Helping you access
opportunities in Portugal

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residence visa issued to non-EU nationals who have made a significant investment in Portugal, such as purchasing real estate, making a capital investment, or creating employment opportunities.

It is a fast-track process for obtaining permanent residence and citizenship in an EU country – via the Golden Visa, you can become eligible for Portuguese citizenship in as little as five years.

To qualify for the program, you must fulfill the following Golden Visa requirements for Portugal:

• Be either non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA.
• Minimum investment of €250,000. Range of investment routes to pick.
• Have a clean criminal record
• Spend a minimum of seven days in Portugal for the first year, then no less than 14 days each subsequent two-year period (this is called the stay requirement)

In short yes, but not from a Portuguese financial Institution. 

You cannot take out a loan from a Portuguese financial institution but you can take the amount as a loan from a non-Portuguese financial institution and then bring it into Portugal. 

Moreover, if your investment exceeds the minimum amount they require and you want a loan for the remaining amount. Then you can take a loan for the remaining amount.

The Minimum amount of investment depends upon the density and location of the property in Portugal.  For most properties the minimum requirement is an investment of euro 500,000.

> low-density area in Portugal, the minimum amount drops 20 percent to €400,000

>Real estate that is older than 30 years old, in an urban rehabilitation area, and renovate it for a minimum of €350,000 in Portugal

>If in a low-density area in Portugal, the minimum amount drops 20 percent to €280,000

The minimum amount contains both the property investment price plus the cost of renovation works.

It requires the creation of a minimum of ten new full-time jobs in a Portuguese business that is owned by the main applicant. 

However, if the business is formed in a low-density area the requirement is a minimum of 8 new full-time jobs.

Yes, as long as the minimum amount is met in total, the transaction may include the purchase of multiple properties.

Some of the reasons you may be able to qualify include;

• Portuguese mother or father born abroad if the parent is there serving the Portuguese state;
• of a Portuguese mother or father born abroad if they have their birth registered at the Portuguese civil registry or alternatively if they declare they want to be Portuguese;
• who was born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents if at least one parent was born in Portugal and resides here at the time of birth;
• that was born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents if they declare they want to be Portuguese and provided that one parent has resided in Portugal for at least five years at the time of birth;
• born in Portuguese territory that does not possess another nationality.

There are no special visa requirements for non-European Union retirees in Portugal. The process is the same whether you are 26 years old or 62 years old. You need to start the process in your home country and it might take some time.

Most applicants opt for a Type 1 Resident Visa to retire in Portugal. This is available from a Portuguese consulate abroad. You must get it within three months of moving to the country.

Once in-country, applicants have six months to apply for a Resident Permit. The permit is renewable every two years. And after five years you can convert it to a permanent residency permit.

Citizens of the following former Portuguese colonies are entitled to Portuguese citizenship if they were born during the period of Portuguese rule:

• Angola
• Cape Verde
• Portuguese India
• Guinea Bissau
• East Timor
• Macao
• Mozambique
• Sao Tome and Principe

Those from Portuguese India and Macao who are descendants of those born under the period of Portuguese rule are also entitled to apply for Portuguese citizenship.

After three years of marriage to a Portuguese citizen, or three years of cohabitation. There is no requirement for any prior period of residence in Portugal, although the applicant must provide documents proving an effective connection to the Portuguese community.

If you divorce or separate at a later date, your Portuguese citizenship will not be revoked.

You can apply for Portuguese citizenship if you meet the following requirements: 

Have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language (proven with a certificate or test);

Have not been convicted of a crime punishable by a jail sentence of three years or more.