Portugal
RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR INVESTMENT
The Government of Portugal has relaxed its immigration policy creating the conditions to attract investment to the country. The legislation was tabled in the summer and became effective from 9th October 2012.
The new policy clears the way for investors who wish to visit the Schengen states regularly, own a second home or consider a more permanent residence for their family in Europe by investing capital, creating jobs or investing in Real Estate. In Portugal, this is known as the Residence Permit for Investment. This programme simplifies and fast tracks the European Residency process.
No points
No minimum qualifications
No maximum age
No need to be permanently resident in Portugal
RESIDENCE PERMIT
This means that investors, who are not European nationals, have the ability to qualify for a residence permit in the European Union and the right to free movement of peoples within the Schengen states.
Fast Track
Minimal Investor criteria
Schengen Visa
Family Grouping & Portuguese Citizenship
FAST TRACK
The Portuguese government has officially named the programme ARI AUTORIZAO DE RESIDENCIA PARA ACTIVIDADE DE INVESTIMENTO, directly translated, “Residence Permit for Investment Activity.â€
This is a true fast tracking programme the residence process and our lawyers have made various enquiries at the Immigration Authority who have confirmed that departments have been set up with the sole purpose of fast tracking the process. A visit to various Portuguese consular websites around the world will confirm that the programme is being promoted in all corners of the globe.
MINIMAL INVESTOR CRITERIA
The RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR INVESTMENT is available to all foreign national investors who are not citizens of the European Union. This means that investors from all corners of the globe regardless of which country they originate may qualify for this programme. To qualify, the investor will need to make an investment in Portugal either privately or through a company conducting at least one of the following investment operations in Portugal.
- Capital investment with a minimum value of 1,000,000 (one million Euros) in a Portuguese company.
- Establishing a Portuguese company that employs more than thirty people.
- Acquisition of Real Estate with a minimum value of 500,000 (five hundred thousand Euros)
The criteria, is simple and transparent, the Portuguese state is committed to support capital investment in Portugal to attract capital, promote job creation and increase investment in Real Estate
SCHENGEN VISA
The holders of the Residence Permit for Investment have all the benefits of the Schengen Visa, entitling the holder freedom of movement in the 26 member states. The Schengen Treaty was signed on 14 June 1985 together with subsequent conventions the treaty created Europe's borderless Schengen Area, which operates like a single state for international travel, with external border controls for travellers visiting the area but with no internal border controls. The borderless zone created by the Schengen agreements currently consists of 26 European countries, namely: 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.
FAMILY GROUPING
PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP
The holders of the Residence Permit for Investment have the right to family regrouping, and may gain access to permanent residence permit, as well as to Portuguese citizenship in accordance with current legal provisions.
FAMILY
Family regrouping - in simple terms this means that the family and dependents of the holder of the Golden Residence Permit qualify for residence as well, including:
- The spouse
- Minor children
- Adult children who are dependents
- Parents
- Minor siblings in the custody of permit holder
PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP
In terms of the general law permit holders qualify for Portuguese citizenship after the holder has successively renewed the residence permit for a total of five years. The Golden Residence Permit is renewed three times:
1. One year (initial permit)
2. Two years (first renewal)
3. Two years (second renewal)
After the fifth year the permit holder may apply for Portuguese citizenship and passport, which will bestow on the holder all the rights of a EU national including free movement of peoples in all the EU member states, including the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Avanti Worldwide Ltd
869 High Road London N12 8QA.
Avanti House PO Box 87 Kissonerga 8574 Paphos, Cyprus.