With the aim of attracting foreign investors to live and invest in Portugal, the Portuguese Government has created legal provisions, that enable third country nationals to obtain a temporary residence permit through investment activities in Portugal (known as “Golden Visa”, or “Golden Residence Permit”).

The beneficiaries of ARI / Golden Visa are entitled to: 

• Living and working in Portugal, on condition that they stay in Portugal for a minimum period of 7 or more days, in the first year, and 14 or more days, in the subsequent years;
• Visa exemption for travelling within the Schengen Area;
• Family reunification;
• Applying for permanent residence;
• Applying for Portuguese citizenship, by naturalization, provided all other requirements set out by the Nationality Act are fulfilled (Act number 37/81 of 3 October, with the current wording);

Eligibility – Who may apply?

All third country citizens who conduct an investment activity, may apply for a Residence Permit for Investment, by one of the following routes:

• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 1 million Euros;
• The creation of, at least, 10 job positions;
• The purchase of real estate property with a value equal to or above 500 thousand Euros;
• The purchase of real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing, for a total value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros for investing in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technologic system;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 250 thousand Euros for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros, for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies that, in turn, must present a feasible capitalization plan.
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above € 350,000, for purchasing shares in investment funds or venture capital funds for the capitalization of companies, which are set up under Portuguese law, whose maturity has at least five years and, at least, 60% of the value of the investments is made in commercial companies based in the national territory;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above € 350,000, for the creation of a commercial company with its head office in Portugal, together with the creation of five permanent jobs, or to increase the share capital of a company with headquarters in national territory, with the creation or maintenance of at least five permanent jobs, and for a minimum period of three years.

Portuguese, EU and EEE nationals are not eligible for the ARI / Golden Visa scheme.

Other important aspects:

The Investment Activity must be carried out at the time of the application for a residence permit and must be maintained for a minimum period of 5 years from the date of the granting of the residence permit.

The applicant must submit a declaration, under an honor commitment, certifying compliance with the minimum quantitative and temporal requirement of the investment activity in national territory.

The investment must be done through a Portuguese bank account, hold by the Investor.

The Golden Visa is a temporary residence permit valid for a period of one year, counted from the date of its issue, and may be renewed for successive periods of 2 years, as long as the necessary requirements for its grant are maintained.

In order for the residence permit to be granted and renewed, applicants must have entered and remainregularly in Portugal and prove the minimum quantitative requirements for the chosen investment activity.

Proof of the regularized tax and contributory situation is presented at the time of the application for the granting of a residence permit and is made through the presentation of a negative statement of updated debt issued by the Tax Authority and by the social security.

For renewal purposes, applicants must demonstrate that they have remained in the national territory for at least 7 days, followed or interpolated, in the first year, and 14 days, followed or interpolated, in each of the subsequent 2-year periods.

A positive discrimination was envisaged in the law, by reducing by 20% the indicated minimum investment amounts when it is carried out in low-density territories (NUTS III with less than 100 inhabitants per km² or with GDP per capita below 75% of the national average) – in cases where the investment is carried out in one of the ways identified in points ii) to vi). These minimum quantitative requirements must be fulfilled at the time the application for a residence permit is submitted.

Right to Family Regrouping: In addition to the spouse, minor children, or ascendants, holders of Golden Visa may apply for residence authorization for family reunification, in respect of the older children in charge of the couple, or one of the spouses, who Study in Portugal or abroad, under the conditions determined by law.

Schengen Area: Golden Visa holders may move freely through the Schengen Area.

Permanent Residence: After 5 years of temporary residence, applicants may request the permanent residence permit in Portugal.

Nationality: Residents of Portugal, for a period of more than 6 years, are granted, under certain conditions, the possibility of applying for Portuguese nationality.

With the aim of attracting foreign investors to live and invest in Portugal, the Portuguese Government has created legal provisions, that enable third country nationals to obtain a temporary residence permit through investment activities in Portugal (known as “Golden Visa”, or “Golden Residence Permit”).

The beneficiaries of ARI / Golden Visa are entitled to: 

• Living and working in Portugal, on condition that they stay in Portugal for a minimum period of 7 or more days, in the first year, and 14 or more days, in the subsequent years;
• Visa exemption for travelling within the Schengen Area;
• Family reunification;
• Applying for permanent residence;
• Applying for Portuguese citizenship, by naturalization, provided all other requirements set out by the Nationality Act are fulfilled (Act number 37/81 of 3 October, with the current wording);

Eligibility – Who may apply?

All third country citizens who conduct an investment activity, may apply for a Residence Permit for Investment, by one of the following routes:

• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 1 million Euros;
• The creation of, at least, 10 job positions;
• The purchase of real estate property with a value equal to or above 500 thousand Euros;
• The purchase of real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing, for a total value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros for investing in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technologic system;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 250 thousand Euros for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros, for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies that, in turn, must present a feasible capitalization plan.
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above € 350,000, for purchasing shares in investment funds or venture capital funds for the capitalization of companies, which are set up under Portuguese law, whose maturity has at least five years and, at least, 60% of the value of the investments is made in commercial companies based in the national territory;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above € 350,000, for the creation of a commercial company with its head office in Portugal, together with the creation of five permanent jobs, or to increase the share capital of a company with headquarters in national territory, with the creation or maintenance of at least five permanent jobs, and for a minimum period of three years.

Portuguese, EU and EEE nationals are not eligible for the ARI / Golden Visa scheme.

Other important aspects:

The Investment Activity must be carried out at the time of the application for a residence permit and must be maintained for a minimum period of 5 years from the date of the granting of the residence permit.

The applicant must submit a declaration, under an honor commitment, certifying compliance with the minimum quantitative and temporal requirement of the investment activity in national territory.

The investment must be done through a Portuguese bank account, hold by the Investor.

The Golden Visa is a temporary residence permit valid for a period of one year, counted from the date of its issue, and may be renewed for successive periods of 2 years, as long as the necessary requirements for its grant are maintained.

In order for the residence permit to be granted and renewed, applicants must have entered and remainregularly in Portugal and prove the minimum quantitative requirements for the chosen investment activity.

Proof of the regularized tax and contributory situation is presented at the time of the application for the granting of a residence permit and is made through the presentation of a negative statement of updated debt issued by the Tax Authority and by the social security.

For renewal purposes, applicants must demonstrate that they have remained in the national territory for at least 7 days, followed or interpolated, in the first year, and 14 days, followed or interpolated, in each of the subsequent 2-year periods.

A positive discrimination was envisaged in the law, by reducing by 20% the indicated minimum investment amounts when it is carried out in low-density territories (NUTS III with less than 100 inhabitants per km² or with GDP per capita below 75% of the national average) – in cases where the investment is carried out in one of the ways identified in points ii) to vi). These minimum quantitative requirements must be fulfilled at the time the application for a residence permit is submitted.

Right to Family Regrouping: In addition to the spouse, minor children, or ascendants, holders of Golden Visa may apply for residence authorization for family reunification, in respect of the older children in charge of the couple, or one of the spouses, who Study in Portugal or abroad, under the conditions determined by law.

Schengen Area: Golden Visa holders may move freely through the Schengen Area.

Permanent Residence: After 5 years of temporary residence, applicants may request the permanent residence permit in Portugal.

Nationality: Residents of Portugal, for a period of more than 6 years, are granted, under certain conditions, the possibility of applying for Portuguese nationality.

With the aim of attracting foreign investors to live and invest in Portugal, the Portuguese Government has created legal provisions, that enable third country nationals to obtain a temporary residence permit through investment activities in Portugal (known as “Golden Visa”, or “Golden Residence Permit”).

The beneficiaries of ARI / Golden Visa are entitled to: 

• Living and working in Portugal, on condition that they stay in Portugal for a minimum period of 7 or more days, in the first year, and 14 or more days, in the subsequent years;
• Visa exemption for travelling within the Schengen Area;
• Family reunification;
• Applying for permanent residence;
• Applying for Portuguese citizenship, by naturalization, provided all other requirements set out by the Nationality Act are fulfilled (Act number 37/81 of 3 October, with the current wording);

Eligibility – Who may apply?

All third country citizens who conduct an investment activity, may apply for a Residence Permit for Investment, by one of the following routes:

• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 1 million Euros;
• The creation of, at least, 10 job positions;
• The purchase of real estate property with a value equal to or above 500 thousand Euros;
• The purchase of real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing, for a total value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros for investing in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technologic system;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 250 thousand Euros for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros, for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies that, in turn, must present a feasible capitalization plan.
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above € 350,000, for purchasing shares in investment funds or venture capital funds for the capitalization of companies, which are set up under Portuguese law, whose maturity has at least five years and, at least, 60% of the value of the investments is made in commercial companies based in the national territory;
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above € 350,000, for the creation of a commercial company with its head office in Portugal, together with the creation of five permanent jobs, or to increase the share capital of a company with headquarters in national territory, with the creation or maintenance of at least five permanent jobs, and for a minimum period of three years.

Portuguese, EU and EEE nationals are not eligible for the ARI / Golden Visa scheme.

Other important aspects:

The Investment Activity must be carried out at the time of the application for a residence permit and must be maintained for a minimum period of 5 years from the date of the granting of the residence permit.

The applicant must submit a declaration, under an honor commitment, certifying compliance with the minimum quantitative and temporal requirement of the investment activity in national territory.

The investment must be done through a Portuguese bank account, hold by the Investor.

The Golden Visa is a temporary residence permit valid for a period of one year, counted from the date of its issue, and may be renewed for successive periods of 2 years, as long as the necessary requirements for its grant are maintained.

In order for the residence permit to be granted and renewed, applicants must have entered and remainregularly in Portugal and prove the minimum quantitative requirements for the chosen investment activity.

Proof of the regularized tax and contributory situation is presented at the time of the application for the granting of a residence permit and is made through the presentation of a negative statement of updated debt issued by the Tax Authority and by the social security.

For renewal purposes, applicants must demonstrate that they have remained in the national territory for at least 7 days, followed or interpolated, in the first year, and 14 days, followed or interpolated, in each of the subsequent 2-year periods.

A positive discrimination was envisaged in the law, by reducing by 20% the indicated minimum investment amounts when it is carried out in low-density territories (NUTS III with less than 100 inhabitants per km² or with GDP per capita below 75% of the national average) – in cases where the investment is carried out in one of the ways identified in points ii) to vi). These minimum quantitative requirements must be fulfilled at the time the application for a residence permit is submitted.

Right to Family Regrouping: In addition to the spouse, minor children, or ascendants, holders of Golden Visa may apply for residence authorization for family reunification, in respect of the older children in charge of the couple, or one of the spouses, who Study in Portugal or abroad, under the conditions determined by law.

Schengen Area: Golden Visa holders may move freely through the Schengen Area.

Permanent Residence: After 5 years of temporary residence, applicants may request the permanent residence permit in Portugal.

Nationality: Residents of Portugal, for a period of more than 6 years, are granted, under certain conditions, the possibility of applying for Portuguese nationality.