Portuguese citizens are also citizens of the European Union, and EU legal standards guarantee equal rights to all EU passport holders.
✓ Security Portugal ranks 4th among the world’s safest countries.
✓ Freedom of Movement A Portuguese passport allows free entry and movement across EU countries and the Schengen Area, even during quarantines and travel restrictions related to the pandemic.
✓ Freedom of Choice EU citizens have the right to live and work in any EU country.
✓ High Standard of Living and Stability Portugal boasts stable economic development, ensuring access to high-quality social benefits for its citizens.
✓ Social Security Benefits A second passport provides access to social security, government aid, European-level salaries, and pensions.
✓ Visa-Free Travel Portuguese passport holders can travel visa-free to over 180 countries worldwide.
✓ A Bright Future for Children Children with EU citizenship can choose educational institutions without restrictions. Additionally, education at some schools, colleges, and universities may be entirely free for EU citizens.
✓ Business and Financial Advantages As an EU citizen with a Portuguese passport, you can freely buy and sell real estate, obtain loans, and secure low-interest mortgages. Portugal also offers the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU (Madeira – 5%) and the possibility of acquiring a special tax status as a non-habitual resident.
✓ Dual Citizenship in Portugal Portugal permits multiple citizenships. You won’t need to renounce your first citizenship, allowing the Portuguese passport to serve as your second one.
By Descent. Citizenship is granted if one or both parents are Portuguese citizens.
By Birth in Portugal to Foreign Parents. Citizenship can be obtained if one parent has legally resided in Portugal for at least 2 years at the time of the child’s birth (previously 5 years).
By Marriage. After 3 years of legal marriage to a Portuguese citizen, one can apply for citizenship.
By Naturalization (after 5 Years of Residence)
Program for Financially Independent Foreigners
This program suits IT specialists, programmers, seafarers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs with a passive income of at least €705 per month or €8,460 per year for the main applicant.
Key Benefits:
No immediate property purchase is required; renting is sufficient.
A residence permit is issued for 2 years and can be renewed.
After 5 years of residence, permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship can be obtained.
Business immigration involves first obtaining a residence permit based on registering or purchasing an existing business, and after 5 years of living in the country, acquiring Portuguese citizenship.
To obtain a residence permit and subsequently citizenship on this basis, a detailed business plan, rental or purchase of an office with a legal address, and financial resources for implementing the business idea are required.
Portugal does not have a minimum investment threshold for companies; each project is always evaluated individually. In addition to the opportunity to obtain a residence permit and Portuguese citizenship, many entrepreneurs choose Portugal to optimize taxation and build a corporate structure due to the advantages of Madeira’s low-tax jurisdiction and Portugal’s tax residency program for foreigners.
Madeira has a special tax incentive system, the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU — 5%, as well as lower operating costs compared to other EU regions.
In recent years, Portugal’s Golden Visa has been recognized as one of the most attractive programs in the world for obtaining EU residency and citizenship.
Many refer to this category as “Portuguese citizenship through investment” or “Portuguese citizenship through real estate purchase.” However, it is important to understand that initially, the investor receives a residence permit (residency in Portugal), and after 5 years of holding resident status under the Golden Visa, they can apply for Portuguese citizenship and a passport.
The unique feature of this program is that the investor is not required to reside permanently in Portugal to apply for citizenship.
The investor only needs to live in Portugal for 14 days during the first 2 years of the residence permit and 21 days over the following 3 years, which counts toward obtaining citizenship after five years.
Minimum Investment Amounts
Real Estate Purchase in Portugal – from €500,000 for any type of property (a 20% reduction in the minimum required amount applies if the property is located in a “low-density area”).
Purchase of Property for Renovation – from €350,000 (if the property is over 30 years old, requires renovation, and is located in a low-density area, a 20% reduction also applies).
Business Investment Options in Portugal:
Creation of at least 10 new jobs.
Investment of €500,000 in the share capital of a company registered in Portugal + creation or maintenance of at least 5 permanent jobs for three years.
Other Investment Options:
Funding research activities in public or private organizations – from €500,000.
Restoration or preservation of national cultural heritage – from €250,000.
Investments in funds – from €500,000.
Capital transfer/deposit in a Portuguese bank – from €1.5 million.
Start-Up Program
The Portuguese Ministry of Economy has launched the Start-Up Visa program, allowing entrepreneurs to establish a start-up branch or launch a new business in Portugal, with eligibility for a Portuguese residence permit and eventual citizenship.
Main Requirements:
Innovative and valuable start-up projects
Financial sustainability and job creation potential
Official Employment in Portugal
The EU Blue Card grants a residence permit to professionals engaged in high-skilled work in Portugal. After 5 years of residence, holders can apply for Portuguese citizenship.
If you have any questions in any of the directions, please contact us.
Conditions for Obtaining Portuguese Citizenship
Key requirements for foreigners seeking Portuguese citizenship:
Age Requirement: The applicant must be of legal age.
Legal Residency: Reside legally in Portugal for at least five years.
Financial Stability: Demonstrate the ability to support oneself and family members through a legal source of income.
Housing: Own or rent a residential property in Portugal.
Cultural Knowledge Test: Pass a test on the Portuguese Constitution, traditions, and customs.
Language Proficiency: Have at least A2-level proficiency in the Portuguese language.
Good Character: Maintain a clean criminal record with no convictions, entry bans, or deportations from Portugal.
Tax Compliance: Pay taxes regularly and provide certificates confirming no outstanding tax or utility debts when applying for citizenship.
FAQ
How to Obtain Portuguese Citizenship?
Portuguese citizenship can be obtained through:
Descent: If one or both parents are Portuguese citizens.
Birth in Portugal: If born in Portugal under specific conditions.
Marriage: After three years of legal marriage to a Portuguese citizen.
Naturalization: After five years of legal residence in Portugal through business, investments, property purchase, legal employment, and other eligible grounds.
How to Obtain Portuguese Citizenship Through Investment?
Portuguese citizenship can be obtained through investment under the Golden Visa Program. Initially, the investor receives a two-year residence permit with the option to renew. After five years of residence, demonstrating good character, and integration into society, the investor becomes eligible to apply for a Portuguese passport.
Can You Buy Portuguese Citizenship?
Portugal does not offer programs that grant immediate citizenship and a passport, unlike Malta’s Citizenship by Investment program.
Obtaining a second passport through investment in Portugal involves several stages: first, acquiring a temporary residence permit (TRP), and later becoming eligible for citizenship.
Article author
Luhina Iryna Head of department Visas and Immigration Ukraine
In 2006 graduated from the National Aviation University (NAU), Kiev with a degree in Philology, Translation. Irina Lugina has many years of successful work experience in large companies with a voluminous workflow. Within Feod Group specializes in: visa support by category for financially ...
In 2006 graduated from the National Aviation University (NAU), Kiev with a degree in Philology, Translation. Irina Lugina has many years of successful work experience in large companies with a voluminous workflow. Within Feod Group specializes in:
visa support by category for financially independent foreigners, visas for entrepreneurs and investors in the EU, Great Britain and the USA.
preparation and compliance of packages of documents for registration of companies in low-tax jurisdictions, opening bank accounts.
obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence in Ukraine on the basis of marriage and through company registration.
Since 1992, Feod Group has been providing a wide range of legal, business and immigration services in Europe, the USA and other countries of the world.
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Having offices in Europe and the USA, Feod Group provides rapid paperwork and maximum customer comfort.
We provide our clients with related services, such as relocation and adaptation abroad, organizing family relocation abroad, enrollment of children in schools and many other services.
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