How to invest in Portugal and get citizenship – The Ultimate Guide

Foreign investment in Portugal advantages

Portuguese legislation that protects investors

Portugal has a liberal foreign investment scheme and offers a favorable legal framework for foreign investors.

Ripe business opportunities

Portugal’s vivacious tech startup scene ― boosted by accelerator funding and tech incubators ― has attracted entrepreneurs from all over the world.

Skilled and cheap labour force

If looking to start a business venture in Portugal, then the cheap but skilled labour force will ensure you get optimal returns on your investment.

Tax advantages

Investors can get great tax incentives, alleviating some of the burdens that come with doing business abroad.

Portugal real estate market outlook

In recent years, Portugal has become a preferred market for real estate investors, and their citizenship-by-investment Golden Visa scheme has proved to be very popular. A 2019 study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers identified Lisbon as the most interesting European city for property investment.

As Portugal’s real estate market has expanded, opportunities to make a profit from real estate investments have skyrocketed. With foreign property ownership requirements and mortgage rates being so reasonable, investors buying into the property market are benefitting from significant capital gains.

Portugal also offers an attractive rental market. In 2019, more than 27 million tourists visited Portugal. This unprecedented growth in the tourism industry has led to a higher demand for rental properties and a surge in rental prices. Investors have caught on. Breaking into property letting has become a viable business model, attracting more and more investors. 

What’s more, if you are looking to live in Portugal, the country has an excellent quality of life and performs very well in the Human Development Index, ranking in the very high human development category.

Portuguese Residency by Investment

Since its inception in 2012, over 20,000 Golden Visas have been awarded to families from across the world, and over €4 billion in funds have been raised, making it one of the most popular passport by investment programs in the world.

The Golden Visa scheme grants qualifying investors and their family members the right to work, study and live in Portugal and permits free movement in Europe’s Schengen Area. 

Opportunities to gain permanent residence or/and citizenship are possible. To gain either permanent residence or citizenship you will need to ensure the qualifying investment is kept for at least five years.

Interested to know more about the Golden Visa and how it works? Check out our Portugal Golden Visa Ultimate Guide below.

Portuguese residency by investment benefits

Portugal’s Golden Visa Program is a fantastic opportunity for foreign investors to expand their portfolios, obtain a high quality of life, and get EU residency in a short time frame, while also providing the same benefits to their family members.

Our Golden Visa consultants are here to help

With our head office in Lisbon, our team at Global Citizen Solutions has a 100% success rate with Golden Visa applications. With our extensive knowledge of the Portuguese market and legal system, we can provide you with personalized advice throughout the process, ensuring that you always make the best possible decisions with your investment. Our pricing is competitive and transparent, which means you will always know what to expect.

Get in touch with a member of our team for a free initial consultation to discuss your Golden Visa options and discuss the best way to obtain Portuguese residency or citizenship through the program.

Golden Visa tax benefits

The Golden Visa scheme offers strong tax incentives for investors looking to get residency in Portugal. Investors only get taxed on their worldwide income if they are residing in the country for over 183 days in any given year. Despite this, even if you declare yourself to be a registered resident in Portugal, you can benefit from the Non-Habitual Resident scheme and enjoy tax-free privileges for up to ten years.

Portugal’s Golden Visa investment requirements

Along with making your qualifying investment, you must fulfill some investment program requirements. 

These include:

• Maintain the investment for a minimum period of five years
• Spend a minimum of seven days in Portugal during the first year, then no less than 14 days in each subsequent two-year period.

Best foreign investment in Portugal

When thinking about the best foreign investments, Portugal’s Golden Visa offers several attractive investment options. These include: 

Portugal Golden Visa qualified investment fund

Investing in private equity funds or venture capital funds is a viable way to obtain residency in Portugal to increase share capital. The respective funds are managed by corporate experts who are accredited by the country’s regulatory body, the CMVM. An allocated funds manager ensures that the fund investments are managed properly in start-ups or medium-sized projects with strong growth potential. 

For the Portugal Golden Visa qualified investment fund, you can choose from a range of sectors ― including but not limited to ― energy, industry, technology, and real estate. 

Investment funds for the golden visa benefits

There are various benefits to choosing to invest in funds to obtain Portuguese residency.

These include:

• Funds are managed by vetted experts that are regularly audited
• Portuguese residency starting from a €500K investment 
• Venture capital funds are tax-efficient
• Investment can be done remotely
• Some funds offer a minimum return hurdle-rate

Advantages of investing in newly-built property

• Five-year guarantee by Portuguese developers
• Energy-efficient
• Fiscal incentives
• Easier to sell and rent
• Modern features
• Good insulation and equipped with air-con
• Potential upside in the value of up to 30% from purchase to delivery

Invest in the country for Portuguese citizenship – residential property located in Portugal’s interior areas + the autonomous islands of Madeira & Azores

Invest in residential property located in Portugal’s interior areas of Portugal for the Portuguese Golden Visa starting from €500,000.  The amount is reduced to €400,000 if located in an interior part of Portugal AND low-density area. Note, the autonomous islands of Madeira and Azores are eligible for a real estate investment.

Advantages of investing in Portugal’s low-density areas

• More competitive pricing for sqr meter
• More variety
• Can be renovated to taste
• Fiscal incentives
• Can maintain its quaint and unique characteristics

Buy property and get Portugal EU residency

When considering investment risks, return potential, and market prospects, buying property to get Portugal EU residency is highly recommended. Foreign investors who’ve bought a property in the country have been rewarded with a Portuguese residence permit, giving investors the right to work, study and live in Portugal, and visa free travel to any country or territory in Europe’s Schengen area.

If you’re unsure about what it takes to secure property in Portugal, check out our ultimate guide to buying property in Portugal below.

Note that other Golden Visa options include capital transfer, investment into scientific research, company incorporation and the creation of ten jobs, and a donation to the arts. These are each viable ways to gain residence. The investments costs for each can be found below:

• Capital transfer: 1.5M
• Investment into scientific research activities: 500k
• Company incorporation and the creation of ten jobs: 500k
• Arts donation: 250k

Procedures and time frame of the Portugal Golden Visa Residence Permit Program

The Portuguese Golden Visa application processing time usually takes between three to six months to be approved and for your residence card to be issued. Once your Golden Visa has been issued, your residence permit will be valid for two years.

The Golden Visa requires the primary applicant to travel to Portugal two times during the Golden Visa application procedure:

1. To choose the qualifying investment option, begin the legal process, and open a Portuguese bank account. A Portuguese bank account is recommended to avoid international transaction fees.
2. To provide biometric data and original documents. The other family members can also come and provide biometric data.

There will also be processing fees that you will need to pay. When the residence permit is received, the client must provide the biometric data and updated original documents when it needs to be renewed.

How can we help you?

Speak to one of our Golden Visa consultants today, where we can advise you on the best investment options to achieve your objectives and set you forth on a path of success.

Frequently asked questions about investing in Portugal for citizenship