Many countries around the world and within the European Union run their own Golden Visa programs. One of the most popular of all of them is the Golden Visa Portugal program. Consistently ranked as one of the best countries for expats, Portugal offers a wide range of benefits for people wishing to live, work or study in their country. For investors, the reasons to invest in a country can be a bit more complex however, so our guide aims to show you why Portugal represents a great country to choose.
1. An efficient and transparent Golden Visa Program
Many countries within the EU run their own versions of the Golden Visa program. Spain, Malta and Greece for example have their own schemes which attract a lot of investment. Portugal stands out from these countries by offering some specific benefits that matter most to international investors.
The Golden Visa Portugal program requires a smaller initial investment of €350,000, whereas in countries like Spain, that amount starts at €500,000. Also important to investors is the amount of time they need to spend in the country. While many governments ask golden visa applicants to reside in the country more or less uninterrupted for the duration of the visa, the Golden Visa Portugal program only asks you to spend on average 7 days each year in Portugal. Finally, citizenship (and visa free movement in the EU) is available after only 5 years.
2. A strong and stable political, economic and social environment
The Golden Visa Portugal program was initially introduced by a conservative government and then expanded by their socialist successors. This reflects the widespread level of the political support the Golden Visa Portugal program enjoys, which in turn offers strong long-term planning stability to investors. Economically speaking, the European Commission forecasts Portugal as having 5.5% GDP growth with inflation remaining stable at 1%. This represents a very positive macro-economic context in which to invest into. Finally, in terms of social stability Portugal is ranked as one of the safest counties in the world and enjoys a high level of societal cohesion. All added up together, investors can be very confident in the wider environment of their investments.
3. A vibrant business community
In recent years many international companies have expanded their presence in Portugal. Companies like Siemens, Nestle and Cisco have identified some optimal business conditions that Golden Visa investors can benefit from too.
With huge ports like Lisbon, Portugal offers businesses one of the best infrastructure systems in the world. It also enjoys relatively low taxes and operating costs, especially in the field of labour. It’s workforce is one of the most educated in Europe, which contributes to its reputation of having a dynamic and innovative business ecosystem. These combine to create the perfect conditions for investors which is why Forbes rates Portugal as one of the best countries for business.
4. A great place to live
Many investors will be attracted to the Golden Visa Portugal program because they are only required to spend 14 days every 2 years in the country. Many investors though will be making applications that include their spouses, children and parents. With this in mind, it’s important to note that the quality of life in Portugal is very high, making it a wonderful place to live full-time.
A third of the population speak English, while many more can speak other languages. Combined with the famous Portuguese hospitality, it makes it very easy for foreigners to integrate themselves into the Portuguese way of life quickly. They also have a free public health and education system, 300 days of sunshine a year, cosmopolitan major cities and great beaches.
5. An attractive tax regime
For many investors in the Golden Visa Portugal program, the most important reason for choosing Portugal will be the tax regime. Fortunately, Portugal has some unique benefits that it can offer to investors which other countries can’t.
Portugal has a special tax status for golden visa applicants called “non-habitual residence”. This gives holders the right to not pay any tax on their worldwide income for 10 years, which makes it a very tax efficient option. Also Golden Visa Portugal applicants pursuing the Investment Fund option, will enjoy low capital gains and dividend taxes.
Related article: Golden Visa Portugal Fund: What is it
Choosing Portugal with Lince Capital
Lince Capital is a company that helps investors to invest in Portugal. With over 40 years of experience in the Portuguese market, we can help Golden Visa Portugal applicants to invest in the right funds and complete the visa process effortlessly. As experts in securing Portugal Golden Visas through the Investment Fund option, we can carefully navigate you through the process. Depending on your investor profile, Lince has two standout funds to consider which are still open to subscription.
Lince Innovation Fund
The Lince Innovation Fund is focused on research and development projects across a wide range of sectors such as health, IT and industrial. The minimum investment in this fund is €100,000 and the term lasts for 8 years.
Lince Navigator II
Lince Navigator II is exclusively focused on real estate development projects in the high-value central Lisbon area. The minimum investment for this fund is €100,000 and the term lasts for 7 years.
If you would like more information about Golden Visas or would like to explore how to invest in Portugal, please feel free to contact us.
