The Portugal Golden Visa Program is one of the best choices for foreign investors or third-country nationals to be granted a residence permit, through investment activities conducted within Portugal territory. Residence permit holders already have the right to reside in Portugal and enjoy free travel within the 26 nation members of the Schengen zone. The program’s main benefits are the various choices of investments, fast processing, and a minimal requirement for residency. This makes Golden Visa the fastest-growing investment immigration program in Europe.
Advantages of the Portugal Golden Visa Program
Which family members can also benefit from the Portugal Golden Visa program?
How to obtain the Residence in Europe with the Portugal Golden Visa Program?
Officially called the “ARI” (“Autorização de Residencia para Actividades de Investimento”), the Portugal Golden Visa Program enables investors to gain Portuguese residency while also enjoying all the benefits that come from being a part of the European Union.
In force from 8 October 2012, the Portugal Golden Visa Program was created as a way for the EU based country to attract more investments in their businesses and real estate while encouraging diversity through incentives.
Who may apply for the Portugal Golden Visa Program?
ln accordance with the Act, residence permits to third-country nationals are granted to those who intend to perform, by themselves or through a company, any activity that generally leads to the concretization of at least one of the following situations, in the national territory:
Starting July of 2015, the Law was renewed and revised through the Act 63/2015. Investors can now carry out investment activities through the following ways:
Portuguese, and EU nationals are not eligible for the ARI / Portugal Golden Visa Program.
The beneficiaries of ARI / Portugal Golden Visa are entitled to apply for citizenship after five years if complying with requirements.
How many investors benefited from the Portugal Golden Visa Program?
According to the statistic of SEF, from October 2012 to June 2020, Portugal has issued 8,907 residence permits for investors and 15,229 residence permits for family members under the Portugal Golden Visa Program.
Total foreign investment in Portugal surpassed 5.3 billion EUR, of which 4.8 billion EUR was invested in purchasing real estate. Most of the investors came from China, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, and Russia.