Portugal’s Golden Visa program is well known around the world. Since its launch in 2012, it has attracted over 10,000 investors and helped bring $6 billion into the country’s budget. Thanks to the variety of investment plans and how popular Portugal is to live and retire in, over 1,000 people apply for it each year. With a minimal investment of €280,000 in real estate, you can get a residency permit in Portugal and, later, become a citizen. In this article, you will find out everything you need to know to apply for Golden Visa in Portugal through property investment — general and recently added rules, property zones, qualifying real estates, and more.
In general, both real estate to live in and commercial activity must fall under these price requirements to be eligible for the Golden Visa application:
The requirements are lower when investing in buildings that were constructed over 30 years ago or are located in an area marked for rehabilitation. The minimum requirements for such property are €350,000 and €280,000, respectively. Get in contact with the respective institutions and services to check if a certain property qualifies for investment.
Since properties on the coast are in much bigger demand than inland territories, the Portuguese government made a decision to take measures to drive investments to central regions as well. Since January 2022, investments in residential property of non-mainland regions will no longer be eligible to apply for Portugal Golden Visa by investment. Note that commercial property is not affected by the new rules, and residential real estate on the islands of Azores and Madeira still qualifies for the program.
Though the law seems straightforward, there are some exceptions and grey areas. We asked Viktor Esik, an expert from the Immigrant Invest agency, to clarify it and found out that:
It is better to double-check a property before making a Portugal Golden Visa real estate investment. The rules and info are somewhat contradicting, so don’t hesitate to consult SEF to make your investment work. Check out an article at https://immigrantinvest.com/blog/how-to-buy-property-in-portugal-en/ to find out more about how to buy a property in Portugal.
One of the well admired Portugal’s Golden Visa properties is income exemptions for taxation for so-called tax residents — people who spend more than half of each year in Portugal — during their first 10 years of being a non-habitual resident. Those who spend less than 183 days a year in Portugal don’t get taxed at all. A Portugal Golden Visa real estate investment itself requires you to pay:
After you’ve met all the Portugal Golden Visa requirements, a logical question is how to go further and become a citizen. The ability to apply opens after five years of holding a Golden Visa and having no criminal record or overdue tax payments. You will also need to pass a language test. Until that time, Golden Visa grants you a work permit and access to the healthcare and education system. Compares this program with programs in other countries – https://immigrantinvest.com/golden-visa-en/
The Portugal Golden Visa program is a popular and flexible way to obtain a residence permit and, consequently, citizenship. The real estate value requirements vary based on the area population density and the property condition. Find more details in an article at https://immigrantinvest.com/blog/portugal-golden-visa-property-en/ if you need more information about the Portugal Golden Visa program.