
Portuguese Golden Visa Set to End?
Government Aims to Scrap Portugal Golden Visa Do Something. Anything! “Don’t just do something stand there” was a phrase Ronald Reagan was claimed to have said to a meddling Congress and...
Read more*** The government has proposed the closure of the Portuguese Golden Visa programme. This proposal is now for consultation and will eventually be submitted for approval by Parliament. Until legislation is passed (a minimum of 6 weeks from process start without amendments or extensions) the current Golden Visa laws still stand. Until this point investors can proceed with minimal legal costs of just €500 to prepare for their application and investment. The Portuguese Golden Visa has been the most attractive and successful of all the European programmes. Clients can still prepare and apply, but time is running out. If you wish to proceed please contact us below.***
The Portugal Golden Visa program has proven to be the most popular scheme in Europe with investors attracted to its flexibility, cost and benefits. Introduced in 2012 this pioneering investment visa effectively launched the concept of Golden Visas taking it mainstream and laying the foundations for other countries such as Spain and Greece to follow. Since then, the Portugal program has been actively promoted internationally attracting over €6.0 billion of inward investment into the economy. As the leading consultancy for the Portuguese Golden Visa La Vida is proud to have advised and assisted more than one thousand investors and applicants from over 120 countries worldwide for the programme since its introduction.
An investment of €500,000 (€280,000 or €350,000 reduced option) in real estate in Portugal will gain a golden visa residency permit for a family including dependent children. Although other methods are available (see FAQ below) the real estate route accounts for over 92% of all applications.
There are several costs to consider in addition to the investment amount for the golden visa in Portugal. They include property tax, stamp duty, notary and land registry fees, government approval and application fees and legal costs for processing. Typically, they will add around 14% to a €350,000 investment.
In addition to the investment and fees applicants will need to open a Portuguese bank account. Investors are required to have a clean criminal record, full health insurance and to submit their applications along with full biometrics. This requires one visit to Portugal at the application stage.
The Portuguese Golden Visa can be renewed at two-year intervals providing the applicant spends two weeks in the country every two years and maintains their investment.
One of the most attractive options of the Portuguese Golden Visa is the ability to apply for permanent residency or citizenship after five years without the need to reside in Portugal full time. The applicant and their family need only visit for two weeks every two years to renew the Portuguese Golden Visa through this period. Read more on the path to Portuguese Citizenship.
The Portuguese residency card granted through the golden visa programme allows the holder to travel throughout the EU Schengen zone. Citizenship of Portugal and a second passport conveys the right to live, work and study anywhere in the European Union.
From €280k + costs
Real Estate
Full family residency
Flexible. No requirement to reside.
Citizenship from 5 years
The benefits of Portugal’s Golden Visa have helped establish it as arguably the world’s foremost residency by investment program. They include:
Minimum investment of €280,000
Clean Criminal Record
Open to non-EU applicants
Include Spouse and Family
Dependent Children
Parents 65y +
Short Minimum Stay
No Interview
No Language Test
Residency in an EU country
Schengen Visa Free travel
Path to citizenship after five years
Aside from the real estate investment amount there are fees in addition. These will vary depending on family size and property investment. We have set out below a typical example choosing a €350,000 investment:
Real Estate Investment | €350,000 |
IMT (Property Transfer Tax) 4.60% (Est.) | €16,100 |
Stamp Duty 0.8% | €2,800 |
Notary/Land Registry Fee €1,050 | €1,050 |
Registration of Promissory Sales Agreement | €400 |
Golden Visa Approval Fee €5,336 (x4) €21,344 | €21,344 |
Golden Visa Application Fee €533 (x4) | €2,132 |
Legal Fees | €5,000 |
TOTAL | €398,826 |
Consult with La Vida’s team of experts to help decide the Portugal Golden Visa is suitable for you and your family. If so, we can then help you appoint a legal representative from several we can recommend and suggest any number of qualifying real estate options throughout Portugal for you to consider.
La Vida will work with you and your appointed legal representative in Portugal to prepare for your Golden Visa application. This includes opening a Portuguese bank account and NIF number before finalising your investment choice. At this point a pre-application can be submitted online.
Following a review of your pre-application by the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) you will need to attend in person in Portugal at a pre appointed meeting with SEF at which point your biometrics (fingerprints) will be taken and you will officially make the golden visa application.
You then wait the final approval of your application. On approval your residency cards will be forwarded to you. These are valid for two years when they can be renewed subject to retaining your investment throughout and paying the appropriate renewal fees.
Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding Portugal’s Golden Visa programme. No doubt you have many more and we would be happy to help. Please contact our advisors for further details.
Portugal is one of several countries in Europe offering a golden visa program. Visit the pages below for further options.
La Vida has over eight years’ experience promoting the Portuguese Golden Visa program. There are many agents involved in a fragmented market for Portugal and based on websites alone it may be difficult to distinguish. In 2021 La Vida provided over 20% of all applicants and investment for the Portuguese Golden Visa and recently passed 100 different countries from where we advised successful applicants and investors solely for the golden visa programme in Portugal. It’s a record of experience none of our competitors can match. The changes introduced by the government in December 2021 limited the number of projects meeting qualifying criteria for the €350k or €280k categories and all but ended the €500k option of choosing any residential real estate. Most investment now gravitates towards certain qualifying projects in regions where the government wished to direct inward investment and La Vida works with all the key developments, many of which you will find listed on our website.