Portugal not only has one of the best climates of all European countries, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, but also an exceptional quality of life combined with a low cost of living, which makes it an increasingly popular place to buy a property. But let’s focus our attention on business:

If you are planning to travel to Portugal, make sure you have the appropriate visa for your stay and make the necessary arrangements to obtain it in time. There are several types of visa, but we can divide them into these categories:

• The Schengen visa is an authorization issued by a Member State for the purpose of an airport stopover, transit or short-term stay in the territory of one or more Member States, allowing the holder to present himself at the external border.

The Schengen visa is intended for short stays of up to 90 days in each 180-day period and can be granted for the purposes of tourism, family visit, business, seasonal work, transit, among others.

• Long-stay visas, regulated under the terms of the national legislation in force, can be for temporary stay or for obtaining a residence permit, depending on the duration of the stay and entitle the holder to stay in Portugal according to the intended reason: study, internship, work, medical treatment, among others.
  • The temporary stay visa is intended to allow entry to stay in Portugal for a period of less than one year. This is valid for the duration of the stay and for multiple entries into the national territory.
  • The visa for obtaining a residence permit is valid for two entries and for four months, during which time the holder must apply to the SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service ) for a residence permit.

• The ARI regime – Residence Permit for Investment – gives foreign investors the possibility of applying for a residence permit for investment activity, by carrying out an investment activity, in person or through a sole proprietorship company, which leads to the realization of , at least one of the types of investment provided for in the Law and for a minimum period of five years.

For more information see the official page through this link: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/

The Residence Authorization for Investment Activity (ARI) regime, the so-called Golden Visa, is a regime that allows nationals of Third States to obtain a temporary residence authorization for investment activity without a residence visa to enter National territory. The ARI beneficiary has the possibility to:

– Enter Portugal without a residence visa;

– Live and work in Portugal, and must, at least, remain in Portugal for a period of not less than 7 days in the first year and not less than 14 days in subsequent years;

– Circulate through the Schengen area, without the need for a visa;

– Benefit from family reunification;

– After 5 years, the possibility of requesting the granting of a Permanent Residence Permit or acquisition of Portuguese nationality, by naturalization, fulfilling the other requirements required by the Nationality Law (Law n.º37/81, of 3 October, with the current redaction).

1. Transfer of capital in an amount equal to or greater than 1.5 million euros;
2. Creation of at least 10 jobs;
3. Acquisition of real estate with a value equal to or greater than 500 thousand euros;
4. Acquisition of 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 of the acquired immovable property, in the total amount equal to or greater than 350 thousand euros;
5. Transfer of capital in an amount equal to or greater than 500 thousand euros, which is applied in research activities carried out by public or private scientific research institutions, integrated in the national scientific and technological system;
6. Transfer of capital in an amount equal to or greater than 250 thousand euros, which is applied in investment or support for artistic production, recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage, through central and peripheral direct administration services, public institutes, entities that integrate the sector public business , public foundations, private foundations with public utility status, inter-municipal entities, entities that are part of the local business sector, municipal associative entities and public cultural associations, which pursue assignments in the area of artistic production, recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage;
7. Transfer of capital in an amount equal to or greater than 500 thousand euros, intended for the acquisition of participation units in investment funds or venture capital funds dedicated to the capitalization of companies, which are constituted under Portuguese legislation, whose maturity, in the time of investment, is at least five years and at least 60/prct. of the value of the investments to be made in commercial companies headquartered in the national territory;
8. Transfer of capital in an amount equal to or greater than 500 thousand euros, intended for the creation of a commercial company based in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or to reinforce the share capital of a commercial company based in national territory, already constituted, with the creation or maintenance of jobs, with a minimum of five permanent ones, and for a minimum period of three years;

All third-country nationals (non-EU) who carry out an investment activity, personally or through a company incorporated in Portugal or in another EU State and with a permanent establishment in Portugal.

• Main applicant may include the following family members on the visa: – Your spouse – Children under the age of 18 – Dependent adult who are full-time students (up to age 26) – Parents who are dependent on you or your spouse – Any other dependents such as minor siblings
• Residency visa exemption to enter Portugal;
• Benefit from family reunification;
• Possibility of requesting the Permanent Residence Permit or Portuguese Citizenship;
• Circulate through the Schengen area, without the need for a visa;
• Possibility of applying for Portuguese citizenship, by naturalization after 5 years in the country.

• Processing fee (application and renewal): €514.80 (plus €80.20 per family member)
• Golden Visa issuance: € 5,147.80
• Golden Visa Renewal: € 2,573.90