Why Portugal should become the country of your European residency
Travel freedom
A Portuguese residence permit allows you to travel freely in Europe and spend up to 90 days out of 180 in Schengen countries. The citizenship allows you to live in any of the EU countries and enter 188 countries, including the USA, UK, Japan and Australia, without visas.
Beneficial tax treatment
The Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax incentive programme exempts from taxation income earned outside Portugal. Until 2023, all new residents were entitled to benefit from this regime for 10 years. Although this rule has been abolished since the beginning of 2024, this beneficial treatment is still available to tax residents of Mallorca and the Azores, as well as a number of highly qualified professionals and employees of start-up companies.
High standard of living
The country is among the top 10 in the Global Peace Index’s ranking of safest countries to live and work in. Portugal’s healthcare system is among the best in the world. According to the WHO, Portugal ranks 12th in the ranking of health care efficiency.
Easy to obtain
Portugal has some of the lowest requirements for obtaining a residence permit in Europe. You can apply for citizenship in as little as 5 years after applying for a residence permit. And the Golden Visa allows you to maintain residency status by staying in the country for only 7 days a year.
Portugal Golden Visa
It is a chance to get a residence permit through investment. The investment must be for a minimum of 5 years. The visa is issued for 2 years, after which the residence permit can be extended twice more for two years. In order to retain residency status, you must spend only 7 days a year in the country.
Together with the investor his husband or wife, as well as financially dependent children and parents can apply for a residence permit. After 5 years after applying for a Golden Visa, it is possible to apply for permanent residency status or Portuguese citizenship.
How to get a residence permit in Portugal through investment?
- Invest in scientific research. The minimum amount is €500,000.
- Invest in the restoration of cultural heritage sites. Minimum €250,000.
- Open your own business. This will involve creating and maintaining 10 new full-time jobs for the duration of your residency in Portugal.
- Invest in a local business. Your investment in a Portuguese company must be at least €500,000 and must create 5 new jobs for Portuguese citizens.
- Buy a unit of an investment fund. This can be either a private equity fund or a venture capital fund. The minimum investment amount is €500,000.
In 2023, the Portuguese government abolished the possibility of obtaining a residence permit for property investments.
Who can qualify for a Portuguese Golden Visa?
You can apply for a Portuguese Golden Visa if you fulfil the following requirements:
- you are not a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland;
- over the age of 18;
- have no criminal or immigration offences;
- have sufficient funds for investments whose source is outside Portugal.
Entrepreneur Visa. Startup visa (Visa D2)
It is created for those who want to start a business or open a branch of their company in Portugal. This type of visa is issued for a period of 4 months. This time is given to enter the country, register a company and apply for residency. After two years, the residence permit can be renewed for 3 years. However, to maintain residency status, you must spend at least 6 months a year in Portugal.
Allows you to bring your family members to Portugal. After 5 years of life in the country allows to apply for permanent residency and citizenship.
What makes a startup visa different?
Issued for an innovative start-up. To qualify for this visa category, you need to secure the support of one of the Portuguese business incubators that will accelerate your project in the future and apply to the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (IAPMEI).
One application allows 5 team members and their families to qualify for the startup visa.
What do I need to get a D2 visa?
In order to obtain an entrepreneur visa, it will be necessary to:
- provide a thorough business plan that demonstrates the positive impact of your business on the social, economic and cultural life of the country;
- prove that you have sufficient funds to successfully implement your project, as well as to cover personal expenses at the new location;
- confirm the absence of criminal and immigration offences.
Student visa (D4 and D5 visa)
This visa is required if your study in Portugal lasts more than 90 days. Category D4 is suitable for students of undergraduate programmes, student exchange programmes and professional internships. Category D5 is designed for students of Master’s programmes and PhD students.
The visa is issued for 4 months and allows you to apply for residency status for 1 year upon arrival in the country. After a year the status can be extended for up to 5 years. Student visas allow you to bring only your immediate family members: husband, wife or civil partner, as well as minor children. Do not lead to permanent residency or citizenship.
Work visas
Two visa categories are suitable for those wishing to move to Portugal for work:
D1 visa – Work visa
To qualify for this visa category, an official invitation to work from a Portuguese company is required. The invitation must be supported by a confirmation from the IEFP employment centre that there are no suitable candidates for the position in Portugal and EU countries.
Issued for 1 year and renewable for 2 years. Allows you to bring family members, including adult children and parents who depend on you financially.D3 visa – Highly skilled visa. Blue Card
In order to qualify for this visa category, a work invitation from a Portuguese company for a highly skilled speciality must be obtained. The contract must be for a minimum of 12 months with a salary of at least 1.5 times the national minimum wage. The position offered must also match your qualifications.
The visa is issued for 4 months, which are given to come to the country and apply for the Blue Card, which grants the status of a resident of the country for 2 years. After 5 years it allows you to apply for permanent residency and citizenship.
Blue Card eligibility
To be eligible for a Blue Card in Portugal, you need:
- A valid visa or residency permit in Portugal.
- The financial means to live in Portugal.
- At least a one-year work contract or an invitation to work in a highly qualified position. The salary level must be at least 1.2 (for some occupations) or 1.5 times the national average annual earnings (before taxes).
- Proof of professional qualification.
- Health insurance.
- Social security registration.
Family visa (D6 visa)
Designed for family reunification. Allows Portuguese residents to bring close relatives: husband, wife or civil partner; children, parents and, in some cases, siblings.
Residence permit for passive income holders (Visa D7)
Designed for passive income holders wishing to relocate to Portugal. To qualify for this visa category, you must buy or rent a property in Portugal and provide proof of a stable passive income above the minimum wage of €870. To this amount you need to add another 50% if you plan to bring your spouse to Portugal and 30% if you are travelling with a child.
The visa is issued for a period of 4 months. This period is given to enter the country and apply for residency. It is assumed that at least 16 months of the two years for which the residence permit is granted, the applicant will spend on the territory of Portugal. This visa allows you to apply for permanent residency and citizenship after 5 years of life in the country.
Digital Nomad Visa (Visa D8)
Suitable for those who work remotely for a foreign company. This visa will require proof that your monthly income exceeds €3,480 if you are granted a long-term residence permit, or €3,280 if the visa is for up to a year.
Short-term nomad visa
It is issued for up to one year and can be renewed up to 4 times for one year each. Does not allow you to bring family members with you to Portugal.
Long-term nomad visa
Issued for 4 months. This period is given to enter the country and apply for residency. Residency on this visa is granted for 2 years with the possibility of renewal for another 3 years. Allows you to bring family members. After 5 years it allows you to apply for permanent residency or citizenship.
Portuguese nationality
After 5 years of legal and continuous residency in Portugal, citizens of non-EU/EEA or Swiss jurisdictions and their families can apply for citizenship and a European passport. To qualify for Portuguese citizenship, it is necessary to:
- reside in Portugal as a permanent resident for 1 year before applying for citizenship;
- show proof of long-term and legal residency in Portugal;
- be fluent in Portuguese;
- know the lifestyle, traditions and customs of Portugal;
- confirm that you don’t have any criminal records;
- prove that there are no debts to the tax authorities and other bodies.
Portugal recognises dual citizenship, so there is no need to renounce your first citizenship when obtaining a Portuguese passport.
Moving to Portugal with Imperial & Legal
Licensed company
Imperial & Legal is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) UK to the highest, third-class licence. This licence is a guarantee of the quality and transparency of our work. Our legal representatives in Portugal have official licence which allows them to work in the country.
99% success rate
Before signing a contract, our experts carefully study each case. In case of a high probability of rejection, we always explain the risks in detail and offer other possible solutions that can guarantee a positive result.
Individual approach and full support
We will select the right type of visa and provide full legal support throughout the visa application process. Our specialists will develop an individual solution and take care of communication with the immigration service. If necessary, we will help you organise your relocation.
