"Golden visa" or residence permit in Portugal for investment activities (ARI)
“Golden Visa” is a program under which, when investing in Portugal, the investor receives a residence permit for this country and the privileges associated with it. The first Golden Visa is issued for one year and then extended twice for another two years. After five years, the investor can apply for citizenship or permanent residence in Portugal. During this time, the investor must stay in Portugal for a minimum of 7 days per year or 14 days in each biennium. The Portuguese legislation allows dual citizenship, so the investor can keep his first citizenship.
Who can apply?
Nationals of third countries outside the European Union who wish to invest and keep their investments in Portugal for at least five years. There are several types of investment programs for which you can apply for a “golden visa”.
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS WITH THE RIGHT TO REQUEST A RESIDENCE PERMIT
FOR INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES (ARI)
"GOLDEN VISA"
- Passport or other valid travel document;
- Proof of entry and legal stay in Portugal;
Medical insurance policy;- Police clearance certificate from the country of origin or countries where you have been living for more than one year. It must be issued within 3 months prior to submission of all legally required documentation and translated into Portuguese;
- Proof of tax identification number or its equivalent of the country of origin, residence or tax residency;
- Completion of an application (using an approved template) that contains permission to check a criminal history in Portugal;
- Declaration in which the applicant declares that he will maintain an investment activity (5 years) in the territory of Portugal;
- Confirmation of the absence of debts in the tax service and social security authorities, issued no later than 45 days (if this is not possible, a declaration of the absence of registration in these organizations);
- Receipt of payment of the ARI Application Fee.
1. ACQUISITION OF REAL ESTATE WORTH AT LEAST EUR 500 THOUSAND
- The client invests from 500 thousand euros in any real estate, without restrictions.
- The cost of these investments can be reduced by 20% (400 thousand euros) if they are carried out in an area with a low density (NUT III level from less than 100 thousand euros) of inhabitants per km2 or GDP per capita below 75% of the national average.
- This type of investment may be made individually or through a company of which the Applicant is a shareholder.
- For this type of investment, the investor will have to demonstrate ownership of the property (through a contract of sale) as follows:
- Acquisition of co-ownership provided that the ARI Claimant invests an amount equal to or greater than EUR 500,000, EUR 400,000 in a low-density area in NUTS III;
- Acquisition through a company of which he is a shareholder;
- Charge them for the part that exceeds the minimum investment amount of 500 thousand euros, 400 thousand in low-density areas in NUTS III;
- Lease them or use them for commercial, industrial, agricultural or tourism purposes.
The investor is obliged to keep the property for at least five years. This means that the property cannot be sold during this period. However, it can be rented out.
- Deed of acquisition of real estate (objects) or contract of sale (with a down payment equal to or greater than 500 thousand euros, 400 thousand in a low-density area in NUTS III);
- Declaration of a credit institution authorized or registered in Portugal and accredited by the Bank of Portugal, confirming the international (and valid) transfer of capital necessary for the acquisition or payment as a down payment of the property specified in the sale and purchase agreement, indicating a value equal to or greater than 500 thousand euros , (€400,000 in low-density NUTS III areas), which constitute ARI investments;
- Certificate from the land registry with valid registrations, confirmations and inscriptions, confirming the ownership of real estate, free from encumbrances or fees, or a land registry certificate containing a preliminary registration of the acquisition, which is valid on the basis of a simple purchase. and a contract of sale, where legally possible, with a down payment equal to or greater than 500 thousand euros, 400 thousand in low-density areas in NUTS III;
- Property booklet, if legally possible.
If the acquisition of real estate is carried out through a company:
• Certificate of commercial registration which demonstrates that the applicant is a partner/shareholder, see Article 65A No. 13 of Regulation Decree 84/07 of November 5, as amended.
2. CREATION OF AT LEAST 10 JOBS
This type of investment is relevant for those who wish to open their own company.
The main condition is to create at least 10 jobs and maintain this number of jobs for at least 5 years.
This requirement can be reduced by 20% (8 jobs) if they are carried out in a low density area (NUT III level with less than 100 inhabitants per km2 or GDP per capita below 75% of the national average).
The applicant must demonstrate that he has made an investment of the minimum required amount, personally or through a company of which he is a partner/shareholder.
- Declaration of a credit institution authorized or registered in the national territory with the Bank of Portugal, confirming the actual transfer of an amount equal to or greater than required by law;
- Individual labor contracts concluded with employees;
- Certificate of commercial registration, if the investment is made through a company, which demonstrates that the applicant is a partner/shareholder, see Article 65A No. 13 of Regulation Decree 84/07 of November 5, as amended.
3. TRANSFER OF CAPITAL EQUAL TO OR EXCEEDING EUR 1 MILLION
The client must make a transfer of capital in an amount equal to or greater than 1 million euros to his account in one of the national banks, and keep it there for at least five years.
• Declaration of a credit institution authorized or registered in the national territory with the Bank of Portugal, certifying the ownership of deposit accounts without encumbrances and fees with a balance equal to or greater than 1 million euros, as a result of an international transfer (and valid) or a share in the same amount, when it comes to collective accounts; or
• In the case of the purchase of Portuguese government debt instruments, namely treasury bonds, savings certificates or treasury certificates, a certificate of ownership, without lien and fees, issued by the Treasury and the public debt management agency – IGCP, EPE, for instruments worth not less than one million euros; or
• In the case of the purchase of uncertificated securities, a certificate confirming their ownership, free from encumbrances and fees, issued by the relevant registering authority in accordance with the conditions and for the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 78 of the Portuguese Securities Code. ; or
• In the case of the purchase of bearer securities deposited with a depository in accordance with Article 99 of the Portuguese Securities Code, a certificate confirming their ownership, free of encumbrances and fees, issued by the depositary; or
• In the case of purchasing registered securities that are not integrated into a centralized system, a certificate confirming their ownership, without encumbrances and fees, issued by the issuer; or
• In case of acquisition of documentary securities integrated into a centralized system, a certificate confirming their ownership, free from encumbrances and fees, issued by a financial intermediary with which a corresponding account integrated into a centralized system is opened; or
• In case of acquisition of a block of shares not covered in previous cases, a certificate from the commercial register confirming the ownership of the block of shares and the contract through which the relevant acquisition was made, indicating the value;
• Certificate of commercial registration, also if the investment is made through a company, which demonstrates that the applicant is a partner/shareholder, see Article 65A No. 13 of Regulation Decree 84/07 of November 5, as amended.
4. ACQUISITION AND RESTORATION OF REAL ESTATE FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO OR EXCEEDING EUR 350 THOUSAND
Invest from 350 thousand euros for the acquisition and restoration of real estate in the urban rehabilitation zone in a building that is more than 30 years old or the property must be located in the urban rehabilitation zone (it may be less than 30 years old).
The investor is obliged to keep the property for at least five years. This means that the property cannot be sold during this period. However, it can be rented out.
• Acquisition of title to real estate or property or a debenture agreement for their purchase and sale (with an initial payment equal to or greater than 350 thousand euros, 280 thousand in a low-density area in NUTS III);
• Declaration of a credit institution authorized or registered in the national territory in the Bank of Portugal, confirming the international (and valid) transfer of capital for its acquisition or payment as a down payment specified in the contract of sale, indicating a value equal to or greater than 350 thousand euros, (280 thousand in low-density areas in NUTS III), which confirms ARI’s investment;
• A certificate from the land registry with valid registrations, confirmations and inscriptions, confirming the ownership of real estate, free from encumbrances or fees, or a land registry certificate containing a preliminary registration of the acquisition, which is valid on the basis of a simple purchase, and a contract of sale, when legally possible, with a down payment equal to or greater than 350 thousand euros, 280 thousand in low-density areas in NUTS III;
• Property booklet, if legally possible;
• Certificate of commercial registration, if the investment is made through a sole proprietorship, which demonstrates that the applicant is a partner, see Article 65A No. 13 of Regulation Decree 84/07 of November 5, as amended.
• Advance notification or request for permission to carry out works to rehabilitate the city or
contract for the performance of restoration work on the acquired property
between a legal entity duly qualified by the Instituto dos Mercados Públicos, Construção e
do Imobiliario, I.P.
• Proof that the property is over 30 years old
• Declaration by a competent person confirming that the property is located in a rehabilitation area.
5. INVESTING IN THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF PORTUGAL
The condition of the investment is the transfer of an amount equal to or greater than 250 thousand euros for the production of artistic products or for the support of art, restoration or restoration of the national heritage. This is done through local and central governments, government agencies, state-owned companies, public foundations, private foundations, local companies, local associations and socio-cultural associations, the purpose of which is to support artistic production, as well as the reconstruction or maintenance of national heritage.
The applicant must demonstrate that he has made an investment of the minimum required amount, personally or through a company of which he is a partner/shareholder.
The cost of this investment can be reduced by 20% (200 thousand euros) if it is carried out in an area with low population density (NUTS III).
• Declaration of a credit institution authorized or registered in the national territory with the Bank of Portugal, confirming the actual transfer of an amount equal to or greater than required by law;
• A declaration issued by the Department of Cultural Strategy, Planning and Evaluation, after hearing from the cultural department responsible for the sector, confirming the nature of the investment or support for artistic production, restoration or maintenance of the national cultural heritage in accordance with the conditions;
• Certificate of commercial registration, if the investment is made through a company, which demonstrates that the applicant is a partner/shareholder, see Article 65A No. 13 of Regulation Decree 84/07 of November 5, as amended.
6. INVESTMENT OR VENTURE FUNDS
Another type of direct investment is investment in venture capital funds. In this case, the minimum investment amount must be 350 thousand euros. Typically, such funds offer investors a return of 3% to 5% per year.
Transfer of capital in an amount equal to or greater than EUR 350,000 intended for the acquisition of participation units in investment or venture capital funds intended for the capitalization of companies registered under the laws of Portugal, the maturity of which, at the time of investment, is at least five years, and at least 60% of the value of investments is in commercial companies headquartered in the country.
The applicant must demonstrate that he has made an investment of the minimum required amount, personally or through a company of which he is a partner/shareholder.
- The candidate must provide the following documents:
7. INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Transfer of capital in the amount of 350 thousand euros or more, which is used in research activities carried out by public or private research institutions integrated into the national scientific and technical system.
The applicant must demonstrate that he has made an investment of the minimum required amount, personally or through a company of which he is a partner/shareholder.
• Declaration of a credit institution authorized or registered in the national territory with the Bank of Portugal, confirming the actual transfer of an amount equal to or greater than required by law;
• A declaration issued by a public or private research institution integrated into the national scientific and technical system, attesting to the effective transfer of capital invested in research activities in an amount equal to or greater than 350 thousand euros (280 thousand in the area with low population density NUTS III);
• Certificate of commercial registration, if the investment is made through a company, which demonstrates that the applicant is a partner/shareholder, see Article 65A No. 13 of Regulation Decree 84/07 of November 5, as amended.