The Golden Visa for Portugal is one of the most sought-after investment programs in the world due to its relaxed residency requirements, low investment potential (by Golden Visa standards of course) and the appeal of an EU passport.

If you get a Portuguese Golden Visa, you and your family members will be able to live and work in Portugal, have access to its healthcare and education system, travel visa-free to the Schengen area, and after five years you will be eligible to apply application for a Portuguese passport.

Of course, you have to make a significant investment – ​​hundreds of thousands – but many find the payoff worth the price.

To get a Golden Visa to Portugal, you need to make one of the following investments:

• Buy real estate worth at least 500 000 Euros. The amount is reduced to 400 000 Euros if the property is in a low-density area. From January 2022, you cannot buy property in metropolitan areas of Portugal such as Lisbon, Porto or the coastal Algarve.
• Invest 350 000 Euros in a property located in a Portuguese urban renaissance area. The amount is reduced to 280 000 Euros if the property is in a low-density area. The project you invest in must be qualified by the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).
• Invest at least 350 000 Euros in a qualified investment fund.
• Transfer at least 1 million Euros to a Portuguese bank account.
• Buy shares worth at least 1 million Euros or invest at least 1 million Euros in a Portuguese company.
• Create at least ten new jobs for Portuguese citizens.
• Invest at least 350 000 Euros for research activities in research institutions.
• Invest at least 250 000 Euros in support of the restoration of Portuguese heritage or art.
• You must have no criminal record, your property must be obtained legally and you must be over 18 years of age.

Applying for a Portugal Golden Visa

Once you have made the investment, you can apply for a Golden Visa yourself or appoint a legal representative to apply to the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) on your behalf.

The application process is as follows:

• Register online on the SEF portal for Golden Visa applications, on the ARI portal. There are separate application options on the website, depending on whether you are applying yourself or have a legal representative apply instead.
• Complete the online application form.
• Upload the necessary documents for the Golden Visa, depending on the type of investment you are making. Documents must be in PDF format, no larger than 4 MB.
• Confirm the submission of your application.
• Pay the Golden Visa application fee. You can pay all applicable fees using a single document called a uniform fee document (DUC).
• Wait for confirmation from SEF to continue scheduling the meeting.
• Log in to the ARI portal again and go to the "Calendar" section.
• Choose from the SEF services where you want to apply, as well as the date and time of the meeting.
• Print the schedule receipt.
• On the day of your appointment, report to your chosen SEF Help Desk and provide your biometrics and physical copies of the required documents.

Documents required to obtain a Portugal Golden Visa

The documents you need to submit to apply for a Golden Visa depend on the type of investment you are making.

You will need to submit:

• Your passport. It must be valid for at least six months.
• Two passport size photos. Images must meet Portugal visa requirements.
• Proof of medical insurance. You must obtain valid health insurance for Portugal or register with the National Health System of Portugal.
• Your criminal records. You must obtain a certificate of no criminal record. The certificate must be issued within the last three months and you must obtain it from any country where you have lived for more than one year.
• An affidavit of preservation of investments for at least five years.
• Printed payment receipt from the ARI portal.
• If you purchased real estate:

1. Deed of purchased property or preliminary agreement.

2. Proof that you have transferred assets to a financial institution in Portugal.

3. Certificate from the land register and other documents confirming your ownership of real estate.

• If you invested in real estate in the city's redevelopment area:

1. A document issued by the relevant entity confirming that the property is in the regeneration zone.

• If you made a capital transfer of at least 1 million euros:

1. Declaration from the bank confirming the availability of the deposit.

• If you have created at least ten new workplaces:

1. Declaration from a bank registered in Portugal confirming that you have made the required deposit.

2. Employment contracts for each employee.

3. Extract from the register of companies (only if you are a shareholder of the company).

• If you have invested in art:

1. Declaration from a bank registered in Portugal confirming that you have made the required deposit.

2. Declaration of the Portuguese Bureau of Strategy, Planning and Cultural Assessment. The document should confirm the legibility of your investment and indicate that they have consulted with the relevant authorities in the area of ​​your investment.

• If you have invested in research activities:

1. Declaration from a bank registered in Portugal confirming that you have made the required deposit.

2. Declaration from the public or private research institution in which you have invested, confirming the existence of your investment.