Visa and immigration to Portugal
Feod Group provides full legal support for immigration and obtaining a residence permit in Portugal
Immigration services:
✔ Obtaining a long-term visa to Portugal
✔ Obtaining a residence permit and citizenship
✔ Portugal Golden Visa
✔ Obtaining a long-term student visa
✔ Representation clients’ interests at the Embassy or SEF by a Portuguese advocate
✔ Professional assistance after refusal of a visa to Portugal
Legal and business services in Portugal:
✔ Registration of a company in Portugal, accountant services
✔ Registration of company in International Business Centre of Madeira
✔ Opening a personal and company bank accounts in Portugal
✔ Rent and purchase of real estate in all regions of Portugal
✔ Buying an existing and active business in Portugal
✔ Confirmation of the legality of the source of funds
Feod Group work in conjunction with Portuguese advocates
Feod Group lawyer in Portugal Vasco Miguel Barros Leal Cardoso
Immigration to Portugal:
Portugal is one of the most popular European countries for immigration, and the government strongly promotes this issue.
The benefits of living in Portugal
- Portugal is the 4th among the 128 most peaceful countries according to the Global Peace Index 2019 research data. It is a safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.
- The country has an excellent geographical position, located between three continents – Europe, Africa and America – it has always been central to major international routes. Portugal has 3 international airports – Lisbon, Faro and Porto.
- High level of medical care.
The network of hospitals consists of modern and well-equipped units located throughout the country. The health system in Portugal ranked 12th in the World Health Organization rankings according to the World Health Report. - Quality education.
Education in Portugal, regardless of whether it is public or private, is characterized by its availability and high quality. - Transparent and affordable tax legislation.
- The climate is mild, warmer in winter than in many other southern European countries.
- Prices for products, utilities and transportation are lower than in most European countries. The average cost of a family of 3 people is 2,140.23 € per month, including: apartment rent, utilities, food, travel, school fees for a child and other social activities.
- The Portuguese coast is one of the best surfing spots in the world. Portugal has almost 800 kilometers of coastline.
- Friendly locals, much of the population speaks English.
Options for obtaining a residence permit in Portugal and tax resident status
✔ Residence permit without investment as a financially independent foreigner
✔ Golden Visa (immigration to Portugal based on investment)
✔ Business immigration to Portugal. Startup visa.
✔ Work immigration to Portugal
✔ Tax resident in Portugal
✔ Obtaining permanent residence and Portuguese citizenship
Residence permit in Portugal without investment as a financially independent foreigner
This emigration program to Portugal is ideal for IT professionals, programmers, seafarers and other professionals in the liberal professions, as well as for entrepreneurs with passive income.
This is a type of residence permit in Portugal without the right to work, therefore you require a stable and reliable source of income from outside of Portugal.
The Portuguese D7 visa allows applicants to reside in Portugal for more than 90 days a year.
D7 visa benefits
✔ no requirements for buying real estate or investments
✔ moving to Portugal for permanent residence and citizenship after 6 years
✔ the ability to apply for a residence permit for the whole family
✔ no requirements for knowledge of the Portuguese language
Conditions for obtaining a residence permit for financially independent persons in Portugal:
- Minimum monthly income: from 635 € for the main applicant or 955 € for a family
- Having an account with a bank in Portugal.
- Rent or purchase of real estate.
- No criminal record in the country of citizenship and Portugal.
Permanent residence in Portugal for investors
(Golden Visa)
Portugal Golden visa is an immigration government program for obtaining a residence permit in Portugal by investment for citizens of countries outside the EU.
As of April 2020, the initial residence permits became valid for two years (previously one year) and the subsequent permits became valid for three years. This was due to a legislative change in the Portuguese immigration law.
After 5 years, the investor and his family are eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit in Portugal, provided that the respective investment is maintained.
Please note that in February 2021, changes were made to the Portugal Golden Visa Program, which will enter into force in 2022.
Investment options for obtaining the Portugal Golden Visa
1. Real estate
- 500,000 euros – investments in real estate of any type
- 350,000 euros – purchase of real estate built more than 30 years ago or real estate located in specially designated urban areas for restoration / reconstruction
* From January 1, 2022, it will be possible to participate in the program of obtaining a residence permit in Portugal for investment by purchasing real estate located in the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira or in the interior.
Thus, it will no longer be possible to combine real estate investments in Lisbon, Porto or the Algarve with a Golden Visa application.
2. Investment in business
- from 350,000 euros (From 01.01.2022 the minimum amount will increase from 350,000 euros to 500,000 euros) plus employment of 5 resident workers
OR - Creation of 10 new full-time jobs in a Portuguese business owned by the main applicant.
3. Investment fund – from 350,000 euros (from 01.01.2022 the amount will increase to 500,000 euros)
4. Capital transfer – € 1 million (From 2022, the amount of the capital transfer will change from € 1 million to € 1.5 million.)
5. Financial contribution
- 250,000 euros – investment in the preservation of national heritage, art and culture
- 350,000 euros – in research and development in Portugal (from January 1, 2022 will increase from 350,000 euros to 500,000 euros).
Business immigration to Portugal.
Start-up in Portugal.
Portugal is included in the list of “Best Tax Residences in Europe” and is considered one of the best countries for doing business, focused only on the European market, but also internationally.
There are also a number of positive factors for business immigration to Portugal:
- Office maintenance costs are lower than in other European countries (for example: renting an office in Lisbon costs an average of 18.5 € per 1 sq.m. per month. For comparison, renting an office in Berlin – 30 € per 1 sq.m. in month).
- Low corporate tax (Madeira -5%), special non-habitual resident status.
- 23% – the VAT rate, however, there are incentives that allow you to reduce VAT to 13% and even 5%.
Citizens of non-EU countries have the opportunity to enter Portugal to carry out independent business activities, provided that they fulfill the following conditions:
- They have sufficient funds to carry out the activity, which must be deposited with a bank in the name of the applicants. After issuing a special visa, the amount must be transferred to one of the banks in Portugal.
- The activity contributes to the development of the national economy.
- A reliable business plan has been submitted for approval.
- The enterprise within a short time (1-3 years) should reach self-sufficiency and make a profit, thereby ensuring tax deductions to the budget of the country and the region.
Start-up visa in Portugal
The Portuguese Ministry of Economy has launched the Startup Visa to Portugal program, which provides an opportunity for people from non-EU countries to open a branch of their startup in Portugal or start one from scratch.
The main criteria for a startup in Portugal:
- The innovativeness and usefulness of a startup project.
- The applicant must have the skills and capabilities of team management.
- Availability of sufficient financial resources to fund a startup.
- Self-sufficiency of the project and the creation of new jobs.
The Portuguese Startup Visa Immigration Program for companies has no time limits – an application can be submitted at any time of the year. It can be issued in Portuguese or English and sent online through a special form on the official website.
Work immigration to Portugal
Intra-corporate transferees (ICT)
Intra-corporate transferees (ICT) is a program designed for managers and employees of a company headquartered outside Portugal and other EU countries.
In accordance with this program, an employee of the parent company is transferred under a simplified scheme to a branch of a company registered in one of the countries of the European Union.
EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit that allows its holder to live and engage in highly qualified work in Portugal.
Blue Card requirements
- Confirmation of an official employment relationship with a Portuguese company
- Availability of relevant diplomas and qualifications, academic degrees.
- An indication of a salary not less than the economic average for a given profession in Portugal.
- No criminal record in the country of citizenship.
- Medical insurance valid in Portugal.
We provide professional services for the preparation and support of documents for working immigration to Portugal
Tax resident in Portugal
A tax resident is an individual or a legal entity that, according to the legislation, is subject to taxation therein based on its place of residence, permanent residence or place of registration for a legal entity.
Tax resident status does not oblige or require a change of citizenship.
Portugal offers low corporate tax (Madeira -5%) and special non-habitual resident status.
The non-habitual residents’ regime is in effect for 10 years.
During the non-habitual resident regime, some income is taxed at a reduced rate or completely exempt from taxation.
• 0% tax on income from outside Portugal and 20% flat tax on income from Portuguese sources
• 0% on income from dividends, interest and royalties
• 10% tax on foreign pensions
• 0% wealth tax
• Preferential tax treatment for the purchase of real estate, sale and payment of the annual fee
• Preferential tax treatment for gifts and inheritance
Permanent residence and Portuguese citizenship
Obtaining permanent residence in Portugal
(AUTORIZAÇÃO DE RESIDÊNCIA PERMANENTE)
After living in Portugal for 5 years, you can legally apply for a permanent residence permit for a period of five years, and which can subsequently be renewed for the same period.
Obtaining Portuguese citizenship
Portuguese citizens are also citizens of the European Union and can freely move around the EU countries without a visa. They also have the right to live, work, study and do business in any country of the European Union.
Portuguese citizenship legislation provides for the possibility of obtaining citizenship on the basis of birth, origin, marriage or through naturalization.
How to obtain Portuguese citizenship and passport:
- Obtaining citizenship at birth or by descent
- Obtaining EU citizenship through permanent residence in the country – Naturalization
- Naturalization is the legal process of obtaining the citizenship of a country based on the applicant’s free will. Residing in Portugal for more than 6 years with the status of Autorização de Residência gives a foreigner the right to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
The roads to naturalization can be:
- training in European educational institutions in Portugal
- family reunification with an EU citizen
- registration or purchase of a business
- official employment in Portugal
- Golden Visa
Immigration lawyers Feod Group will provide you with professional assistance at all stages of the renewal of immigration status and obtaining Portuguese citizenship
Yes, the holder of a Portuguese residence permit has the right to visa-free entry and movement within all Schengen countries in Europe.
To extend the residence permit in Portugal, you need to submit an application and supporting documents to SEF authority several months before the expiration of the current permit. The application can be submitted on-line.
Taxes in Portugal:
Please note that the rate of fees and taxes in the mainland of Portugal is different than in Madeira.
- 5% corporate tax rate in Madeira or 21% – rate in mainland Portugal.
- 3 VAT rates: standard (23%), average (13%) and concessional (6%).
- Dividends – 0%, 25%, 35%
- 0.3% to 0.8% – the annual property tax rate depends on the region where the property is located.
- 0.8% – stamp duty on the purchase or sale of real estate. Charged once.
You can become a tax resident in Portugal if you have lived for more than 183 days in a calendar year and have a centre of vital interests in Portugal.
To obtain Portuguese citizenship and Passport, you must legally reside in the country for 6 or more years. Portugal allows multiple citizenships, you do not have to give up your first citizenship and a Portuguese passport can be issued additionally.
Full range of legal services in Portugal
Feod Group provides a full range of services for the program of immigration to Portugal:
- preparation of a full package of visa documents for the first visa D;
- filing a residence permit in Portugal;
- legal due diligence of property for purchase;
- registration of real estate purchase transactions;
- obtaining a tax code;
- Representing the interests of the client when opening an account in a Portuguese bank;
- preparing a business plan for buying a business;
- preparation of documents confirming the source of income for the investment.
Feod Group also provides its clients with related services to relocation and orientation in the country: family relocation to Portugal, enrollment of children into private and state schools and Universities.
