There is no amount
minimum investment
12-18 months
it will take the registration of a residence permit
5 years old
you need to live to get citizenship
Portugal’s Golden Visa is a government program for obtaining a residence permit in the country in exchange for investments. This immigration mechanism is considered one of the best in the world according to various ratings. For foreign investors, this is an opportunity for visa—free travel in the Schengen area and a short path to EU citizenship – in just 5 years.
More than 11 thousand foreign investors have received Portugal’s “Golden visa” for the entire duration of the program. Most of them are from China, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa and Of Russia.
The content of the article
- Advantages of the Portuguese residence permit program for investments
- Investment options for Portugal’s Golden Visa
- Investor Requirements
- Stages of registration of the “golden visa” of Portugal
- Checking the investor’s trustworthiness
- Obtaining a NIF (individual Taxpayer Number)
- Opening an account in a Portuguese bank
- Investing
- Applying for a residence permit
- Submitting biometrics
- Obtaining a resident’s card
- Required documents for a Portuguese residence permit for investments
- Extension of Portugal’s Golden Visa
Portugal has been issuing “golden visas” to Russians since 2012 and now continues to accept applications from investors.
Advantages of the Portuguese residence permit program for investments
Residence permit for the whole family. The whole family can participate in the program: the investor himself, the spouse, minor children and parents over 65 years of age are dependent on the applicant. Children under the age of 26 can also be included in the application if they are financially dependent on the applicant, are not married and study full-time at a university.
Residence permit without exams. To obtain a “golden visa”, you will not have to take exams for knowledge of the Portuguese language and the history of the country.
An indefinite residence permit while maintaining investments. A residence permit for investments is given for 2 years and is extended twice for 2 years (for the fifth year of residence on a residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence).
Loyal requirements for staying in the country.To extend a residence permit for investments, you do not need to live at least 183 days a year, as in other residence permit programs. It is enough to spend in Portugal for at least 7 days in the 1st year and 14 days every 2 years thereafter. However, if the investor intends to subsequently obtain permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship, he will have to live in the country for at least 6 months a year.
Permanent residence and citizenship in 5 years. After 5 years of residence with a residence permit, the investor receives permanent residence in Portugal and submits documents for Portuguese citizenship. This is one of the fastest naturalizations in the European Union. In Spain and Italy, you can apply for citizenship only after 10 years, and in For Greece, this period is 7 years.
Second citizenship. Portugal recognizes the possibility of having two or more nationalities: you will not have to give up your Russian passport.
Cheaper than in neighboring countries. To buy an apartment in the city center in Portugal can be sold for an average of 3,400 euros per square meter, while the average price in France is 6,000 euros.
Special tax regime. Investors planning to become tax residents of Portugal can request a special tax status — Non-Habitual Residents. The preferential tax regime has been in effect for 10 years and lowers the income tax rate to 20%. Investors are also exempt from paying taxes on income earned outside Portugal. There is no inheritance and gift tax, as well as property tax. In addition, for holders of this tax status, a free transfer of funds to Portugal and abroad is available.
Low taxes compared to other Western European countries. Tax residents of the Russian Federation may be exempt from paying tax on income from professional activities and income from employment in Portugal. Progressive rates from 14.5% are applied to Portuguese tax residents, depending on the amount of income.
Investment options for Portugal’s Golden Visa
To participate in the program, you need to select one category of investor.
|
Opening your own company |
There is no minimum investment amount |
|
Support for culture and historical heritage |
from 250,000 € |
|
Investments in the fund |
from 500,000 € |
|
Scientific research |
from 500,000 € |
|
Investments in the authorized capital of an existing company |
from 500,000 € |
Holders of a “golden visa” do not have to live permanently in Portugal and become a tax resident.
The investor has the opportunity to buy real estate with investments in the authorized capital of the company. And the purchased property can be rented out and receive a yield of 4-6% per annum in euros.
The estimated return on funds is 3-5%, but it is not guaranteed.
Requirements for the investor
To successfully obtain a “golden visa”, an investor must meet several requirements:
- The minimum age is 18 years;
- no criminal record in the countries of residence;
- having a stable income to support life in Portugal;
- compliance with the investment conditions in the selected area.
It should be noted that the requirements may vary depending on the chosen investment option.
Stages of registration of the “golden visa” of Portugal
The process of obtaining a “golden visa” consists of several key steps.
Checking the investor’s trustworthiness
At the first stage, a check is carried out on the well-being of a potential investor, including checking for criminal records and the authenticity of the documents provided.
Obtaining a NIF (individual Taxpayer number)
To start applying for a “golden visa”, you must obtain a NIF, which is an individual tax number in Portugal. Without it, it will be impossible to make investments and submit documents. To obtain a NIF, you must contact the Portuguese tax service or fill out the relevant documents through a representative if the investor cannot be physically present.
Opening an account in a Portuguese bank
After receiving the NIF, you need to open an account with a Portuguese bank. Banks may require to provide documents confirming sources of income, as well as documents relating to the place of residence in Portugal. Opening an account is necessary to transfer funds to investment accounts, as well as for further financial activity in the country. You need to come to Portugal and visit the bank in person.
Russians, Belarusians and other citizens of the CIS countries can apply for a short-term visa to travel.
Investing
After opening an account, an investor can start implementing his investment project — whether it is a contribution to funds, culture or business creation. It is important that investments meet the requirements of the program in order to avoid problems when applying for a visa.
For example, to open a company, you need to create 10 jobs and support its activities for at least 5 years. And the contribution to funds and culture must be paid only from a personal Portuguese account. For other options, you can use a trust account.
Applying for a residence permit
After the completion of the investment stage, the investor can apply for a residence permit. To do this, you need to collect a complete set of documents. The application is submitted to the Portuguese Consulate in the investor’s country of residence or to The Office of Migration in Portugal, if the investor is already in the country.
Submitting biometrics
After submitting the application, you must complete the biometrics procedure. This includes fingerprinting and photographing. Biometric information provides security and prevents fraud. The procedure can be performed in Portugal.
Obtaining a resident’s card
2 weeks after successful completion of all stages, payment of administrative fees and approval of the application for a “golden visa”, the investor receives a resident card that is valid for 2 years. This card allows you to legally reside in Portugal, and also gives you the right to visa-free travel to the countries of the Schengen area. After this period, the resident can extend the visa.
Required documents for a Portuguese residence permit for investments
To obtain a “golden visa”, an investor will need to prepare a number of basic documents, including:
- passport or copies of passports of all applicants;
- documents confirming legal entry and residence in the country;
- photo of the applicant;
- medical insurance policy;
- application for a criminal history check in Portugal;
- certificate of non-criminal record in the applicant’s country of residence;
- certificate of absence of debt from the tax service and social security authorities;
- marriage and child birth certificates;
- certificate from the place of work;
- certificate from the place of study for children over 18 years old;
- INN.
The entire package of documents must be translated into Portuguese and certified.
Extension of Portugal’s Golden Visa
Portugal’s “Golden visa” can be extended twice for 2 years, provided that the investor fulfills the necessary requirements. To extend it, it is necessary to prove that the investment continues to exist, as well as to confirm that you are in the country for at least 7 days a year. An application for an extension can be submitted 3 months before the expiration date of the resident’s card.
The renewal process includes re-filing documents and passing the same security checks. 5 years after receiving the first residence permit, the investor can apply for citizenship.
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“Golden visa” in other countries:
UAE Golden Visa: what gives, how to get in Dubai in 2024
Turkish citizenship for real estate investments for Russians in 2024
Golden visa of Greece: Residence permit for the purchase of real estate in 2024 – Tranio
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