Portugal guide for High-Net-Worth individuals and Successful Expats

Portugal is ranked as one of the best places to live as it offers a highly attractive and charming lifestyle, great weather, security and hospitality.

It is undeniable the boost of foreigners interested in relocating to the country. The cool lifestyle, tax benefits and the possibility for non-EU citizens to acquire Portuguese citizenship in a short period of time is a key factor for the number of residency requests that increases every year.

Portugal has risen notably in 2012, year that the Portuguese Government launched Portugal´s Golden Visa Programme, a residency by investment designated for non-EU citizens and since then, it is Europe's most successful residency-by-investment programme targeted at non-EU citizens.

Even though the Golden visa Programme is not the ideal option for someone who intends to officially relocate to Portugal (as there are more cost-effective solutions) it caught a lot of attention in the international arena.

The current investment options are as follows:

1. The transfer of at least €1.5 million to Portugal, which may have one of the following investment sub-types:

• A bank deposit;
• The purchase of a shareholding in a Portuguese company or the incorporation of a single-member private limited company having a paid-up share capital of at least €1 million, such company being free to invest wherever and in whatever it wants;
• The purchase of Portugal sovereign debt instruments;
• The purchase of any securities issued by Portugal-based entities.

2. The Real Estate Investment and Real Estate Investment and its rehabilitation for Non-residential Purposes of at least €500,000.00 (reduced to €400,000.00 if located in a "low density area"), or €350,000.00 (reduced to €280,000.00 if located in a "low density area").  For detailed information visit the insight Eligible and not eligible areas for Golden Visa Real Estate Investment route.

3. The Real Estate Investment and Real Estate its rehabilitation for Residential Purposes will be limited to properties located in the interior territories of Portugal, identified in the Annex to Ministerial Order no. 208/20017 of 13th July, and in the islands of Madeira and Azores, and will keep the same investment minimum amount: €500,000.00 (reduced to €400,000.00 if located in a "low density area"), or €350,000.00 (reduced to €280,000.00 if located in a "low density area"). For detailed information visit the insight Eligible and not eligible areas for Golden Visa Real Estate Investment route.

4. An investment of at least €500,000.00 in scientific research that is conducted by accredited institutions that are part of the national scientific and technological system (reduced to >€400,000.00 if located in a "low density area"), but please note that there do not seem to currently exist any such projects open to private investors.

5. Investing at least €500,000.00 in units of Portugal-regulated funds dedicated to the capitalisation of companies, provided that the fund invests at least 60% in Portugal-registered businesses, and that the maturity of said units is no less than 5 years from the date they are bought.

6. Investing at least €500,000.00 in setting up a Portuguese company that creates and keeps 5 new permanent jobs, or in increasing the share capital of an existing Portuguese company that creates or keeps at least 5 permanent jobs for a minimum period or 3 years.

7. A business, in the format of a single-member private limited company (no minimum investment is required), that creates and keeps at least 10 new permanent jobs in Portugal (reduced to >8 if located in a "low density area").

It is important to highlight that Portugal is not only attractive just for investors interested in the Golden Visa programme. There is also a wave of successful expats, such as digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and retirees settling in Portugal and the country offers specific residency possibilities for them according on each specific case.

The most popular route these days is the D7 Visa, which is the ideal option for those who intend to live in Portugal and are able to show evidence of having a net regular or passive income that is deemed sufficient to support his or her family aggregate in Portugal (around €12,000.00 per year, plus 50% of this amount for the spouse and 30% for each dependent child).

Another possibility that is also becoming more notable is the D2 Visa, which is divided into two subtypes:

• Freelancer´s
• Entrepreneur´s

For a freelancer's residence permit, the applicant´s must have:

• At least one signed contract for the provision of services to a client for fees that ensure reasonable financial means for you to live in Portugal (a minimum of, say, €12,000.00 per year, plus 50% of this value for the spouse and 30% for each dependent child);
• If applicable, documentary evidence of having the professional qualifications needed to perform the intended professional activity in Portugal.

For an entrepreneur's residence permit the applicants must prove that EITHER made or are making an investment in Portugal, OR you have sufficient funds available in Portugal (including finance) with which to make an investment, in accordance with a business plan describing at least the following aspects of your investment:

• Identification;
• Generic description;
• Nature;
• Amount
• Intended duration;
• Economic, social, scientific, technological or cultural relevance of the investment.

Finally, there is also the D3 Visa, a very good option for highly qualified professionals. 

According to the Portuguese law, to request the D3 Resident permit for highly qualified activity, the applicant must provide:

• Contract for services; or
• An employment contract of at least one year’s duration, corresponding to an annual remuneration of at least 1,5 times the national average gross annual salary (1,752.52 euros/month) or three times the index value of social support – IAS (1.316,43 euros/month). This option is for highly qualified activity performed by subordinate worker.

For someone intending to move to Portugal (stay in Portugal at least 6 months per year), the visa options outline above (D7/D2/D3) constitutes a good alternative to the Golden Visa: no investment is required, the application processing is faster and the Government fees are comparatively insignificant (for a family of 3, for example, the savings in Government fees will be around €30,000.00).

The most engaging aspect is that moving to Portugal is relatively easy no matter the chosen path and is followed by many other benefits like acquiring citizenship after only 5 years of legal residency and enjoying a tax holiday on most of your foreign income for 10 years through the Non-habitual Resident Tax Regime.

If you have further questions regarding this matter, get in touch with Manuella Sena and she will be delighted to assist you.

Manuella Sena

Immigration Consultant