Golden residence permit programme
New legal provisions open up the possibility of foreign investors who enters the country regularly (v.g. holders of valid Schengen Visas, or beneficiaries of Visa exemption) of applying for a residence permit for pursuing investment activities by transferring capital, creating jobs or acquiring real estate.
Residence holders with permits for pursuing investment activities are entitled to:
- Enter Portugal without the requirement of a residential visa;
- Live and work in Portugal, having to stay in Portugal for a period of at least 7 days in the first year and no less than 14 days in subsequent years;
- Travel within the Schengen area without the need for a visa;
- Benefit from family regrouping;
- Request the assignment of Permanent Authorisation of Residence under Foreign Laws;
- Request Portuguese nationally, through naturalisation, complying with the requirements of the
- Nationality Law.
This regime is not applicable to citizens who have Portuguese nationality and nationals of the EU and the European Economic Area.
Who can request a residence permit for investment activities?
Third country nationals who either carry out investment activities personally or through a company that lead to, as a rule, at least one of the following situations in Portuguese territory for a minimum period of five years:
- The acquisition of real estate with a value of 500 thousand Euros or more
- Transfer of capital worth 1 million Euros or more (including investments in company stocks or shares)
- The creation of at least 10 jobs
- The transfer of capital in values greater than or equal to 250 thousand Euros, applied to support artistic production, recovery or maintenance of cultural heritage
- Transfer of capital in values greater than or equal to 350 thousand Euros, applied to scientific and technological research activities
- The purchase of real estate with a global value greater than or equal to 350 thousand euros (in an area of urban rehabilitation, or buildings over 30 years old and the implementation of recovery works to the property purchased)
- Transfer of values with a global value greater than or equal to 50 thousand euros for the purchase of participation units in investment funds or risk capital aimed at the capitalisation of small and medium companies which, for this purpose, present the respective capitalisation plan which is deemed viable.
How should a request to acquire real estate be filled in?
For investment via the purchase of real estate with a value greater than or equal to 500 thousand Euros. The value of this investment may be reduced by 20% (400 thousand Euros) when it is made in low density territory.
This type of investment can be made individually or via a sole shareholder company of which the Applicant is a member.
For this type of investment, the Investor must demonstrate that they have ownership of the property (if not possible, through the promissory contract of purchase and sale with a deposit greater than or equal to 500 thousand Euros), and this can be done in the following manner:
- Purchase them under a co-ownership regime, as long as the Applicant invests a total value greater than or equal to 500 thousand Euros;
- Purchase them through a sole shareholder company of which they are a member;∙
- Encumber then, in the part which exceeds the value of 500 thousand euros;
- Rent them or use them for commercial, agricultural or tourist purposes.
You may collect further information at this link
How can I request a residence permit for investment activities?
- Make an online application at (http://ari.sef.pt) (Online pre-registration is obligatory) and deliver the application to the Directorates and Regional Delegations of Foreign Service and borders.
- Book a time for delivering the ARI application, at an FSB desk, via the ARI Line, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5:30 pm, by calling +351 214236625
Family Reunification
The holders of Golden Residence Permits for Investment Activity have the right to family regrouping, and may gain access to a permanent residence permit, as well as to Portuguese citizenship in accordance to the current legal provisions.
Minimum permanent residency periods
For the purposes of renewing a residency permit, you may have to show that you have resided in Portuguese territory for a minimum period of 7 days, either consecutively or non-consecutively, during the first year, and 14 days in subsequent two year periods.