Investment Residence Permit in Portugal / Essential Information about Golden Visa

New legal provisions open the possibility for a residence permit in Portugal to be granted without the need to first obtain a residence visa (golden visa) if the foreign national, individually or through a company, makes an investment in Portugal as stated by the new law (Residence Permit for Investment Activities) recently approved by the Portuguese Government.

The holders of the residence permit for investment activity (IRP) have the right to family regrouping and may gain access to a permanent residence permit, as well as, ultimately, to Portuguese citizenship in accordance to the current legal provisions.

Who may apply for a Golden Visa?

All non-EU foreigners who personally or through a company make one of the following kind of investments:
a) Acquisition of real estate of a value of at least € 500.000,00 or of € 350.000 in case of real estate to be rehabilitated;

b) Transfer of capital of an amount of at least € 1.000.000,00;

c) Creation of, at least, 10 jobs;

d) Investment on entities developing cientific or technological investigationof at least € 350.000;

e) Investment on artistic production or rehabilitation or maintenance of nacional cultural heritage of at least € 250.000;

f) Investment on the acquisition of investment funds or venture capital dedicated to capitalize small and medium companies of at least € 500.000.

The investment must have been made when the application for the residence permit is presented and must be maintained for a minimum period of five years, to be able to apply for the final status of permanent resident.