Gold Visa

Gold Visa also known as Golden Visa or Gold Visa, is a modality of residence visa in Portugal, which grants its holder the authorization to live in the country.

Portugal through this scheme encourages the investment of foreigners in the country and in compensation, the citizen who fills the requirements to apply for the Gold Visa acquires several benefits, such as:

●Enter the country without a residence visa,
●Move around the Schengen area, without the need for a visa,
●Benefit from regrouping by asking for a Golden Visa for your family members,
●Working in Portugal,
●Obtain permanent residence permit after 5 years,
●Facility to acquire Portuguese Nationality, being able to request its acquisition after 5 years, without the obligation to reside in the country during this period.

It is, therefore, an excellent option for foreign citizens who have an interest to invest in Portugal and simultaneously be legalized to stay, reside, work in the country, in addition to the advantages of moving through the Schengen Area without needing a visa, in addition to those who still have the interest to acquire Portuguese Nationality.

This Residency Permit Scheme, on the other hand, is a huge stimulus for Portugal in the country's economy, and these visas are responsible for helping to save many companies and maintain jobs following the global financial crisis of years ago.

MOST OF THE "GOLD VISAS" ASSIGNED ARE BY ACQUISITION OF REAL ESTATE, BEING TO A LESSER EXTENT THE ATTRIBUTIONS BY CAPITAL TRANSFER. THE INVESTMENT FROM THE PURCHASE OF HOUSES THROUGH FOREIGN CAPITAL GENERATES MILLIONS OF EUROS FOR THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT.

Who can apply?

All third-country nationals who have an investment activity, either in person or through a company incorporated in Portugal or in another Eu State and with a permanent establishment in Portugal, which meet one of the quantitative requirements and the time requirement provided for in the applicable legislation, may apply for a Residence Permit for Investment Activity by investment in one of the following possibilities :

(i) the transfer of capital in the amount of EUR 1 million or more;

(ii) the creation of at least 10 jobs;

(iii) the acquisition of immovable property of eur 500,000 or more;

(iv) acquisition of immovable property, the construction of which has been completed for at least 30 years or located in an urban rehabilitation area and carrying out rehabilitation works for the acquired immovable property, in the overall amount of EUR 350,000 or more;

(v) transfer of capital in the amount of EUR 350 000 or more, which is applied in research activities carried out by public or private scientific research institutions, integrated into the national scientific and technological system;

(vi) transfer of capital in the amount of EUR 250,000 or more, which is applied in investment or support to artistic production, recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage, through services of the central and peripheral direct administration, public institutes, entities that integrate the corporate public sector, public foundations, private foundations with public utility status, intercity entities, entities that integrate the local business sector , municipal associations and public cultural associations, which continue to pursue attributions in the area of artistic production, recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage;

(vii) transfer of capital in the amount of € 350 000 or more for the acquisition of units in investment funds or venture capital funds geared towards the capitalisation of undertakings, which are constituted under Portuguese law, the maturity of which, at the time of the investment, is at least five years and at least 60 % of the value of the investments is realised in commercial companies based in national territory;

(viii) transfer of capital in the amount of € 350 000 or more, intended for the formation of a commercial company established in national territory, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or for the strengthening of the share capital of a commercial company established in national territory, already constituted, with the creation or maintenance of jobs, with a minimum of five permanent , and for a minimum period of three years.

The ARI scheme does not apply to citizens who hold Portuguese nationality and nationals of the EU and the EEA.

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