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The Portuguese Golden Visa is one of the world’s most illustrious residency by investment programs. By contributing to the EU nation’s economy, investors can obtain a residency permit for themselves and their families.Β
Launched in 2012, Portugalβs Golden Visa has continuously attracted investors from all over the globe. In the past three years, it has garnered even more interest from US citizens looking to establish a robust contingency plan for themselves and their family members.Β
The Golden Visa is a pathway for foreign investors to obtain a Portuguese residency permit by contributing to Portugal’s economy through a government-approved investment channel.Β
Successful investors are rewarded with a temporary two-year residence permit that is renewable for two years at a time as long as they maintain their investment and meet the minimum physical presence requirement of spending seven days a year in Portugal.Β
After holding on to their investment and meeting their residence requirement for five continuous years, investors may apply for permanent residence and Portuguese citizenship, at which point they are free to resell or liquidate their investment.Β
Applicants can add their spouse and dependent children regardless of age, as well as their dependent parents and grandparents, to their golden visa application.
The criteria to qualify for the Golden Visa is extremely simple and focuses on ensuring that applicants are investors with a clean background who can impact Portugal’s economy positively.
An investor must meet the following requirements to qualify for the Golden Visa:
The Golden Visa’s procedure is very straightforward and is made up of some simple steps.
The most important part of the process is choosing the right firm to handle the procedure on an investor’s behalf. By choosing the right firm, an investor can find a suitable investment option, ensure that the application is completed in a correct and timely manner, and maximize the potential benefit by understanding the intricacies of the Golden Visa and how it can positively impact their lives.Β
At Migronis, we have a team of veteran experts that hail from diverse backgrounds that can help consult on the investment and legal components of the golden visa, and we also provide in-depth consultation on any long-term effects such as ROI, tax, and otherwise.Β
Once an investment option is chosen the applicant must make the investment before applying. It is important to note that there are rules to how the investment can be made and how the money should be transferred, which is another reason why choosing the right firm is critical for success.
After the investment is made, a full application must be submitted. The application will be handled by SEF, the Portuguese authority responsible for immigration matters.Β
After approval, an investor must only hold on to their investment and spend seven days a year in Portugal to maintain their status, and after five years they can apply for permanent residence and citizenship.
The Portuguese Golden Visa comes with a suite of benefits, including:
Interest in investment migration within the US grew rapidly after the pandemic, which highlighted the need for a plan b, even for holders of one of the world’s most coveted passports.Β
Recent political strains within the nation have aided this trend, especially as more Americans look to establish a foothold in another country, either as a contingency or to replace their current home and nationality altogether.Β
A recent study showed that roughly 25% of US citizen expats have, at one point or another, considered renouncing their American citizenship, while other sources claim that a whopping 30,000 have already tried to book appointments to do so but are unable to get appointments at the relevant authority premises.Β Β
This is where the Portuguese Golden Visa comes into consideration, as the country’s democratic atmosphere, safe environment, high living standard, pleasant weather, and strong infrastructure have made it a top choice for Americans.Β
The Golden Visa’s framework has also played a significant role in drawing in Americans, as its simple nature and minimal residence requirement mean that US investors do not need to spend time in Portugal to maintain their status.
The Portuguese Golden Visa has become so popular among Americans to the point that they are on track to becoming the largest applicant nationality pool. Considering that very few US citizens applied before 2019, the upward trend is remarkable.
US citizen applications for the Golden Visa grew 5.44% between 2020 and 2021, and then 2022 saw another leap in the number of applications, amounting to 5.45%.
In 2022, Americans became the largest applicant pool exceeding China, which had previously led in the number of applications.Β
Overall in the last decade, Portugal has granted 11,180 residence permits to wealthy foreign citizens in exchange for around β¬6.5 billion in investment. 94% of applicants choose residence by real estate investment.
Last year, Portugalβs Prime Minister AntΓ³nio Costa said the government is considering scrapping the Golden Visa program. However, in November 2022, Parliament voted against this idea and the question doesnβt seem to be reviewed again soon. Still, the changes that Portugal and Greece, the top two European countries for Golden Visa, both made to their programs in the last years remind us that governments create these investment programs to suit their country’s financial needs and that the updates they often make are because they are politically expedient. If getting a residency in Europe has long been on your radar, now is a good time to get involved.
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