The Portugal Golden Visa has proven to be the most popular citizenship program in Europe and the reasons are not far-fetched. Investors see Portugal as a preferred place for residence because their golden visa requirements are most flexible and beneficial.
Find out all the requirements and eligibility criteria to obtain permanent residency and citizenship through qualified real estate or capital investment.
Portugal Golden Visa eligibility is available to all who do not already hold citizenship in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. The applicants must be 18 years or older and have no criminal record inside or outside Portugal. In addition, they must contribute to the Portuguese economy with one of the available investment options.
The applicant may also include his/her family members in the submission. The Portugal Golden Visa dependents requirements are strict for acceptance. If your family member(s) meet the requirements, the process for submission follows the primary applicant’s.
American citizens are eligible to apply for the Golden Visa so long as they meet the minimum requirements listed above. Portugal Golden Visa requirements for Americans will follow the same protocol as all other applicants.
This is an attractive investment program for Americans because it allows them to expand their business in Europe as well.
As of January 1st, 2021, United Kingdom citizens qualify to apply for the Golden Visa Program. Due to the UK’s exit from the European Union, these citizens no longer qualify as EU/EEA citizens and can no longer freely travel through the Schengen area.
British investors will now find that the Portugal Golden Visa is an attractive investment option. The program provides an opportunity to integrate back into the EU and reap the benefits of citizenship.
Portugal Golden Visa requirements for UK citizens still follow the same minimum requirements as all other third-country nationals.
Portugal is proud to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. The country is one of the most legally and morally accepting. The rights of those who identify with this community are recognized and enforced. Same-sex spouses also have the right to apply alongside the primary applicant. In short, people in the LGBT+ community are also eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa.
Portuguese residency requirements include a bank account and NIF number before proceeding with your investment and submitting your application. The NIF is your Portuguese tax number. It must be acquired before opening a bank account. If not physically present, it is crucial to hire a lawyer for this step. Your NIF number is also required during property acquisition in Portugal, and all other tax-related transactions.
Once you have your NIF number, you can then set up a bank account. A bank account is required, as monies must be transferred to your Portuguese bank account to fund your investment. Again, you should strongly consider hiring a lawyer for this step. Many have connections with local banks and can aid in a seamless process.
It is simple to open with only a few items required.
If you plan to be present for opening a bank account, you will need to bring the documentation listed above with you. The documentation you can bring to showcase proof of address includes a foreign bank statement, custom forms, or a sim card delivery note. We also advise having the €250-300 EUR in cash for an even smoother process. This entire process should take you no longer than 20 minutes, and you’ll be walking out another step closer to obtaining your Golden Visa.
As this program is a citizenship-by-investment program, an investment into Portugal is mandatory. An investment must be selected from the list of investment options available, and there are specific requirements for each venture. Authorized options include:
Portugal Golden Visa real estate requirements have a minimum investment amount of €280,000 EUR while the minimum capital transfer in form of donation is only €250,000 EUR.
To qualify for the Golden Visa, the candidate must make a qualified investment in Portugal, and the funds must come from outside the country. This means that to meet the requirements of your Golden Visa application you can not ask for a mortgage. However if you would like to buy a property that exceeds the €280,000 EUR (or any of the other real estate investment otpions), you can apply for a mortgage for the amount above your minimal investment.
Portugal investment visa requirements and Portugal Golden Visa property requirements need to be executed very carefully. An invalid investment will unqualify your application.
After you have successfully held your investment(s) for the five-year period, you may sell or divest those ventures.
There are a handful of Portugal Golden Visa documents required to collect and authorize before submitting your application.
All other certificates can be issued no more than 180 days before submitting the application.
The Portugal Golden Visa necessary documents must be translated to Portuguese by a certified translator and legalized by a Portuguese notary or consulate.
It is also important to note that these same documents will be required for the renewal of your Golden Visa at the end of years 2 and 5.
One of the final steps for the Portugal citizenship requirements is an in-person screening. Once your application is approved, you can schedule this interview. A biometric screening will occur for both you and any family members. This screening includes fingerprinting, taking your photo, and obtaining your signature.
After receiving approval, the Portugal Golden Visa stay requirement must be met. The minimum physical presence requirements involve a 7-day stay in the first year. In subsequent years, the minimum stay is 14 days in a two-year period and 21 days in a three-year period. This requirement is advantageous to applicants that do not intend to reside in Portugal permanently.
After completing the five-year initial requirement for the Portugal Golden Visa, holders have the option to choose permanent residency or citizenship. If you choose to obtain citizenship, the Portugal Golden Visa language test requirement must be fulfilled.
The CIPLE Portuguese proficiency test (also known as the level A2 Portuguese language test) is an examination to determine if the test-taker has a basic understanding of the Portuguese language. It is a beginner-level test and will cover foundational knowledge.
The following set of people are exempted from taking the language test:
Anyone over the age of 18 with a clean criminal record and not a citizen of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland may qualify for the Golden Visa. This includes United States citizens as well as United Kingdom citizens. There are further requirements beyond this initial qualification including, a tax number, bank account, investment in Portugal, application, and in-person screening.
Portugal Golden Visa requirements for family members will follow the process of the primary applicant. Each additional family member will need to apply within the primary applicant’s submission. Family members will not need to open a bank account or make an investment. Fees are associated with the additional application(s).
An investment is required to be completed from a list of authorized ventures. There are specifications within each option that will be mandatory to meet or exceed to qualify. The comprehensive list of opportunities includes:
Yes. After five years of maintaining your investment in Portugal, you can apply for permanent residency permit or citizenship, the choice is yours.