Why Affluent Families and Investors Should Act Soon to Secure Golden Visa Status in Portugal

Portugal's Golden Visa residency-by-investment allows your residency in Portugal and freedom of movement in the EU for five years in exchange for a minimum qualifying investment of €500,000. However, there may be limited time to take advantage of this Golden Visa in Portugal opportunity for your family at this investment amount.

Golden Visa holders benefit from dual residency for their entire family. They are only required to stay in Portugal for only seven days of residency per year, unlike the D2, D3, D7, and D8 visas, which require 183 days, and can apply for permanent citizenship at the end of that five-year temporary Golden Visa residency period.

Additionally, Golden Visa holders in Portugal enjoy access to visa-free travel across 29 European countries within the Schengen region.

However, given the rapidly changing landscape of Golden Visa residency by investment programs across Europe, it is crucial not to delay securing your status as Investment levels for Golden Visa residency-by-investment have doubled in the last few years and see regular increases in the minimum levels of investment.

The European Union has encouraged member states to close their real estate-based Golden Visa residency-by-investment schemes. As a result, the minimum real estate investment in the Greek Golden Visa program has recently been increased to €800,000 in high-demand regions.

Spain's Golden Visa residency-by-investment through real estate is ending, while Ireland's and the UK's Golden Visa programs have already been abolished.

While Portugal no longer allows Golden Visa residency-by-investment through real estate investment, it has other means through over 50 regulated Portuguese Golden Visa-approved investment funds focused on inward investment through start-ups and private equity-related innovation sectors like renewables, healthcare, tourism, and education, to name but a few.

The required minimum qualifying investment of €500,000 has not changed. However, it's not guaranteed that things will stay at this investment level for Golden Visa investments in Portugal. Governments can often suddenly announce changes to Golden Visa residency-by-investment programs, as we have seen in recent years around Europe, with little or no warning, leaving investors with limited time to act. However, Portugal has perhaps the most stable and established Golden Visa residency-by-investment scheme in Europe.

Paul Stannard, Chairman of Portugal Pathways, an organisation that supports private wealth and inward investment coming to Portugal, is conscious there could be continued pressure to increase the investment threshold for Portugal's Golden Visa residency-by-investment as we have seen for other countries 

"While it's important not to rush your investment decision and take advice from our experts, it's also important to recognise the unique opportunity that exists right now. Portugal offers some of the most diverse investment opportunities in Europe of any Golden Visa residency-by-investment program, but this opportunity will continue to experience ongoing pressure to increase its investment threshold."

 "If you're seriously considering acquiring Portuguese residency-by-investment through the Golden Visa program, now might be the right time to act, while Golden Visa residency-by-investment in Portugal offers such lucrative benefits." 

If you have already secured your Golden Visa residency-by-investment status, there's no need to worry. Once you've invested, your path to a Golden Visa and EU citizenship is secure. Even if the program closes after your investment, your status and benefits remain unaffected.

To learn more about acquiring Golden Visa residency-by-investment status in Portugal, contact us today to arrange an initial discovery call with one of our Portugal Pathways Golden Visa experts. 

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