Valente & Lima

PORTUGAL GOLDEN VISA​

AFTER ONLY FIVE YEARS, YOU CAN OBTAIN PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP!​

The Golden Visa Portugal program is a hugely popular program designed to help investors gain citizenship in Portugal and the European Union. In exchange for investing in the Portuguese economy (typically through investment funds or real estate), non-European Union resident investors are put on a fast track for residency and a passport.

Obtain an EU residency for the entire family through the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit Program.

This is the only option with no obligations to stay in Portugal at least 6 months per a year to preserve the residency. Only 7 days are required with this type of visa.

Your fast-track route to live, work and study in Portugal with further citizenship eligibility after 5 years.

BENEFITS OF THE GOLDEN VIA?​

  • Fast pathway to EU citizenship – you can apply after 5 years. This is one of the quickest in Europe.

  • Portuguese Golden Visa provides a range of relatively affordable investment options for you to choose from in obtaining your residence permit.

  • Visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area of 26 European countries.

  • Family reunification.

  • Extremely low physical stay requirements – just 7 days per year (great if you don’t want to live in Portugal).

  • Excellent ROI potential in a thriving economy.

  • Access to a preferential tax regime via the NHR program.

  • Portugal is a safe, secure, affordable country with a high quality of life, solid infrastructure, superb climate, and good health and education systems.

  • Access and protection from the Portuguese Law and Legal System.

  • Once you become a Portuguese citizen, you get visa-free access to 188 countries.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE PORTUGAL golden visa AND DONT KNOW WHERE TO START?

NO STRESS OR HASSLE – WE TAKE CARE OF IT ALL FOR YOU!

With our team of specialists, we offer our clients a tailor-made and transparent journey in their quest for Portugal Golden Visa through real estate acquisition and investment funds.

Travel and Visa-Free Countries

The Golden Visa permit registers you in the Schengen Area central system. So, you can freely travel within Europe without an additional visa. At the end of five years, if you decide to get Portuguese citizenship, you can get a Portuguese passport. The Portuguese passport allows you to travel to 188 countries without the need for a visa.

Family Reunification

As the main applicant, you may extend your Portuguese Golden Visa to your family members. The application process is simultaneous for the main applicant and the dependents.

  • Spouse;

  • Children under the age of 18,

  • Dependent children under the age of 26, provided that they are full-time students and not married,

  • Parents of the main applicant, if over the age of 65 years old.

  • Once you become a Portuguese citizen, you get visa-free access to 188 countries.

Citizenship and Passport

You may apply for citizenship after five years of holding a Golden Visa in Portugal. In order to qualify for citizenship, you must have:

  • No outstanding tax payments in Portugal,

  • Clean criminal records from Portugal and from your home country,

  • Entered and passed a basic language test in Portuguese.

What are the Golden Visa Portugal Tax Benefits?

The golden visa program in Portugal offers excellent tax benefits for those becoming resident. Investors will only be taxed on their worldwide income if they are resident in Portugal for over 183 days in any year. However, Portugal has a very favorable tax regime for anyone considering living in the country.

No taxes are charged on income for the first 10 years. In the case of non-residents, tax is charged at 28% on income derived in the country.

This can be reduced with expenses for rental income. Capital gains tax is 28% and there are allowances for costs and depreciation. There is no inheritance tax in Portugal. Annual property taxes (IMI) can vary between 0.3% and 0.8% of the property valuation, but there are a range of exemptions.

Investment Options

  • REAL ESTATE – COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

The minimum amount for real estate purchases is now €500,000. Residential purchases in Lisbon, Porto or on the mainland coast no longer qualify. However, commercial and tourist properties are not restricted by location. This means that the only qualifying areas for residential properties are low population density areas in the interior or in the autonomous zones of Azores and Madeira.

  • €500,000 - purchase residential or commercial real estate.

  • €400,000 - reduced rate of 20% applied when purchasing a real estate located in low populated density areas.

  • €350,000 - purchase residential or commercial real estate over 30 years old requiring renovation.

  • €280,000 - reduced rate of 20% applied when purchasing a real estate located in low populated density.

  • PORTUGUESE INVESTMENT FUNDS

A minimum of €500,000 subscription in a qualifying Portuguese fund is required. This must be maintained for at least 5 years after which if you wish to maintain your Golden Visa Portugal status you will need to maintain your investment.

  • A minimum of €500,000 subscription in a qualifying Portuguese fund.

This is probably the quickest route for obtaining meeting the requirements for Golden Visa application and is easier to capitalise at the end and more tax efficient than other options.

  • Formation of a Company

  • Creation of a minimum of 10 new full-time jobs (8 in low-density areas) in a Portuguese business that is owned by yourself as the main applicant.

  • Invest a minimum of €500,000 in an existing Portuguese business, where the incorporated business must create a minimum of five new full-time jobs for at least three years.

  • Capital Transfer

  • Capital transfer of a minimum of €1,5 million to Portugal.

  • Donation

  • Invest a minimum of €500,000 in a research and development activity in Portugal.

  • Invest a minimum of €250,000 in preserving national heritage in Portugal.

Who is eligible for the Golden Visa?

These are the basic requirements to qualify for the program:

  • Be a non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss citizen

  • Make a minimum investment in Portugal of €250,000 (although €500,000 is the most standard threshold)

  • Provide evidence of a clean criminal record

  • Spend at least seven days in Portugal every year for five years

Government Fees

Making the actual investment in Portugal isn’t the only cost involved in the Golden Visa process. You’ll also have to pay several government fees along the way, plus fees for lawyers to handle your application.

  • Application fee (paid at start): €5,325 per applicant

  • Renewal fee (per renewal): €2,663 per applicant

  • Citizenship application fee: From €175-250

Statistics on Portugal Golden Visa

Below you may find the overall Portugal Golden Visa statistics program between October 8th, 2012, and August 31th, 2022.

  • Real Estate Acquisition: 10,222 residence permits

  • → Real Estate at a minimum value of €500,000: 8,884 residence permits

  • → Real Estate urban rehabilitation at €350,000: 1,338 residence permits

  • Capital Transfer

  • → Capital Transfer in a Portuguese Bank: 523 residence permits

  • → Investment Fund: 282 residence permits

  • → Capital Transfer + Creation of Jobs: 6 residence permits

  • → Donation to cultural heritage in Portugal: 4 residence permit

  • → Donation to research activities: 1 residence permit

  • Creation of Ten Full-Time Jobs: 22 applications

Portugal golden visa Steps & Application Process

  • 1 - Pick up your investment

    Decide between five investment options: real state, investment funds, capital transfer, job creation or donation.

  • 2 - Gather documents

    Get all the necessary documents in order (passport, criminal record, etc.) for the main applicant and dependents. Documents must be translated and notarized. Hiring a lawyer can help with this part.

  • 3 - Open a bank account

    Open a bank account in Portugal and get your NIF (VAT identification number). Your lawyer can do this for you. (passport, criminal record, etc.) for the main applicant and dependents. Documents must be translated and notarized. Hiring a lawyer can help with this part.

  • 4 - Finalize your investment

    Time to pay your investment! Property: €350,000 to €500,000 Capital transfer: €1.5 million . Investment fund: €500,000 . Donation: €250,000 to €500,000 Job creation: 10 jobs.

  • 5 - Submit pre-application

    After purchaing you investmnet and getting your paperwork together, it's time to submit your online pre-application to SEF, your lawyer can take care of this for you.

  • 6 - SEF Appointment

    After SEF reviews your pre-application, they will invite you to an appointment in person. Your dependents must also be there to be eligible.

  • 7 - Get Your Golden Visa

    After your appointment, it usually takes 4 months for you and your dependents to get your golden visa. Your golden visa card has a two-year expiration. You will need to renew it annual

  • 8 - Become a Citizen

    After 5 years, you can become a permanent resident. After 6 years, you can become a Portuguese citizen, a process that can take up to 1 year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of the Golden Visa?

The advantages of the Portugal Golden Visa include visa-free travel across the Schengen states, the right to live and work in Portugal, the ability to include each qualifying family member within the residence program, and the possibility to apply for Portuguese citizenship once you held your Golden Visa for at least five years.

How long does it take to receive my Golden Visa?

After submitting your completed application to SEF, you can expect to receive your biometrics appointment in around six weeks. Once that’s done, SEF currently takes 4-6 months to issue the Golden Visa residency cards. This timeline may get shorter in 2022 if SEF receives additional staffing. The Portugal Golden Visa program remains very much in demand.

Does having the Golden Visa mean that I’ll need to pay taxes in Portugal?

Not necessarily. Residency and tax residency are two different concepts. With a Golden Visa, you can maintain residency rights without ever becoming a tax resident.

 

However, if you choose to live full time in Portugal (meaning you spend more than 183 days per year in country), you’ll be considered a tax resident and you’ll need to declare your worldwide income to Portugal. Thanks to Portugal’s NHR tax program, you may be eligible for preferential tax treatment on various parts of your income.

 

 

 

What is NHR?

NHR is a special tax program. It stands for non-habitual resident). This program allows you to become exempt from your foreign-sourced income. For more information please refer to our NHR program guide.

What is NIF number?

NIF number is your legal taxation number in Portugal. With your NIF number, you can carry out fiscal activities in the country.

Does the investor need to live in/use the property he/she is purchasing, or can it be rented out?

The investor is not required to live in or use the real estate.  It can be rented out or used as the investor wishes.

How long is the Golden Visa valid for?

Your first Golden Visa card is valid for a two-year period; you should satisfy the stay requirement of 14 days in two years.  You may then renew your Golden Visa residence card and the next cards will each be valid for three years at a time.  Within those three years, you should spend at least twenty-one days in Portugal.  As long as you maintain your investment, you may renew your Golden Visa card as many times as you wish.

What taxes apply to income generated in Portugal?

Your real estate rental income in Portugal is taxed at a flat rate of 28 percent in Portugal.  Real estate investments that are not rented out or generating income do not lead to any income tax.

Can I do the Golden Visa Portugal process on my own?

You may. However, you’ll be making a significant investment in order to apply for the Portuguese Golden Visa. So, it’s highly recommended that you use a professional advisor and a legal representative in pursuing the program.

Do I need to reside in Portugal or can I live in other countries?

Portugal doesn’t require you to live in the country full time if you have a Golden Visa.  You merely need to stay in Portugal for at least seven days per year in Portugal. Besides that, you may live in your country of origin or any other place you wish to live in.

What happens to the investment after five years? Can it be sold, transferred, etc.?

At that point, you have three options as a Golden Visa holder: (1) to continue with the Golden Visa for Portugal, (2) to become a permanent resident, (3) to become a Portuguese citizen.  If you choose to become a permanent resident or a Portuguese citizen, you can then sell or liquidate your investment as you wish. You only need to hold on to it if you decide to continue with the Golden Visa temporary residence program instead.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE PORTUGAL golden visa AND DONT KNOW WHERE TO START?

WE TAKE CARE OF IT ALL FOR YOU!

Valente & Lima is a law firm that specializes in investment advisory services. We help people get an additional residency and citizenship by making a qualifying investment through property acquisition, fund subscription, or other investment vehicles.

Our team of experienced accountants and attorneys provide personalized attention to each client, ensuring that their needs are met and that they are making the best possible investment.

Our Team of Legal Professionals

Cahue Lima

ADVOGADO

Gaspar Valente

ADVOGADO

Murilo Godoy

ADVOGADO

Valente & Lima – Law Firm

We are an independent law firm, with diversified performance (full service), and deep knowledge in migration advisory, Business Law, and International Trade.


Valente & Lima Law Firm is headquartered in Portugal and has close partnerships with firms in Brazil, China, the United States, France, the Netherlands, and Malaysia.

 

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