.

AGE DEMOGRAPHICS

0-14: 15.50%, 15-24: 11.4%, 24-54: 41.88%, 55-64: 12.07%, 65+: 19.15%

LANGUAGE

Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)

RELIGIONS

Roman Catholic: 81%, Other Christian: 3.3%, Other (includes Jewish, Muslim, Other): 0.6%, None: 6.8%, Unspecified: 8.3%

GOVERNMENT TYPE

Semi-presidential republic

CURRENCY

Euro (EUR)

EXCHANGE RATE

1 USD = 0.9214 EUR

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