Introduction

Portugal was severely impacted by the economic crisis in 2008. To promote economic recovery, the government took the lead in Europe by launching the Golden Residence Permit Program in October 2012, which allowed applicants to obtain a golden residence permit by purchasing real estate worth over €350,000. The aim was to attract foreign investment to revitalize the real estate market and bolster national finances. In October 2018, a new investment option was introduced, allowing applicants to obtain a golden residence permit by investing €350,000 in investment funds.

In January 2021, the Portuguese Council of Ministers approved and published Decree-Law No. 14/2021 on February 12, introducing amendments to the residence permit for investment policy. Under the fund investment option, the minimum investment requirement was increased from €350,000 to €500,000, and the new regulation took effect on January 1, 2022. In October 2023, the Portuguese real estate investment immigration policy was terminated.

Currently, fund investment and cultural and artistic donations are the main pathways to Portugal, as follows:

Fund Investment

Investors are required to invest a minimum of €500,000 in a fund regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) and hold the investment for at least five years. The fund must allocate at least 60% of its investments to Portuguese domestic companies, while the remaining 40% can be invested in other regions within the European Union.

Cultural and Artistic Donation

Donors are required to donate €250,000 to areas of culture and art or for the restoration and preservation of national cultural heritage, which have been pre-approved by the Portuguese cultural authorities. In low-population-density areas, the donation amount can be reduced to €200,000.

Program Advantages

1. One application allows three generations of a family to obtain residency.

2. The principal amount and returns from the fund can be redeemed after five years.

3. Flexible residency requirements: an average of only 7 days of stay per year.

4. Citizenship can be applied for five years from the date of payment of the online application fee.

5. The golden residence card allows free travel to 29 Schengen countries.

6. Access to 12 years of free public education, and children are eligible to take the Joint Entrance Examination for Overseas Chinese Students.

7. If one of the parents holds a Portuguese residence card for at least one year, a child born in Portugal can acquire citizenship by birth.

Application Requirements

1. The main applicant must be at least 18 years old and a non-EU national.

2. Proof of legal possession of a €500,000 fund investment or a €200,000/€250,000 cultural and artistic donation.

3. Certificate of no criminal record.

4. Purchase of Portuguese health insurance.

Application Process

Fund Investment

1. Sign a service fee agreement.

2. Sign a fund subscription agreement and a lawyer agreement.

3. Sign a Power of Attorney (POA) and complete notarization.

4. Apply for a Portuguese tax number and bank account.

5. Complete the subscription.

6. Submit the online application.

7. Obtain online application approval.

8. Enter Portugal for biometric data collection.

9. Obtain approval and receive the residence card.

Cultural and Artistic Donation

1. Sign a service fee agreement.

2. Pre-approval of the donation project, issuance of project compliance certificate.

3. Apply for a Portuguese tax number and bank account.

4. Complete the cultural donation.

5. Submit the online application.

6. Obtain online application approval.

7. Enter Portugal for biometric data collection.

8. Obtain approval and receive the residence card.