Due to the enormous number of enquiries, I thought it would be useful to dispel any myths, answer some questions and clarify some details around the Golden Visa Scheme for Portugal.

What is it?

It’s a 5-year program for non-EU Nationals, giving the individual the right to work, study and live in Portugal as well as permitting free movement in Europe’s Schengen area.

There are no residency requirements, just 5 weeks in the first 5 years after which point you can obtain permanent residency and/ or a Portuguese passport providing unlimited and visa free travel, work, education, and healthcare in all 26 Schengen countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Do I need to live in Portugal?

You do not need to live in Portugal (although you should, because it’s lovely!).

What will it cost?

A Portugal Golden Visa requires you to make one of the following investments into the economy, although with certain projects there are buy-backs and guaranteed rents, meaning it could cost nothing:

• Invest in residential property valued at €500,000 or more within designated interior areas of Portugal.  Commercial property can be purchased anywhere in the country, if it is valued at €500,000 or more.
• Invest in property valued at €350,000 or more for properties built before 1990 or located in urban regeneration areas designated for refurbishing. This applies to both residential and commercial properties.
• Purchase of property fitting any of the above requirements with 20% reduction on the minimum amount of investment, if purchased in a low-density population area (€400,000 or €280,000).
• Create a minimum of 10 new job places.  This requirement may be reduced to 8 job positions, provided the investment is made in sparsely populated territories (NUT III level with less than 100 inhabitants per sq/km, or with GDP per head less than 75% of national average).
• Create 5 permanent jobs and invest €500,000 into a Portuguese business.

Why Portugal?

It is by far the most popular Visa by Investment Scheme in the world, one of the easiest to navigate and complete, with low costs, no residency requirements, 3rd best passport in the World for Visa free travel and full-access to all 26 Schengen countries.

Portuguese property prices have risen at a faster rate than almost all other European Nations, and this trend is expected to continue.  Rental yields in Portugal are regularly above 6% per annum, heavily supported by a booming tourism industry.

What do I need to do?

Talk to me!  I have investments with guaranteed rental yields, guaranteed buybacks, use of the property for the first 5 years and starting from only EUR 280k.

As always, if you do require any further information please get in touch.  We have offices in Lisbon and Hong Kong and can meet in person or via video call to discuss all the options available to you.

Whatsapp +852 6251 9786

Portugal +351 910 266 760

www.property-smith.com