Golden Visa
New legal provisions provide the possibility for those who pursue investment activities in Portugal to apply for a Residence Permit, the Golden Visa, for those who transfer capital, create jobs or acquire real estate in the country.
The holders of a Golden Residence Permit for the purposes of investment activity have the right to family regrouping, and may gain access to a permanent residence permit, as well as to Portuguese citizenship in accordance with the current legal provisions.
Who May Apply?
Citizens involved in an investment activity, either individually or through a company conducting at least one of the following operations in the Portuguese territory, for a minimum period of five years:
Performing an investment activity for a minimum period of five years, attested by a bona fide declaration signed by the applicant.
Provide evidence of having invested the minimum amount required, including stocks or shares of companies by:
- A declaration of a financial institution authorised to exercise its activity in Portugal certifying: the effective transfer of capital in amount of not less than €1,000,000, to an account demonstrating the investor is the sole or first holder of capital; or the acquisition of stocks or shares of companies, and.
- An up-to-date certificate issued by the Commercial Register, certifying that the applicant holds a share in the capital of a company.
Performing an investment activity for a minimum period of five years, attested by a bona fide declaration signed by the applicant.
Provide evidence of ownership of Real Estate Property by:
- A public deed or promissory share-purchase agreement of the property, with a declaration of an authorised financial institution to exercise its activity in Portugal stating the effective transfer of capital to its acquisition or to execute a down payment of the promise to purchase in equal or superior value of €500,000 and.
- An up-to-date certificate issued by the Real Estate Registry, which must always be in the case of contract-promise and where legally feasible the respective register.
Performing an investment activity for a minimum period of five years, attested by a bona fide declaration signed by the applicant.
Provide evidence of having created 10 job positions and registered the employers in the Social Security by:
- An up-to-date certificate issued by the Social Security.
Minimum Permanent Residency Periods
For residence permit renewal purposes, applicants under paragraph 2 may be asked to deliver evidence that they complied with the following minimum periods of permanence in National Territory:
- 7 days, consecutive or otherwise, in the 1st year.
- 14 days, consecutive or otherwise, in the subsequent two year periods.
Family Reunification
The holders of Golden Residence Permits for Investment Activity have the right to family regrouping, and may gain access to a permanent residence permit, as well as to Portuguese citizenship in accordance to the current legal provisions.
Documents
- Passport or another valid travelling document.
- Proof of legal entry and permanence in national territory.
- Proof of health insurance.
- Signed application enabling consultation of the Portuguese Criminal Record by SEF.
- Criminal Record Certificate from the relevant authority of the applicant’s home country or from any other country where he/she resided for over a year.
- As means of evidence of compliance with tax obligations, the applicant shall deliver a declaration proving the absence of debts issued by the Inland Revenue and Customs Authority and by the Social Security.
Other Requirements Under General Law
- Applicants must not have been convicted of a crime punishable with deprivation of liberty exceeding one year.
- Applicants must not be subject of an entry ban in national territory following a removal order from the country.
- Applicants must not be subject of alerts in the Schengen Information System.
- Applicants must not be subject of alerts in SEF’s Information Integrated System issued for purposes of non-admission.
Where can I Apply?
You can submit your application online at Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras Portal (online pre-registration is mandatory)
Online pre-registration at http://ari.sef.pt or at http://ari.sef.pt/Account/RegistoRepresentanteLegal.aspx through a legal representative, duly appointed to this purpose (upon completion of registration, the legal representative must deliver a power of attorney signed by the applicant, giving him/her powers to this end).
You can also submit the application to the closest Regional Directorate or Local Branch of Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras