This is an investment residence permit. It works as a fast and simplified path for foreign investors (from countries outside the EU) to obtain a residence permit in Portugal. In this way, citizens can travel, without the need for a visa, to countries belonging to the Schengen area. But in order to obtain this authorization, foreign citizens will have to invest in Portugal. Among the main forms of investment eligible for gold visa award purposes , please note the following possibilities:
A diploma – published in February 2021 – postponed them to 1 January 2022.
The major change provides for the allocation of Gold Visas to invest in housing properties located only in the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores and in the inland regions. Thus, investments in real estate made in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto are no longer eligible.
Investment via capital transfer now has a minimum amount of EUR 1.5 million (instead of EUR 1 million).
Investment through the transfer of capital applied in research activities developed by public or private scientific research institutions, integrated into the national scientific and technological system, also has a minimum amount of EUR 500,000 (instead of EUR 350,000).
The same applies to the transfer of capital for the acquisition of units in investment funds or venture capital funds. In this situation, the minimum amount rises to EUR 500,000.
Also, the transfer of capital intended for the establishment of a commercial company based in national territory, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or for the strengthening of the share capital of a commercial company based in national territory, minimum amount of EUR 500,000 (instead of EUR 350,000).
Thus, it is possible to verify that the new gold visa rules, although they do not end with this regime, greatly reduce their application in Portugal and impose higher investments.
