Portuguese Tax Laws

Portugal’s Golden Visa program has long been popular among Chinese high-net-worth individuals. One of the main reasons for its appeal is the program’s low residency requirements: in the first year, visa holders only need to reside in Portugal for 7 days, and in the subsequent two years, only 14 days per year are required to maintain their visa status. After five years, applicants can apply for permanent residency or even Portuguese citizenship, effectively securing European citizenship in one step.

However, some of our clients holding Golden Visas have recently reported that, even after meeting the residency requirements, they were unable to obtain permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal. This issue was corroborated by a March 30, 2022, article in Investment Migration Insider titled “Some Portugal Golden Visa Investors Aren’t Getting Citizenship in Year 5 Despite Meeting Presence Requirements”. The article analyzed why Golden Visa holders have been unable to secure Portuguese citizenship in recent years.