Golden Visa Program

 - Your Guide to the Golden Visa Program

The Portuguese Golden Visa program allows non-EU residents to gain residency in Portugal, entitling them to live and work in Portugal and throughout the EU by making a significant investment in Portuguese real estate.

2023 - Golden Visa Update:

In February 2023, the Portuguese Government announced plans to bring an end to the Golden Visa program, and it is unclear what will replace it, possibly an investor visa. In April 2023, the Government issued an update clarifying that existing applications would be honored, and new applications would be accepted until new legislation is published, which various sources estimate will be towards the end of May 2023.

This means that right now, it's looking like the last call for Golden Visa applications. So, if you have been considering applying, contact us as soon as possible to get the process started ahead of the deadline.

Other visa options are also available - click here for more information on the most common visas issued in Portugal.

How Does the Golden Visa Work?

The Noble Portugal Golden Visa allows people to apply for permanent residency and citizenship after five years through investing in real estate. Notably, applicants do not have to reside in the country at any point - the applicant and their family only have to visit for two weeks every year to renew the Visa. This means that you can be granted citizenship without actually living in the country, a unique feature compared to many other countries worldwide.

Once you have a second passport through being a citizen of Portugal, you can live, work, and study anywhere in the EU.

Those enrolled in the scheme will benefit from the following:

• No visa required to enter Portugal.
• Visa exemption for traveling through Europe (within the Schengen Area).
• You can live and work in Portugal.
• Dependent family members can also obtain permanent Portuguese residency and/or citizenship.
• Low minimum stay periods (seven or more days in the first year and 14 or more days in subsequent years).
• After five years, you will have the possibility of obtaining permanent residency or citizenship and a Portuguese passport.

Requirements

In order to obtain Noble Portugal's Golden Visa, certain requirements must be met to ensure a successful application. These include:

• No previous convictions on a criminal record.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• A non-EU or non-Swiss citizen.
• Invest a minimum of €350,000 in a rehabilitation project or €500,000 in real estate.

Once the application is successful, investors will be granted a Golden Visa for two years. To renew the Visa for the next three years, thus completing the required period, they have to visit Portugal for 14 days each year.

What Changed in January 2022?

In 2022, restrictions were placed on certain locations in the Algarve to encourage investments in new areas. We recommend discussing with a specialist before starting your search.

However, there is also the option of purchasing properties in what are described as 'touristic developments' throughout the Algarve. This offers you the unique opportunity to own a hands-off investment property that generates rental income throughout the Golden Visa process.

This gives investors more options in the Algarve, including popular locations such as Quinta do Lago, but also the opportunity to explore hidden gems in new areas.

While buying property in Portugal is the most popular way to obtain Portugal’s Golden Visa, there are other investment avenues, including:

• Make a capital transfer of at least €1,000,000 (one million euros).
• Create at least ten job positions.
• Make a capital transfer of at least €350,000 (three hundred and fifty thousand euros) for investing in research activities conducted by private or public scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technological system.
• Make a capital transfer of at least €250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand euros) for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sectors, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations, and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage.
• Make a capital transfer of at least €500,000 (five hundred thousand euros) for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies that, in turn, must present a feasible capitalization plan.