LEGAL INSIGHTS

Portugal, where English is widely spoken, boasts safety, sunny weather, quality of life, friendly locals, tasty food, fantastic fibre internet coverage and direct flights to several US cities and several other destinations in Europe, America and Africa.

If you are not ready to relocate in the short-term, either, for instance, for professional reasons or because you do not wish to uproot your young children at this stage, the Portuguese Golden Visa program may be an interesting solution.

The Golden Visa program offers 5 routes with these minimum investment options: Job Creation (10 jobs), R&D (€ 500K), Arts (€ 250K), Investment Funds (€ 500K) and Companies (€ 500k). The job creation, Arts and R&D investment routes can be reduced by 20% in low-density areas.

Moreover, spouses/partners and minor children can apply simultaneously with the Investor. Children of age, parents and in-laws can also apply under certain conditions.

Golden Visa applicants receive a Temporary Residence Permit valid for 2 years, currently renewable every 2 years. Once the residence cards are issued, minimum mandatory stays are, on average, 7 days a year.

The Portuguese passport is one of the most powerful in the world and is ranked 4th overall in the Passport Index 2024 and 5th in the Henley Passport Index 2024, allowing for visa-free entry into about 191 countries.

Well, five years from the date the application was submitted, holders can apply for Portuguese Citizenship, provided they evidence an A2 level of the Portuguese language and meet some other requirements (e.g. non-criminal record). Obtaining Portuguese Citizenship does not require renouncing other nationalities, unless the country of origin demands it.

If you wish to set your plan B in motion and get the clock ticking, contact us at geral@sbpslegal.com. SBPS legal offers a streamlined process managed by a team of Experienced, Client Centric, Available, Responsive, Proactive and Trustworthy Professionals.