A Portuguese Golden Visa in 2022: How to Obtain One? - 1


For several months now, new rules for obtaining a residence permit in Portugal for investment have come into force. The amended Portugal Residence-by-Investment Program is operational from January 1, 2022. What investment options are affected by the changes, and what those wishing to obtain a Portuguese residence permit should know — the Migronis experts answer these questions and provide tailored guidance to investors wanting to realize the various benefits of Portugal’s diverse economy. Keep reading!

Photo By https://unsplash.com/@nickkarvounis

In 2012, the Portuguese Golden Visa program was established as a result of a government initiative. Since then, a sum of €6,099,799,479.59 has been invested in Portugal, leading to the creation of indirect employment and a significant boost in a variety of economic sectors. 

Key changes 

The successful Golden Visa Program that lasted almost ten years was stymied when the government, under political pressure, decided to raise the minimum threshold for some qualified investment activities. So they restrict the geographic regions where real estate investment could be carried out. 

According to Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF), these modifications have an impact on two of the most important investing activities:

  1. The minimum amount of money in venture funds has been raised from €350,000 to €500,000. 
  2. Real estate investment for residential purposes will be restricted to buy in the interior zones of the country — high-density areas such as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, as well as coastal areas such as Setúbal and the Silver Coast (Ericeira and Peniche). Commercial and touristic properties in urban locations, such as Lisbon and Oporto, will be available for purchase soon.

However, there remain other areas of Portugal that offer attractive investment potential. For example, the Douro Valley, Aljezur, Peneda Geres, and Madeira. The minimum amount of investment in real estate for residence according to the program remains the same:

  • minimum €500,000 for a new property;
  • from €350,000 in real estate at least 30 years old, which is subject to reconstruction;
  • from €280,000 if the same property is located in an area with a low population density.

Why was the Golden Visa changed?

The changes to Portugal’s Golden Visa are intended to attract new investment to areas of the country with low population density. At the same time, it is planned to reduce economic pressure on areas with a high population density, popular with foreign investors, such as Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.

The minimum investment amount will also be increased for most program investment options. Despite these modifications and the growth in distant applications prompted by the pandemic, the investment in subscriptions to investment funds has continued to grow. Nowadays, investors often say that they prefer to invest in a financial product rather than owning a physical asset in Portugal, which will result in additional expenditures and need constant care to remain in good condition.

As investors became aware of this situation, they began to form investment vehicles specifically to become a qualifying investment for the Golden Visa application. Real estate, start-ups, health care, self-storage, and rural investment are just some of the sectors these funds invest in.

Furthermore, a lawyer’s job is to conduct thorough due diligence to ensure that a Shareholder’s proposed investment complies with the Golden Visa Program requirements, which include:

  1. the investment must be at least five years old
  2. at least 60% of the value of the assets must be made in companies located in Portugal. 

As a result, it’s critical to emphasize that, in addition to following the advice of a qualified financial advisor when making an investment decision, the investor should make every effort to retain legal counsel who can offer unbiased advice on all aspects of the application throughout the five years.



Image and article originally from www.liberatedstocktrader.com. Read the original article here.