Banking and Financial Law
22 March, 2018

Invest in Portugal

The rules governing the granting of Residence Permit for Investment (ARI / Golden Visa), in force since 8 October 2012, enable third country nationals to obtain a temporary residence permit to conduct business activities with visa waiver to enter national territory.

At the end of the investment period (five years) the holder of Golden Visa can apply for a permanent residence permit in Portugal and, after six years, for the Portuguese nationality.

Advantages

– Residence visa waiver for entering in Portugal;
– Living and working in Portugal, on condition of staying in Portugal for a period of 7 or more days, in the first year, and 14 or more days, in the subsequent years;
– Visa exemption for travelling within the Schengen Area to 186 countries;
– Family reunification;
– Applying for permanent residence;
– Applying for Portuguese citizenship, by naturalisation, provided all other requirements set out by the Nationality Act are fulfilled.

Eligibility

Real estate acquisition

– Minimum investment of € 400.000,00*;
– Acquisition of one or more properties;
– Invest as an individual or as a joint legal entity;
– Own habitation or lease.

Real estate rehabilitation

– Minimum investment of € 280.000,00*;
– Acquisition of one or more properties;
– Requires rehabilitation and restoration;
– The property either has to be built for more than 30 years or has to be located in a designated area of urban rehabilitation (ARU);
– Own habitation or lease.
– Applicable only to properties located in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira or in the Territories of the Countryside, identified in the Annex to Portaria n.º 208/2017, of 13 July”

Fund transfer

– Minimum investment of € 1,500,000.
– Funds transferred from abroad to a bank in Portugal;
– Total independence to invest the funds;
– Possibility of using the funds to invest in shares.

Job creation

– Creation of a minimum of 8 jobs*;
– No minimum investment amount;
– All areas are eligible;
– Possibility of subsidies from the state.

INVESTMENT OPTIONS Necessary investment Minimum investment (if made in a Low-density area, 80% of the necessary investment)
Real estate acquisition €500.000 €400.000
Real estate and Rehabilitation €350.000 €280.000
Capital Transfer €1.500.000 N/A
Capital Transfer for the acquisition of investment fund or venture capital units €500.000 N/A
Capital Transfer to be invested in scientific research activities €500.000 €400.000
Capital Transfer to be applied in artistic production activities or recovery/ maintenance of the Portuguese cultural heritage €250.000 €200.000
Capital Transfer for the incorporation of a commercial company with head office in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or for the reinforcement of the share capital of a commercial company with head office in Portugal, already incorporated, with the creation or maintenance of jobs, with a minimum of five permanent jobs, and for a minimum period of three years €500.000 N/A
Job creation 10 jobs 8 jobs

*Low-density areas: the municipalities (or civil parishes) that have less than 100 inhabitants per km2 or with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of less than 75 % of the national average. See the complete list of all low density areas in the bottom of the page.

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Mainland Portugal is divided in 18 districts, each district is divided in multiple municipalities (Municípios) and each municipality is divided in multiple civil parishes (Freguesias).

The islands of Azores and Madeira, and most of Portuguese Mainland coastal parishes are excluded from the low density areas (with some exceptions in the districts of Setúbal, Beja and Faro). By contrast all the interior districts are low density areas (with the exception of some Municipalities of the district of Santarém and some parishes of the district of Viseu).

For your convenience you can find bellow (organised by district) which municipalities (or what parishes within a municipality) are considered as a low density area for Golden Visa purposes as of 2020.

All municipalities in this district are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

All municipalities in this district are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

All municipalities in this district are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

All municipalities in this district are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

All municipalities in this district are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

No municipality in this district is considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

All municipalities in this district are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

  • Municipality of Amarante (only 10 parishes: Ansiães, Candemil, Gouveia (São Simão), Jazente, Rebordelo, Salvador do Monte, Vila Chã do Marão, União das Freguesias de Aboadela, Sanche e Várzea, União das Freguesias de Bustelo, Carneiro e Carvalho de Rei and União das Freguesias de Olo e Canadelo)
  • Municipality of Baião (all parishes from this municipality)
  • Municipality of Marco de Canaveses (only 1 parish: União das Freguesias de Várzea, Aliviada e Folhada)

All municipalities in this district have at least one parish considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

All municipalities in this district are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes

All municipalities in this district (with exception of some parishes in the Municipality of Viseu) are considered as low density area for Golden Visa Purposes