Who it’s For
The Golden Visa is intended for foreigners who wish to invest in Portugal and, thereby, obtain a residence permit in Portugal.
Requirements
The main requirement for obtaining a Golden Visa is proof of one of the investment modalities allowed for obtaining this residence permit.
The following types of investments are permissible:
- Creation of at least 10 jobs;
- Transfer of capital amounting to €500,000 or more, to be invested in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions integrated into the national scientific and technological system;
- Transfer of capital amounting to €250,000 or more, to be invested in artistic production, recovery, or maintenance of the national cultural heritage;
- Transfer of capital amounting to €500,000 or more, intended for the acquisition of shares in non-real estate collective investment undertakings, constituted under Portuguese law, with a maturity of at least five years and at least 60% of the investment value realized in companies based in national territory;
- Transfer of capital amounting to €500,000 or more, intended for the establishment of a commercial company headquartered in national territory, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or for the increase of the share capital of a commercial company already established in national territory, with the creation of at least five permanent jobs or maintenance of at least ten jobs, with a minimum of five permanent ones, for a minimum period of three years.
Process
- 1st Step – Submission of the Request on the ARI Portal
The application for a residence permit for investors must be made online on the ARI Portal. At the time of submitting the application on the ARI Portal, a profile of the applicant must be created, to which all documents substantiating the requirement for the residence permit are attached, including:
- Valid criminal record certificate, certified by the Portuguese diplomatic or consular representation;
- Declaration from a financial institution attesting to the international and effective transfer of capital;
- Documents related to the investment, depending on the type of investment involved.
Once the residence permit application is submitted, it is subject to pre-approval analysis. This analysis period can last between one and a half to two years until the request is pre-approved.
Simultaneously with the submission of the Golden Visa application by the main Applicant (the investor), the processes of family members can also be submitted, namely:
a) Spouse;
b) Minor or incapacitated children in the care of the applicant;
c) Adopted minors;
d) Adult children in the care of the applicant;
e) Ascendants in the direct line in the 1st degree of the applicant;
f) Younger siblings under the guardianship of the applicant.
Fee: €580.31
- 2nd Step – Application for Residence Permit
As soon as the main Applicant is notified of the pre-approval of their residence permit application and when vacancies are made available, the Applicant must schedule their visit to AIMA to submit all the original documentation initially submitted on the ARI Portal and to collect biometric data.
- 3rd Step – Approval of the Residence Permit Application
After the submission of all original documents and the collection of biometric data – photograph, fingerprints, and signature – AIMA reanalyzes all the collected information to approve the issuance of the card. This reanalysis phase may take between six months and one year. On the day of the appointment at AIMA, in addition to the main applicant, re-grouped family members may also be present. After this period and if the process is approved, the applicant will be notified to proceed with the payment of fees.
Fee: €5798.58
- 4th Step – Issuance of the Residence Permit
After the fee is paid, the residence card will be issued within approximately 90 business days.
Once the Residence Card is assigned, the main applicant and respective family members are subject to compliance with quantitative and temporal requirements. This means that the residence cardholder is obliged to maintain the investment for a minimum period of five years and is also subject to compliance with minimum periods of stay in national territory:
- In the first year – the residence cardholder must be in Portugal for at least 7 days (consecutive or interpolated).
- Subsequent two-year periods – the residence cardholder must be in Portugal for at least 14 days (consecutive or interpolated).
Thus, on average, the residence cardholder should be in Portugal for 7 days per year for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance of their residence card.
Please note that re-grouped family members are subject to compliance with the same minimum periods of stay in Portugal established for the main applicant.
Renewals
The residence card is issued for an initial validity of 2 years and is renewable for two more periods of 2 years.
Depending on the situation, the renewal of the residence card may be carried out automatically or the holder may need to travel to Portugal.
Fee: €2899.34
Advantages of the Golden Visa
– Allows travel in the Schengen Area as a tourist for a period of 90 days without the need for a Schengen visa;
– Access to the National Health System;
– Allows access to the Courts, Education, and the Business Universe;
– Eligibility for obtaining Portuguese nationality after 5 years of legal residence in Portugal from the date of submission of the process on the ARI Portal;
– Eligibility for obtaining a permanent residence permit after 5 years of legal residence in Portugal.
