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Your Guide to moving to Portugal. Portugal visas, Portugal Citizenship and more.
Why live in Portugal?
More and more people are immigrating to Portugal to take advantage of both the lifestyle and the climate. Young people are moving to Portugal to work, and older generations are looking to retire to Portugal. In part, this is because of the extensive range of Portugal residence permits, work permits, and visas that are available. There are also clear and achievable pathways to Portugal citizenship, which means accessing the powerful Portugal passport. An example is the famous Residency by Investment program. Also called the Portuguese Golden Visa, this program has given more than 20,000 people the chance to live and work in Portugal. Additionally, there is a wide range of opportunities for a Portuguese Work Visa.
Portuguese nationality comes with many benefits. Importantly, Portugal has a relaxed view of dual citizenship and will not ask new Portuguese citizens to relinquish their old nationalities.
Why are people immigrating to Portugal? Portugal has steadily climbed up global surveys for the best countries to live in. In a 2019 survey Portugal ranked 3rd for Expat life. Let’s look at some of the reasons that Expats living in Portugal rank life in the country so highly.
Move to Portugal for the visa, residency, citizenship, and nationality options
Portuguese nationality is one of the world’s best. In fact, Portugal’s passport is ranked 5th in the world with visa-free travel to more than 180 countries worldwide.
Portugal’s residency visa, citizenship, residency, work permit, and other immigration programs are world-class. These programs mean there are many options available to people from all over the world.
One drawback of these schemes is that Portuguese bureaucracy can be challenging to navigate. With this in mind, working with a trusted lawyer is strongly recommended. Click here to speak to the Where Can I Live Trusted Partner for Portugal.
Move to Portugal for the cost of living
Immigrating to Portugal allows you to have a lower cost of living relative to your quality of life than you would elsewhere. This is true even in the larger cities of Lisbon and Porto. These are Portugal’s largest cities and are ranked as the best cities to live in Portugal. In general, costs are much cheaper than the equivalent life in the USA, Australia, Scandinavia, and in many other European countries.
The per diem rate that the US State department pays its staff to cover daily living expenses highlights this. Portugal’s per diem is less than a third of the rate in Bermuda, and half of that of countries like France and Switzerland. Costs will vary depending on how you live and where you live. But, you can guarantee a cheaper like-for-like lifestyle than most developed countries.
Move to Portugal for the economy and opportunities
The government has implemented policies for Portuguese Work Permits and Portuguese Residency Visas to attract global talent. At the same time, there has been an uplift of Portugal’s infrastructure. Add to the mix that Portugal is a great place to live and work. The result is that these visa options have led to a thriving startup scene. That has been followed by a local tech boom and the development of a digital nomad hub. Consequently, while scarce jobs were a real downside to immigrant life in Portugal, this is changing for the better.
The Legatum Prosperity Index rates Portugal as 25th best country for Market Access and the 31st for Investment Environment.
Portuguese real estate has had a great decade. Accordingly, people purchasing a property in Portugal to access Portugal’s Golden Visa program have seen their investment deliver strong returns over the last decade. Despite this, outside of Lisbon and Porto central areas, residential property continues to be affordable.
Finally, for immigrants and people on a residency visa, it is relatively easy to open a bank account. This process eases Expat integration into the community and the economy.
Move to Portugal for Healthcare
Portuguese residency, as well as Portuguese citizenship, gives you access to the Portuguese national healthcare system. You can use the services of the Serviço Nacional de Saúde, or SNS, at an exceptionally low cost. Given that Portugal ranks 30th in the world for healthcare provision, ahead of the USA in 59th, this is a fantastic benefit.
For those living in Portugal who want more choice in their health decisions, there is a private health system with affordable health insurance. Again, this care system is excellent, with coverage available for less than a quarter of what you’d pay in the USA. And for that price, Portuguese private health insurance delivers services way beyond all but the most extensive plans in the USA.
Move to Portugal for the weather
Portugal is Europe’s sunniest country. Expect mild winters and balmy summers as standard. In contrast, there are beautiful high mountain ranges in the North. In fact, in winter, the mountains do get snow. The famous peaks of the Pyrenees are the northern border of Portugal if you need a fix of the white stuff.
Move to Portugal for the people, cuisine, and culture
Living in Portugal means you get to hang out with Portuguese people. In short, they are friendly, welcoming, enthusiastic. In general, English is widely spoken. And, where it is not spoken, locals are unfailingly polite and patient.
Portuguese cuisine is famous around the world. Seafood, peri-peri chicken, and BBQ meat all have a place. The bakeries and desserts are justly celebrated. Without reservation, the quality of the food available is world-class, with a melting pot of cultural influences. Indeed, the food is fresh, affordable, and you’ll love the variety on offer.
Portugal’s bureaucracy and immigration system can be complicated to navigate. Accordingly, access to a highly qualified and professional lawyer is critical to a successful application.
You can live and work freely in Portugal if you are a citizen of the European Union or European Economic Area (EEA).
Retire to Portugal with a Passive Income Visa
Portugal is a global hotspot for retirees. For a change of life in your golden years, Portugal appeals for many of the reasons discussed above. The strong bonds in the Expat retiree community area are a bonus. Maintaining social relationships with like-minded people is essential for many retirees.
There are excellent facilities for activities like golf, fishing, hiking, and much more. Eating out at quality restaurants is affordable, as is home help and health care. For many retirees, having the time and affordable recreation options add significantly to their quality of life.
Portugal’s status as a European travel hub makes it cheap and easy for friends and family to visit. And the weather and lifestyle mean that you’ll have a great package to offer the grandchildren to entice them to come and visit.
Keep up to date with Portugals immigration information
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Portuguese residence permits and visas
Short Term Tourist Visa
Portugal is a part of the SCHENGEN area and so it issues a ninety-day tourist visa. The visa allows you to travel freely throughout the SCHENGEN area. To see if you need a tourist visa, use the tool here to check your requirements.
Portugal Long Term Visas
Portugal offers a wide range of visas, residency permits, and work permits. These cover a wide range of time periods, professions, ages, and financial situations. We cover some of the most important in more detail here.
Portugal is a member of the European Union. So, if you come from one of the 30 member states of the European Economic Area you don’t need a visa, work, or residency permit.
To find the program that best suits your circumstances we suggest talking to the Where Can I Live Trusted Partner for Portugal. They’ll help you identify your best opportunities and ensure your application is submitted perfectly.
Portugal Passive Income Visa / Persons of independent means
There are two requirements for the Portugal Passive Income Visa. You need to agree to base yourself in Portugal for eight months of the year (or six consecutive months). And, you need to show how you earn a passive income that will cover the cost of living in Portugal.
That is all you need, and you could get a Portugal Passive income visa Examples of passive income visa qualifications are rental income, dividends, investment income and a pension. Given that there are no published exact guidelines on income requirements to qualify for the Portugal passive income visa, you need excellent advice. In this case, our experienced local partner believes that €20,000 of annual income should be sufficient.
The passive income visa gives you the freedom to live and carry out work in Portugal. It also gives you free access and circulation in the Schengen Area. There is another benefit. You have the option to become a “non-habitual resident” of Portugal for tax purposes, which offers excellent taxation rates for ten years.
Portugal Work Permits & Business Visas
The EU Blue Card scheme operates across Europe. If you have a recognised university degree or professional experience as well as a work contract or binding job offer, you may be eligible. The Blue Card is a four-year temporary work and residence permit. This Portugal Work Visa also gives you free movement within the SCHENGEN area and enables your family to join you.
If you do not have a work contract or job offer, you can register on the EU Blue Card Network. This network allows European employers to view your details. They can then reach out and connect you with appropriate job opportunities. Also, the EU Blue Card Network is where you can apply for the EU Blue Card, which acts as your Portugal Work Visa.
If you do not meet the Blue Card requirements, there is a different process. If you intend to work for longer than six months, you will need a residence permit that allows you to work. To obtain a Portugal Work Permit, you must prove that you have a signed work contract or promise of a work contract. You must also be able to show that you have the required experience and qualifications for the job. Finally, you must also demonstrate sufficient means of subsistence, travel insurance, and a return ticket.
Startup Visa
Launched in March 2018, the Startup Portugal Visa program aims to attract smart entrepreneurs to generate wealth and employment through innovation and know-how. If you are an entrepreneur who wishes to develop or launch a startup in Portugal, this may be the residency visa for you. In short, there is no upfront capital requirement other than having to prove you can cover living expenses of €5150 per annum per person. Assessment of the application is based on five factors:
- degree of innovation
- scalability of the business
- market potential
- the capacity of the management team
- potential for creating jobs
Other requirements are:
- The start-up needs to be technology-focused,
- The start-up needs to show the potential to create jobs and to generate a turnover of 325,000€/ year.
Working Holiday visa
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, and South Korea aged 18 to 30 can apply for a two-year Portuguese working holiday visa. This Working Holiday program allows young people to live and work while travelling around Portugal.
If you think a Working Holiday may be for you, check out a wide range of programs around the world here. We also have a great blog on the Pros and Cons of a Working Holiday here.
Student Visa and Researcher Visa
Student visas and researcher visas are available to citizens of certain countries. For more information, click here.
Volunteer Visa
Portugal has a program that offers a visa to anyone volunteering in a recognised volunteer program. The visa is for one year, or the length of the volunteer program if it is less than a year. The visa is not renewable. You’ll need to show you have signed up with the volunteer program. Finally, you need to show you have sufficient funds to cover the costs of your stay. You can’t work outside of your volunteer program while you are in Portugal on the volunteer visa.
Seasonal Work Visa
You can get a Portugal Work permit for employment in short-term seasonal work in Portugal. The permit is for a maximum of ninety days. These sectors that can hire people on this visa include:
- Agriculture, stock farming, game, forestry and fishery
- Accommodation, catering and similar
- Food, beverage and tobacco industries
- Wholesale and retail trade
- Construction
- Inland transport
You’ll need a Portuguese employer to offer you a position, and you’ll need to show you can cover your costs while in Portugal.
Family Visas
If your spouse is a citizen or permanent resident of Portugal, you are probably eligible for Portugal residency. To this end, the Portuguese government must recognise your status as a spouse. Due to the definition of “spouse” differing by country, each Marriage Visa is different.
See the citizenship section below for more information on Portugal citizenship based on descent or naturalisation after marriage.
Portugal Residency by Investment
The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program is often referred to as the Portugal Golden Visa. For an investment of as little as €350,000, you get a permanent residence visa to live and work in Portugal.
Please see our Investment Visa section for all the details of this program.
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The advantages of Portuguese citizenship
Portuguese citizenship is one of the most respected in the world. Portugal is seen as a good global citizen and has very few diplomatic or international issues. This means that if you are travelling as a Portuguese citizen, you’ll be welcomed around the world. This regard shows in Portugal’s powerful passport that gives you visa-free access to more than 180 countries around the globe.
You can generally pass on Portuguese citizenship to your descendants through the principle of ‘Jus Sanguin’ or the law of blood. There are some, limited cases here the principle of ‘Jus Soli’ or the law of soil applies to people born on Portuguese soil.
Portugal allows dual and multiple citizenships. This is important, as it means you can retain any citizenships and passport you had. It also means if you get other citizenships in future, you can maintain your Portuguese nationality and passport.
Portugal is a founder member of the European Union. As a citizen, you can work, live, and travel freely in any of the 30 European Economic Area countries. Portugal is also a SCHENGEN state, and so you can enjoy border-free travel throughout this area.
To get Portuguese citizenship through any of the methods below, you’ll need to show you are of good character. This generally means showing police records that prove you have not been convicted of a serious crime.
Click here to book a call with our Expert in Portugal
Portugal Citizenship by Descent
If one or both of your parents were citizens when you were born, you are probably also a citizen.
Portugal Citizenship by Sephardic Descent
The Sephardic Jewish community was expelled from Portugal and Spain in the late 1400s. To right this wrong, Portugal offers descendants of this group naturalisation as a Portuguese citizen. Please have a read of the full article we have written on this topic here.
Portugal Citizenship by Double Descent
If one or both of your grandparents are/were citizens of Portugal, then you are eligible to become a naturalised citizen of Portugal. In this case, there are no residency requirements.
Portugal Citizenship by Naturalization
Once you have lived in Portugal for five years, you can apply for citizenship. As part of the application, you need to pass a language skills test and meet other requirements.
Portugal Citizenship through Marriage
If your spouse is a Portuguese citizen, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship through marriage after three years. You don’t need to live in Portugal for this time. Portugal does allow gay marriage (and has done since 2010) and all requirements are identical for same-sex partners.
Portugal Citizenship for former Portuguese Territories
There are some circumstances where citizens of former Portuguese territories and colonies can apply for Portuguese nationality. The criteria vary by date of birth and by territory. If you were born in one of the following countries, it is worth discussing your case with a trusted immigration lawyer.
- Former Portuguese State of India (Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadrá and Nagar-Aveli)
- Cape Verde
- Angola
- Guinea-Bissau
- Mozambique
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Macau
- Timor-Leste
Portugal’s Golden Visa Program
The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program is one of the most popular Residency by Investment programs in Europe and for good reasons. Not only can you live and work in Portugal, but you also get visa-free access to all Schengen countries. You are only required to stay in Portugal for a minimum of seven days in the first year. In all subsequent years, you must spend a minimum of fourteen days in the country. After six years, you can become a naturalised citizen and get a Portuguese passport. There are many ways to qualify for this visa. The most popular pathway is an investment of a minimum of €350,000 in real estate. Also popular is investing in local shares for a minimum of €350k,000
Further information:
- Processing times can vary but generally are around four months
- The Portuguese government charges a processing fee of €517 for the principal applicant. There is an additional fee of €80 per additional family member. There is also a charge to issue the Golden Visa of €5,202 per applicant.
- After holding your investment for five years, you are free to sell your property if you choose
Portugal Residency by Investment (Golden Visa) investment options
To be eligible, you need to invest in one of the following ways:
- Invest more than €500,000 in real estate.
- Invest in real estate to the value of €350,000 or above. This option only applies to properties that were built more than 30 years or are located in an urban regeneration area.
- Invest more than €350,000 in Portuguese businesses. The investment can be through shares or investment funds. Alternatively, it can be in a venture capital fund geared to the capitalisation of companies. The maturity of the fund at the time of investment must be at least five years. 60% of the investment should be realised in companies whose head office is located in Portugal.
- Invest more than €350,000 in a commercial company whose head office is in Portugal. The company must be able to create and keep five new permanent jobs. The jobs must be maintained for a minimum period of three years.
- Transfer €1,000,000 of capital funds to Portugal.
- Invest €350,000 or more in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions.
- Invest more than €250,000 in artistic output or supporting the arts or for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage.
- The creation of at least ten jobs.
Click here to book a call with our Expert in Portugal
For information on the best Residency by Investment and Citizenship by Investment programs around the world please check out our article here.
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