Investing in Portugal's Future

Watch Back This Webinar:

Increasing numbers of affluent expats and investors are moving to Portugal to take advantage of the Golden Visa residency-by-investment programme.

Through a €500,000 investment, you can secure a 5-year visa in Portugal and the potential for permanent citizenship while only needing to spend a minimum of 7 days a year in Portugal.

However, due to a lack of awareness, complex regulations, and the challenge of finding reliable expert assistance, many put off the opportunity to relocate to a country recently voted the best place to relocate, missing out on the high quality of life Portugal offers, potentially lucrative investment opportunities, freedom of movement across the EU, and more.

At this Portugal Pathways webinar, our expert panel provided insights into the following:

• Golden Visa Residency-by-Investment: Understand the fundamentals of Portugal's Golden Visa residency-by-investment programme, including the eligibility criteria, application process, and benefits it offers.
• Benefits of Living in Portugal: Learn about Europe's best-kept secret for quality living, voted the best place to relocate for its exceptional climate and low cost of living, and globally recognised as one of the safest, happiest, healthiest and friendliest countries in the world.
• Portugal's Property Market Insights: Gain valuable insights into the current state of the luxury property market in Portugal, including trends, hotspots, and investment potential outside of Golden Visa residency-by-investment.‍
• Types of Investments Available: Discover the various regulated investment options for Golden Visa residency-by-investment.‍
• How to Get Expert Assistance: Find out how Portugal Pathways can connect you with the right experts so you can apply for the right Golden Visa Investments for you and your preferences. This is alongside expertise in a number of areas to help you maximise your life in Portugal.

This webinar was hosted by Steve Philp, Partnership Director at Portugal Pathways. The expert pane lincluded:

• João Incio, General Partner at Biovance Capital: Joao is a medical doctor and scientist turned investor who brings over 18 years experience in the biomedical sector across the USA, UK, and Portugal to his role as General Partner at Biovance Capital who are launching a new healthcare fund who’s lead investor is the European Investment Fund which is backed by the EU.

• Philip Button, Managing Director at Brookes Property Group: Phil Button, who has over 30 years of experience as a Chartered Certified Accountant, and held central management and strategic planning roles in the leisure industry before joining Brookes & Co 1998. Since founding their international luxury real estate business in 2004, he has facilitated over half a billion dollars in property transactions. They have built major luxury developments in Florida, Antigua and the Bahamas and are about to launch their luxury Quinta Heights development in the Central Algarve area in Portugal.

• Joao Hilario, Senior Partner at FundBox: Joao Hilario, who is the Senior Partner at FundBox Capital, which has built a great reputation in Portugal for its regulated alternative investment funds, which are also approved for Golden Visa residency by investment. They have already developed funds in Portugal going back as far as 2019 and delivered sustainable returns for their investors.

• Paul Stannard,  Chairman at Portugal Pathways: Paul is also an international entrepreneur who has developed media and innovation platforms as well as indexes for international real estate and he will share some of the findings from the latest independent report from Property Market-Index on Portugal’s luxury real estate market and how it compares with other international markets. He also has a background in alternative investment funds and will share with the audience Portugal Pathways' latest initiative related to Golden Visa residency by investment.

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Answers to key webinar questions from attendees

Disclaimer: The guidance below and Q&As should not be fully relied upon and does not constitute formal instructed professional advice. In relation to tax advice in Portugal, please engage and instruct a regulated professional for all tax advice and structured financial planning. Please contact Portugal Pathways if you would like an introduction to one of our professional advisors.

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Matt is asking:

Could you talk about timescales - specifically from applying for Golden Visa to getting residence card?  Unsure if true, but I heard there is a 2 year delay ?

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Obtaining a Portuguese Golden Visa and subsequent residence card can involve some delays. While the initial Golden Visa application process might be relatively quick, securing a residence card has been experiencing  backlogs. The overall timeframe can be influenced by factors such as the complexity of the application, consulate workload, and SEF efficiency. It's advisable to seek our professional guidance and be prepared for potential delays when applying for a Portuguese Golden Visa.

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Paul is asking:

Does the €500K investment need to be in cash or could it be financed?

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The 500K investment for a Portuguese Golden Visa generally cannot be financed. The funds must be proven to be legally obtained and at your disposal. This means the money should be readily available in your bank account.

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Ian is asking:

Who within my family qualifies for the Golden Visa, just me and my children or can my elderly parents qualify as well as they depend on us?

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You, your spouse, and dependent children can be included in a Golden Visa application.

Dependent parents can also be included if they meet specific criteria:

• Age: They must be over 55 years old.
• Dependency: They must be financially dependent on you, the main applicant.

It's important to note that while you can include your dependent parents in the initial application, they will need to meet specific residency requirements to maintain their Golden Visa status.

It's highly recommended to consult with one of our immigration lawyers to ensure compliance with all the specific requirements and to understand the potential implications for your family.

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Sunny is asking:

How many days we have to stay in Portugal for Golden Visa

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There is a minimum of 7 day required stay per year in Portugal under the Golden Visa.

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Matt is asking:

Can you explain a bit more about the new version of the NHR?

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Formally known as the ‘Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation’ Portugal’s newly proposed NHR 2.0 tax regime is designed to attract and retain highly qualified professionals. To learn more about this new tax incentive and how it compares to the old NHR tax regime, read our in-depth guide.