PORTUGUESE RESIDENCE FOR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
The golden visa Portugal allows non-eu citizens to
obtain a residence permit and the portuguese passport
Portugal has VISA reserved for non-European Union citizens willing to invest in the local economy. The main goal is to attract foreign investors/capital into the Portuguese Economy.
This VISA program – called Golden Visa (or Golden Residence) – benefits from the fact that its holders have the right to apply – after 5 years – to become a Portuguese Citizen and/or a permanent Portuguese resident.
Legal Residency in Portugal: Secure the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, with the option to extend these privileges to immediate family members.
Visa-Free Travel in the Schengen Area: Enjoy unrestricted travel across 26 European countries within the Schengen Zone, facilitating both business and leisure activities.
Family Reunification: Include family members in your Golden Visa application, granting them the same rights and benefits in Portugal.
Minimal Stay Requirements: Fulfill a low physical presence obligation, with only a minimum stay of seven days per year in Portugal, offering flexibility for global investors.
Pathway to Portuguese Citizenship: After five years of maintaining the Golden Visa, become eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship, gaining access to one of the world’s most powerful passports.
Attractive Tax Benefits: Potential access to Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime, which can offer significant tax advantages for a decade.
Safe and Stable Environment: Reside in one of the world’s safest countries, known for its political stability and high quality of life.
High Standard of Living: Benefit from excellent healthcare and education systems, a pleasant climate, and a relatively low cost of living compared to other Western European nations.
Diverse Investment Opportunities: Choose from various investment options, including capital transfers, business investments, and fund subscriptions, allowing alignment with your financial goals.
Streamlined Application Process with Legal Assistance: With the guidance of a specialized golden visa attorney, navigate the application process efficiently, ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fund Subscription: Invest a minimum of €500,000 in a qualifying Portuguese investment fund. These funds typically focus on sectors such as technology, renewable energy, or industry, and must exclude any direct or indirect real estate ties.
Business Investment:
Job Creation: Establish a Portuguese company that creates at least 10 new full-time jobs.
Research and Development (R&D): Contribute at least €500,000 to research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions in Portugal.
Cultural Support: Donate a minimum of €250,000 to the preservation of national heritage or support of artistic production in Portugal.
Embarking on the journey to secure a Portuguese Golden Visa through investment funds might seem straightforward. However, have you considered the potential complexities and risks associated with this path?
While investment funds offer an attractive route to obtaining a Golden Visa, not all funds are created equal. Many investors overlook critical aspects such as:
Navigating the investment landscape without the support of an independent Portuguese attorney/law firm can expose you to several risks:
To safeguard your investment and ensure a seamless path to obtaining your Golden Visa, we offer extensive due diligence services, including:
By collaborating closely with your financial advisor, we provide tailored legal assistance to navigate the complexities of the Portuguese investment landscape, ensuring your interests are protected every step of the way.
The Golden Visa holder is allowed to freely travel within Europe and, once he/she gets the Portuguese citizenship, becomes holder of the 4th strongest passport in the world.
The Portuguese Golden Visa holder is allowed to work, live, study or simply enjoy our beautiful Portugal.
However, to be a golden Visa holder for 5 years, you don’t need to live in Portugal. A minimum stay of 7 days (in the first year of the residence permit) and 14 days per year (years 2 to 5 of the residence permit) will be enough to meet the minimum standards.
The main applicant may include all his/her family members, as long as they are financially dependents from him/her. This extension can be done either simultaneously or later. However, you have to bear in mind that the 5 years for the citizenship start counting when the applicant has the visa issued. So, the longer your family members take to start the process, the longer it will take for them to become Portuguese.
The family members eligible to join the main applicant are his/her spouse, children under 18 years old, children between 18 and 26 years old, if unmarried and financially dependent and parents over 65 years old, if financially dependents.
Both the main applicant and his/her dependents may apply for the Portuguese citizenship once they hold the Golden Visa for 5 years.
If you don’t spend more than 183 days per year in Portugal, you will not be considered as a tax resident in Portugal. However, if you become a tax-resident in Portugal, you will be eligible for the new transitional non-habitual residency (NHR) program, according to which you may benefit from 20% flat tax rate over salaries/freelancing income for the following 10 years.
US Citizens shall be aware that:
You may qualify to exclude your foreign earnings from income up to USD $126,500/year, if you comply with the IRS exceptions.
Any non-European Union/Iceland/Liechtenstein/Norway/Swiss national is eligible for the Golden Visa.
We are a Portugal Golden Visa law firm focused on foreign clients and investment attraction to Portugal. Our immigration department is led by a Lawyer enrolled in the Portuguese Bar Association for over 23 years and our team is composed by lawyers, solicitors and paralegals, responsible for thousands of Portuguese Visa and citizenship applications.
And, because we are lawyers, we are forbidden, by the Portuguese Bar Association Statutory regulations, to partner and/or to receive any kind of payment/compensation/commission from any funds. This way, you can be sure that we will always and solely defend your own interests, instead of leading you into a specific product, fund or company investment, when you Invest in Portugal Golden Visa.
Many companies advertise Golden Visa advisory, making you believe that their business is the Golden Visa application assistance. Unfortunately, that is not true. Their main goal is to lead you to invest in a specific investment product/fund, that will be paying a commission/referral.
Some investment funds – mostly linked to the Real Estate business – will offer you, free of charge, the legal assistance on the Golden Visa application. However, you will be assisted by professionals paid the own investment fund manager companies. The professional paid by the fund will be the professional assisting you in, for instance, due diligence and/or compliance acts. So, the said professional in Golden Visa applications will be performing acts of due diligence, in your name, about a fund that is paying for their services.
That is why we strongly recommend that you hire directly an independent Portuguese Golden Visa Lawyer or Golden Visa Attorney. These are the only professionals that are legally bound to defend the interests of the person that hires them.
Our Lisbon Golden Visa Team and our Porto Golden Visa Team have all the background and expertize you may need to make a safe and profitable investment in your Portuguese Golden Visa.
Our experienced Golden Visa Legal Team is dedicated to navigating the landscape of this process on your behalf, ensuring a stress-free and compliant experience. Our comprehensive services encompass:
1. Strategic Investment Consultation
Personalized Investment Analysis: We conduct an in-depth assessment of your financial objectives and risk tolerance to identify investment opportunities that align with your unique profile.
Regulatory Compliance Assurance: Our team ensures that your chosen investment avenues are in full compliance with the latest Portuguese immigration and financial regulations, safeguarding your eligibility for the Portugal Golden Visa program.
2. Rigorous Due Diligence and Compliance Verification
Fund Authenticity and Legitimacy: We perform exhaustive verifications to confirm that investment funds are duly registered with the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) and possess a transparent operational history.
Managerial Competence Evaluation: Our analysis includes a thorough review of fund managers’ professional backgrounds, track records, and fiduciary responsibilities to ensure your investments are managed by qualified professionals.
Investment Strategy Scrutiny: We meticulously examine the fund’s investment strategies, asset allocations, and market positions to ensure they are robust, viable, and aligned with your financial goals.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Our team identifies potential financial, legal, and market risks associated with each investment, providing strategic advice to mitigate these risks effectively.
3. Comprehensive Legal Documentation and Representation
Document Preparation and Submission: We handle the meticulous preparation, review, and submission of all necessary legal documents, ensuring accuracy and compliance with Portuguese law.
Regulatory Liaison Services: Our team acts as your representative in all communications with Portuguese regulatory bodies, streamlining interactions and expediting responses to any inquiries or requirements.
Continuous Compliance Monitoring: We provide ongoing oversight to ensure that your investments remain in compliance with evolving regulations throughout the duration of the Golden Visa Portugal program.
4. Collaborative Coordination with Financial Advisors
Integrated Advisory Approach: Recognizing the importance of a cohesive strategy, we collaborate closely with your financial advisors to harmonize legal and financial planning, ensuring a unified approach to your investment and immigration objectives.
Holistic Financial Planning Support: Our services include aligning your investment choices with broader financial plans, tax considerations, and long-term wealth management goals, providing a comprehensive support system.
5. Post-Investment Support and Citizenship Pathway Guidance
Residency Compliance Assistance: We offer guidance on fulfilling residency requirements, including strategic planning for physical presence in Portugal, to maintain your Golden Visa Portugal status.
Citizenship Application Preparation: As you approach eligibility for Portuguese citizenship, our team assists in compiling necessary documentation, ensuring compliance with language proficiency requirements, and navigating the naturalization process efficiently.
Entrusting our experienced legal professionals with your Golden Visa Portugal application ensures a comprehensive and compliant process, allowing you to focus on your future in Portugal with confidence and peace of mind.
“We proudly serve clients around the globe, offering our expertise and personalized services no matter where you are. Our extensive experience and international reach ensure that you receive the highest quality support and guidance, tailored to your specific needs and location.”
We handle all the bureaucracy, you simply enjoy Portugal.