Overview of Portugal's Golden Visa Program:Portugal's Golden Visa program is Europe's most successful residency-by-investment for non-EU citizens. One of its notable features is the low stay requirements, equiring only 14 days of stay, consecutive or nonconsecutive, for each 2-year period and the possibility of acquiring Portuguese citizenship in only 5 years after the process is submitted.
Our team provides full bureaucratic and legal assistance with the process, and we shall be happy to guide you through this new chapter!
Investment Options:- Incorporation of a company that creates at least 10 job positions;
- A transfer of capital for research activities carried out by public or private scientific institutions that are part of the national scientific and technological system must be €500,000 or greater;
- Capital transfers of €250,000 or more can be made to support the investment or artistic production, recovery, and maintenance of national cultural heritage through public institutes and central or peripheral direct administration services, entities in the public business sector, public foundations, private foundations with public utility status, inter-municipal entities, entities in the local business sector, municipal associative entities and public cultural associations, which develop projects related to artistic production or the recovery and maintenance of the national cultural heritage;
- Capital transfers in the amount equal to or greater than €500,000, intended for acquiring participation units in investment funds (non-real estate collective investment entities) or venture capital funds focused on the capitalization of companies, constituted under the Portuguese legislation, with maturity, at the time of the investment, of at least five years and at least 60%. of the value of the investment is made in commercial companies based in national territory;
- Capital transfers in the amount equal or superior to €500,000, destined to the incorporation of a commercial company with headquarters in the national territory, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or to increase the share capital of a commercial company with headquarters in the national territory, already existing, with the creation of five permanent jobs or maintenance of 5 permanent jobs, for a minimum period of three years. Moreover, investments made in low-density areas entail a 20% reduction in the required investment value.
Golden Visa Timeline:- Online pre-approval – 6 to 12 months
- Immigration Office´s appointment - around 6 months after the online pre-approval
- Final analysis and issuance of the residence card – 6 months
Once the investment is chosen and fully paid, you can officially start the Golden Visa process by submitting all documents related to the investment and the applicant’s personal documents online through AIMA’s Golden Visa platform.
After the online submission, as mentioned above, the Immigration Office is currently taking around 6 to 12 months to complete the first analysis and issue the pre-approval.
Once the submission has been accepted and approved, the legal representatives will be notified to schedule an appointment with AIMA to collect the applicant’s biometrics and to provide the original documents that were submitted on the online Golden Visa platform at the beginning.
The booking of the appointment depends on the Immigration Office’s agenda and availability. The waiting period for an appointment is currently 6 months.
After the appointment with AIMA, the Portuguese Authorities will grant the final approval and proceed with the issuance of the residence card (also in approximately 6 months).
What are the options after 5 years?At the end of the 5th year, the Golden Visa holder can pursue one of the following options:
- Renew the Golden Visa every 2 years, for which the investment must be kept in place.
- Apply for “permanent residency for investment”, subject to passing A2 Portuguese language test, or
- Apply for Portuguese citizenship, also subject to passing the A2 Portuguese language test.
To clarify any questions regarding the Golden Visa, you can now book a short 15-minute introductory meeting.
