Last year, the Portuguese Government made clear its intention to put the Golden Visa program on the right track after it had been stalled for a long time. In this regard, a key decision was to amend the naturalization (Portuguese citizenship) law, which now includes an exception for candidates and Golden Visa holders.
Namely, the Law enshrines the right of investors who have applied for a Portuguese residence permit (Golden Visa) to count the 5-year period before applying for Portuguese citizenship from the moment the application is registered in the system. That is, the residence permit is still under consideration, but the investor is already “collecting” months before Portuguese citizenship.
Why were such preferential conditions introduced? To make the program more attractive. The Portuguese bureaucratic system cannot cope with the number of applications for the Golden Visa. You need to wait 12-15 months for approval of a residence permit. At the same time, Portugal needs investment flow.
Portugal Golden Visa – how to invest in 2025?
The option to purchase real estate, after long debates in the Portuguese Parliament, was abolished. From 2024, it will no longer be possible to apply for a Golden Visa based on the purchase of a home. Therefore, investors switched their attention to other program options: investments in funds and the business option. Where the minimum entry threshold is the same – from €500,000.
However, there is a very important difference in processing that we point out to candidates. To participate under the fund option, you will first need to open a personal account in Portugal, transfer funds to it, and then from there make a transaction to the local fund. Whereas in business options you can directly invest in the business.
Three generations of the investor’s family, including parents and children, can be included in the application for the Portugal Golden Visa.
Portugal residence permit (Golden visa) for purchasing a share in a hotel. Business option
So, the key condition is to contribute at least €500,000 to the authorized capital + creation of jobs (from 10 to 5 depending on the type of employment). It will be possible to exit the investment in the 6th year.
Apex Capital Partners has ready-made project options that fit all program requirements. For example, to an existing 4* hotel of the IHG hotel management chain on the coast of Portugal, in Albufeira. A total of 45 investors will be able to take part in the project, each receiving a 2% share of the hotel. This is a fully returnable investment: the first payment is in 30 days, the second in the 5th year and in the 6th, investor may completely exit the project.
Path to EU citizenship (Portuguese citizenship)
Having received a Portugal Golden Visa, the investor and his family members will be able to travel within the Schengen area without a visa (90 days every six months). And also, temporarily or permanently stay in Portugal without obligation to reside.
It is enough to be present in the country for at least 14 days every 2 years of holding a residence permit. And after obtaining Portuguese citizenship, you will be able to live, work and study in any EU country.
The entire path from residence permit to Portuguese citizenship can be completed with the assistance of Apex Capital Partners. Please note that you are not required to reside in the country, but you will need to show basic knowledge of Portuguese language to obtain a Portuguese passport.
