Golden Visa - Learn how to...

What I need to:

The Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI) scheme better known as Golden Visa,in force since October 8, 2012, allows nationals of Third States to obtain a temporary residence permit for investment activity with the waiver of a residence visa to enter national territory. The beneficiary of Golden Visa theme the possibility of:

- Enter Portugal with waiver of residence visa;

- Reside and work in Portugal, and must, at least, stay in Portugal for a period not inferring to 7 days in the first year and not less than 14 days in subsequent years;

- Move around the Schengen area without a visa;

- Benefit from family reunification;

- Request the granting of permanent residence permit under the Aliens Law (Law No. 23/2007, of 4 July, with the current wording). Citizens holding a residence permit for investment activity and their families, comply with the requirements laid down in Article 80 of the REPSAE and require the granting of a permanent residence permit, a residence permit for permanent investment activity shall be issued, with the exception of this regime as provided for in paragraph 2(b) and Article 85(3) and (4) of the same diploma (cancellation of the absence right from the national territory, see Article 65k of the Dec. Reg. 84/07 of 5/11, in its current writing). The Residence Permit for Permanent Investment Activity may be subject to specific rates of analysis and issuance, to be regulated in the case of amendments to Ordinance No. 1334-E/2010, of December 31.

- Possibility to request the acquisition of Portuguese nationality, by naturalization, complying with the other requirements required by the Nationality Law (Law No. 37/81, of October 3, with the current wording).

Who can apply?

All third-country nationals who have an investment activity, either in person or through a company incorporated in Portugal or in another Eu State and with a permanent establishment in Portugal, which meet one of the quantitative requirements and the time requirement provided for in the applicable legislation, may apply for a Residence Permit for Investment Activity by investment in one of the following possibilities :

(i) the transfer of capital in the amount of EUR 1 million or more;

(ii) the creation of at least 10 jobs;

(iii) the acquisition of immovable property of eur 500,000 or more;

(iv) acquisition of immovable property, the construction of which has been completed for at least 30 years or located in an urban rehabilitation area and carrying out rehabilitation works for the acquired immovable property, in the overall amount of EUR 350,000 or more;

(v) transfer of capital in the amount of EUR 350 000 or more, which is applied in research activities carried out by public or private scientific research institutions, integrated into the national scientific and technological system;

(vi) transfer of capital in the amount of EUR 250,000 or more, which is applied in investment or support to artistic production, recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage, through services of the central and peripheral direct administration, public institutes, entities that integrate the corporate public sector, public foundations, private foundations with public utility status, intercity entities, entities that integrate the local business sector , municipal associations and public cultural associations, which continue to pursue attributions in the area of artistic production, recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage;

(vii) transfer of capital in the amount of € 350 000 or more for the acquisition of units in investment funds or venture capital funds geared towards the capitalisation of undertakings, which are constituted under Portuguese law, the maturity of which, at the time of the investment, is at least five years and at least 60 % of the value of the investments is realised in commercial companies based in national territory;

(viii) transfer of capital in the amount of € 350 000 or more, intended for the formation of a commercial company established in national territory, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or for the strengthening of the share capital of a commercial company established in national territory, already constituted, with the creation or maintenance of jobs, with a minimum of five permanent , and for a minimum period of three years.

The ARI scheme does not apply to citizens who hold Portuguese nationality and nationals of the EU and the EEA.

Where can I apply for it?

Mandatory online pre-registration is made on the ARI Portal, available on http://ari.sef.pt.

For more information, you can contact the SEF Contact Centre on 808 202 653 (fixed network) or 808 962 690 (mobile network).