The Golden Visa

The Portuguese Golden Visa gives you travel rights throughout the Schengen area plus living and working rights in Portugal. This right extends to your family and dependent children. This ability to live and work in Portugal is also possible if you are resident in another country.

Property

For an investment of 500,000 euros in property you are eligible for a residency visa. With a choice of Golden Visas throughout Europe the potential returns in the Portuguese property market make the Portugal Golden Visa the most popular. 2015 prices were typically 20-30% below their peak. Lisbon property is the most popular and therefore showing the greatest capital growth but holiday / vacation property in Vale Do Lobo or Quinta De Lago areas are also a wise financial and lifestyle balance.

Rental yield in Portugal is currently the strongest in all European countries.

Investment

Although property investment is the most popular way to access the scheme the other options include business investment and job creation.

You can deposit 1 million euros in a Portuguese bank or investment fund, Invest 350,000 euros for Research and Development in science and technology or 250,000 euros in cultural businesses or 500,000 euros for venture capital in small or medium sized businesses. The final option is to create over 10 jobs.

Flexibility

The Portuguese scheme is the most attractive of the European Visa schemes because it gives you full family residency with no requirement to reside. Whilst qualifying for full residency or citizenship the visa only has to be renewed every 2 years with only 2 weeks every 2 years spent in Portugal (7 days in the first year and 14 days in the following 2 year periods).