Recent data has shown that more than 18,000 foreign families have benefited from the Golden Visa program of Portugal.
The Golden Visa Program, which offers residency to foreigners in exchange for financial investments, along with the Non-Habitual Residents (NHR) program and B visas, are among the most famous options for foreigners planning to move to Portugal, Schengen.News reports.
Michael Maxwell from Portugal Panorama told Portugal News that in the past year, there was a notable increase in interest in residency by investment, transforming it into an asset class in its own right.
Maxwell told Portugal News that it is important to view these investments as financial decisions, stressing that prospective investors should ask themselves, “Would I be interested if a visa were not attached?”
He said factors to consider include conflicts of interest, the team involved, risk profile, fee structure, and exit strategy.
Maxwell stressed that those interested in benefiting from residency-by-investment schemes should ensure these investments can stand independently.
According to him, countries differ in their business and social environments, emphasizing that countries with fair legal systems as well as protective security forces are among the reasons why Portugal attracts a large number of internationals.
Michael Maxwell from Portugal Panorama also discussed the new changes applied to Portugal’s Golden Visa Program.
Previously, the country removed the real estate investment option from this program in a bid to deal with the housing crisis, although this option is among the most famous ones in this scheme.
In spite of removing this route, Maxwell said that fund investments remain eligible and promising. Investment funds regulated by the Portuguese Financial Services Regulator (CMVM) represent real opportunities in a rising economy.
Offering a favorable pathway for individuals planning to move to Portugal, compared to other territories, is among the main reasons why a large number of internationals chose this country, according to Lionel de Freitas Director of Operations at Dixcart Immigration and Tax.
The Golden Visa Program attracts a large number of internationals each year. Based on the figures from Portugal’s Immigration and Borders Service (SEF), for a period from 2012 until 2023, the number of golden visas granted stood at 12,718. Besides, a total of 20,424 were granted to the beneficiaries’ family members.
Besides, in April this year, the co-founder and CEO of Unbound Fund, Alessandro Palombo, said in a post on his X account that Portugal may become the first European country to offer international residency in exchange for Bitcoin investments.
Source : https://schengen.news/more-than-18000-foreign-families-have-benefited-from-portugals-golden-visa-so-far/
