GOLDEN VISA – VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDS

During this period of pandemic, the interest of foreign citizens in the Portuguese Golden Visa Program did not fade. On the contrary, the month of May was even the month with the highest number of applications for Golden Visa since its creation in 2012.

One of the factors that may be on the basis of this record is the fact that most investors increasingly understand the extreme importance of having a second passport in the globalized world in which we live.

Having the possibility to easily travel to another country with your family and stay there legally can be a great advantage in a context of spreading of a disease.

Read more about Public Health and International Migration here 

The urgency of having a second passport at a time when most of the investments that can be used to obtain a Golden Visa require some physical/presential intervention by the investor has increased their interest in alternatives in which their intervention is not necessary.

Within this panorama, the interest in transferring capital in the amount of EUR 350 thousand or more for the acquisition of units in investment funds or venture capital has raised.

In our opinion, this growing interest of investors is due to five reasons:

1) Investors are familiar with this form of investment. They feel more secure in acquiring shares in investment funds because the rules for this type of investment are internationally similar and there are no substantial discrepancies;

2) They know that the investment funds they are dealing with are regulated by the Securities Commission (CMVM) and that they have to go through an extensive bureaucratic process until they are fully constituted. Regulatory scrutiny makes them feel secure about the seriousness of the players;

3) Unlike the other investment options available of equal value (350 thousand euros), this option does not require prior knowledge of the market or certain sectors of activity in Portugal. Both the acquisition and execution of real estate rehabilitation works with a value of 350 thousand euros or more; the transfer of 50 thousand euros, for the incorporation of a commercial company with head office in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs, or for the reinforcement of the share capital of a commercial company with head office in Portugal, already incorporated, with the creation or maintenance of jobs, with a minimum of five permanent jobs, and for a minimum period of three years, are types of investment that require the intervention of several intervening parties and knowledge about the real estate and construction sector in the first case and about the corporate and labour sector in the second. For this reason, they seem, from the outset, more complex for the investor who cannot be present in Portugal to monitor the development of his investment;

4) The speed of investment is often pointed out by investors as one of the main advantages. Although the return on investment (ROI) may not be as attractive as in the case of real estate investment, the truth is that the process for subscribing to an Investment Fund may take less than a week to be completed, thus allowing the investor to start the process of acquiring the Golden Visa very quickly; and

5) It entails the payment of less tax than other investment options.

Read more about the types of investment available here 

On this last point, it is important to understand that the process of obtaining Golden Visa can only start when the investment is completed.

The Residency Program through the Portuguese investment foresees a total investment period of five years, so the subscription in the fund should continue until the end of that period.

In addition to maintaining the investment for five years, the minimum periods of stay in Portugal will have to be respected. The Applicant is required to prove compliance with the minimum period of stay in Portugal for a total of thirty-five days over the five years of investment.

The complete process of the Golden Visa until obtaining the passport or permanent residence permit for an investor and his/her family, has a set of 11 steps, more specifically:

1) Application of the Main Applicant (Investor), through Immigration and Border Services (SEF) and payment of the analysis fee;

2) Application for Family Members, through SEF and payment of the analysis fee;

3) Pre-Approval of the Main Applicant’s Application, after the analysis by SEF;

4) Pre-Approval of Family Member Applications, after analysis by SEF;

5) Schedule the collection of biometric data – according to the availability of applicants and SEF;

6) Submit valid original documents and collect biometric data upon appointment at SEF;

7) Final approval, after examination by SEF and payment of the Approval Fee;

8) Issuance of the first residence card, valid for one year;

9) First Application for Renewal (biometric data collection and presentation of the necessary documents) and payment of the examination fee (to be presented between 90 and 30 days before the expiry date of the card);

10) Second Renewal Application (biometric data collection and presentation of the necessary documents) and payment of the analysis fee, (to be presented between 90 and 30 days before the expiry date of the card);

11) Permanent residence and Portuguese citizenship application. After holding a temporary residence permit for 5 (five) years (Golden Visa), the Applicant may apply for Permanent Residence Permit or Portuguese Citizenship and thus have access to the Portuguese passport, which is considered to be one of the strongest in the world..

Golden Visa allows the investor to legally enter Portugal and travel freely through other countries in Europe and the Schengen Area. The Golden Visa Program not only allows the investor to obtain all these advantages, but also for spouse, children, parents and in-laws.

Read more about family reunification here 

/by

How to live in Portugal

, ,

Portugal is currently appointed as one of the best countries to live in.

This is not only because of the excellent climate, good food and friendliness of the Portuguese, but also because the country has a number of advantages for those who decide to move to Portugal, particularly in the post-Covid-19.

Read more about Portugal’s good response to Covid-19 here.

  • Among the various advantages of living in Portugal are the following:
  • Accessing to quality education and professional training, namely with 7 of its Universities being among the best in the world according to QS World University;
  • Enjoying a highly qualified National Health System at a low cost;
  • Living in the 3rd safest country in the world and the 1st in Europe according to the Global Peace Index;
  • Being in one of the best countries to live in, enjoy retirement or visit after Covid-19 according to Forbes magazine – see more information on this topic here;
  • Benefitting from the political stability, as well as religious, racial, sexual tolerance etc. that the country has;
  • Accessing to the Portuguese Passport, which is considered the 3rd strongest in the world according to the Passport Index site.

In fact, Portugal has long since ceased to be just a good holiday destination for foreign citizens, to become an excellent destination to live in.

Besides the extraordinary coastline that covers practically the entire national territory and invites visitors to take a dip in the Portuguese beaches and the fact that the country has been considered the European country that best knows how to receive foreign citizens according to InterNations, it is not for these reasons that foreigners choose Portugal as their country of residence.

Foreigners are moving more and more to Portugal due also to the opportunities the country presents for business and wealth creation.

It should be noted that currently Portugal:

– Is among the 10 best cities in Europe to invest in real estate according to PwC and Urban Land Institute;

– Presents a specific tax regime for people who have not lived in Portugal in the last 5 years and that allows, in most cases, the non-taxation of income obtained abroad – Read more about the Status of Non-Habitual Resident here.

  • It is classified with a country where it is easy to develop business;
  • It occupies only the 106th position among the countries with a higher cost of living;
  • It ranks 37th among the most competitive countries in the world due mainly to skilled labour, opportunity cost and stability of infrastructures.

Recognizing all the positive characteristics of the country, it comes as no surprise that there are several foreigners with the will to obtain Portuguese citizenship or a residence visa / permit to live in Portugal. These are, in fact, the two possible ways for those who want to live in the country.

Below we explain how to obtain a residence card and the Portuguese passport.

 

Residence Visas for Portugal

When obtaining a residence visa for Portugal, the foreign citizen will enjoy several rights. Besides living in a country that stands out for its security and tranquility, you will be able to move and do business freely in the European Union, as well as bring your closest relatives to work, study or develop your business here.

You can learn more about the process of bringing family members with you here.

There are several types of visas, depending on the activity that the foreign citizen wants to develop in Portugal.

These are:

  • D1 (Residence Visa for Subordinate Professional Activity) – suitable for those who want to live in Portugal and work here by signing an employment contract with a Portuguese company;
  • D2 (Residence Visa for Independent Professional Activity and for Entrepreneurial Immigrants) – suitable for those who want to work as an independent worker (e.g. lawyer), as a service provider (e.g. freelancer or digital nomads) or start their own business with the creation of a company in Portugal;
  • D3 (Residence Visa for Research Activity or Highly Qualified) – suitable for those who have been admitted to a research centre or exercise a highly qualified professional activity.
  • D4 (Residence Visa for Study, Student Exchange, Professional Internship or Volunteer) – suitable for students of higher education (degree and master), internships or volunteers for a period longer than 1 year.
  • D5 (Residence Visa in the Field of Mobility of Higher Education Students) – suitable for students integrated in an Exchange Programme between Universities.
  • D6 (Residence Visa for Family Reunion Effects) – suitable for family members of those who have already acquired the residence card in Portugal and wish to live in Portugal with the latter.
  • D7 (Residence Visa for Retirees or Income Holders) – suitable for retirees who want to live in Portugal with the income from their retirement and for holders of income from movable or immovable assets that allow them to live in Portugal without having to work to receive this income (passive source income).

 

Important note: if none of these scenarios applies to you, perhaps the most appropriate solution is to obtain a Residence Permit through Investment/ Golden Visa. Learn more here.

You can get more information about some of these types of Residence Visas by following this link – https://lamarescapela.pt/en/visas-for-portugal/

Unless it is possible to do so through other official services, the applicant for a residence visa for Portugal will have to go initially to the nearest Portuguese Embassy or Consular Representation to the area of residence.

The deadline for the decision on the application for a residence visa, except for exceptions provided by law, is 60 days.

The residence visa will have a period of 4 months, during which the Applicant must travel to Portugal and apply for a residence permit / residence card.

 

Residence Permit in Portugal

The residence permit is what allows the foreign citizen to legally live in Portugal.

However, after gathering all the necessary documentation for this purpose and fulfilling all legal requirements, the Applicant may schedule an interview with the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF), if it has not yet been scheduled when the residence visa is issued.

At this interview the Applicant shall be accompanied by all the documents necessary for the examination of his/her file and if everything is in accordance, they shall collect the biometric data of the same for the issuance of the residence card.

 

Residence card

The residence card is the document that allows the identification of the foreigner in Portugal.

This card will be issued for a period of 2 years initially. At the end of 2 years, the Applicant will be able to renew it for another 3 years.

In order to renew your residence card the holder will have to respect certain rules, otherwise his/her residence permit will be cancelled.

There will be a cancellation of a residence permit when:

  • The holder has been the object of a coercive removal decision or a judicial expulsion decision from the national territory; or
  • The residence permit has been issued on the basis of false or misleading statements, false or falsified documents, or by using fraudulent means; or
  • There are serious grounds for believing that the holder has committed serious criminal acts or there are real indications that he intends to commit such acts, in particular within the territory of the European Union; or
  • For reasons of public order or security.

 

The residence permit may also be cancelled when the person concerned has been absent from the country for six consecutive months or eight interpolated months during the total period of validity of the permit without good reason.

Important note: if you are not willing to stay for such long periods in the country, the most appropriate solution may be to obtain the Residence Permit through Investment/ Golden Visa. Learn more here.

Please note that the absence beyond the limits set forth in the previous paragraph must be justified upon request submitted to SEF before the resident’s departure from the national territory or, in exceptional cases, after his/her departure.

Citizens who are absent for periods longer than those indicated above will not have their residence permit cancelled if they prove that during their absence from national territory they have developed a professional or business activity or a cultural or social nature.

If everything has gone as expected during the 5 years of residence in Portugal, the holder of the residence card may apply for the permanent residence permit or submit the application for the acquisition of Portuguese nationality proving his basic knowledge of the Portuguese language (level A2).

 

Permanent Residence Permit

The permanent residence permit has no limit of validity. However, the residence permit shall be renewed every five years or whenever there is a change in the identification details entered on it; and the holder shall not be absent from the country for 24 consecutive months or, within a period of three years, 30 interpolated months.

Absence beyond the limits provided for in the previous paragraph must be justified by a request submitted to SEF before the resident leaves the country or, in exceptional cases, after his/her departure.

Citizens who are absent for periods longer than those indicated above will not have their residence permit cancelled if they prove that during their absence from national territory they have developed a professional or business activity or a cultural or social nature.

 

Portuguese Citizenship

Obtaining the Portuguese nationality brings with it the advantage of obtaining a Portuguese passport and no longer having to worry about minimum periods of stay in the country, as well as a greater openness towards other countries to which you want to travel, as the Portuguese passport will give you access to 185 countries without the need to apply for a visa.

After acquiring Portuguese citizenship you will also be able to establish residence in any Member State of the European Union.

In addition to obtaining Portuguese nationality through residence in Portugal for a minimum period of 5 years (as mentioned above) there are other ways of obtaining Portuguese nationality, namely through a relative who is already Portuguese. Below are some examples:

  • Children of Portuguese;
  • Grandchildren of Portuguese;
  • Spouse of a Portuguese citizen;
  • Companion or partner in Stable Union with a Portuguese citizen;
  • Descendant of a Sephardic Jew.

Depending on the type of process involved, its conclusion may take from 2 months to 2 years.

You can obtain more information on each of these types of processes of nationality by following this link – https://lamarescapela.pt/en/portuguese-nationality-services/

 

Our working method

Regardless of the information provided previously, we always advise you to contact us directly so that we can follow up your case in a more personalised way, because all processes are different, and no two processes are the same.

In any case, we usually adopt the following working method:

  1. Free consultation with the lawyer to better understand the client’s situation and analysis of existing documentation;
  2. Formalization of the hiring of Lamares, Capela & Associados (LACA) services;
  3. Information on the necessary documents and the respective formalities to obtain them;
  4. Reception of the necessary documents, as well as the signed power of attorney in favor of LACA to monitor the process;
  5. Entry of the process by LACA;
  6. Regular follow-up on the status of the process and personal travel to the Public Services/ Entities representing the client or to accompany him/her;
  7. Conclusion of the process.
  8. Sending the Portuguese residence card or birth certificate depending on whether the client has filed a process to obtain a residence permit or Portuguese citizenship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/by

Portugal is an example in the response to COVID-19

, , , , ,

Portugal is praised by the international press and foreign leaders for its response to the outbreak of COVID-19. Additionally, the country is at the top of the ranking of the safest countries in the world to travel in 2020, which should attract tourists and investors.

In several parts of the world, the national response to the pandemic is given as an example, with a low number of infection cases and the mortality rate being around 3%. There is a consensus in the international press that Portugal is one of the countries that has acted swiftly to impose a curfew, with the suspension of all events, the ban of non-essential travel, the closure of schools and non-essential trade have been pointed out as the keys to its success.

The country’s rapid reaction is even dubbed the “Portuguese miracle” and has reinforced Portugal’s image as one of the five safest countries in the world, with a very well-prepared National Health System that can provide an effective response during one of the most critical moments in its history.

For this reason, Portugal continues to be seen as a good travel destination in this period, as the French travel insurer Insurly pointed out, which placed Portugal in the top 10 of the safest countries for travel in 2020, which should continue to attract tourists and foreign investors. It should be noted that most hotel establishments and local accommodation are now seeking the “Clean & Safe” certification of the Portuguese Tourism Board, putting their practices in line with the advice of the Directorate General of Health, which gives even greater guarantees for travellers that all cleaning and safety rules are being complied.

Economically, as the Government has pointed out, the interest of foreign investors in Portugal remains. The country’s good response to the pandemic has also created increased investor confidence in the country’s overall stability and rapid economic recovery. The various compliments addressed to the response of the Portuguese government and people, both in the international press and by foreign rulers, have created the general notion that Portugal is well positioned to recover from this situation in a balanced and sustained manner.

 

/by

Participation in the Virtual Uglobal Immigration Expo 2020 China / Hong Kong

,

Lamares, Capela & Associados (LACA) will participate in the Virtual Uglobal Immigration Expo 2020 China / Hong Kong. An unprecedented initiative by eb5investors that will count on the participation of experienced professionals in the field of immigration through investment.
LACA will have its own exhibition booth, which allows interaction with other participants and will be represented by partner Diogo Capela, who will participate as a guest speaker at this event.

/by
Best Golden Visa Program

The five advantages of the Portuguese Golden Visa over the Greek Program

In Portugal, as in Greece, it is the Chinese citizens who lead the number of Applicants for the Golden Visa Program. However, there are 5 advantages of the Golden Visa Program in Portugal that the Chinese still see as crucial in their choice over the Greek Golden Visa.

Both in Portugal and Greece, Golden Visa holders are entitled for five years: to enter and stay in the country where the investment was made; to move to the other countries that integrate the Schengen Area without the need for a visa; to family reunification; to access the permanent residence permit at the end of the five years of the Program; and to the nationality of the country where the investment was made, fulfilling the legal requirements for that purpose.

Portugal, however, has greater advantages than the Greek Golden Visa, the main reasons for Chinese citizens to prefer the Portuguese Golden Visa being the following:

 

Obtaining European citizenship

One of the main advantages of the Portuguese Golden Visa Program, compared to the Greek one, is the obtaining of the Portuguese nationality at the end of the 5 years of the Program. Even having stayed in the country for the minimum mandatory periods of the Program – 7 days, followed or interpolated in the first year; fourteen days, followed or interpolated in the subsequent two-year periods – investors will only have to demonstrate some basic knowledge of the Portuguese language. As for the Greek Program, investors can only obtain Greek nationality at the end of 7 years of actual residence in the country. The Greek Nationality Law requires that the investor proves he/she is a member of the Greek community and that he/she effectively and permanently resides in Greece.

 

Options and Investment Amount

While Greece has only two possible types of investment – real estate and business creation – Portugal, in addition to having those types of investment, also allows obtaining Golden Visa through the transfer of capital.

When analysing the possible types of investments as a whole, we come to the conclusion that the minimum possible investment in Portugal for acquiring Golden Visa is €200,000, unlike Greece, which minimum is €250,000.

 

Possibility of working

The Portuguese Golden Visa allows investors to work in Portugal during the five years of the Program, unlike the Greek Golden Visa which does not allow this possibility for investors who choose real estate investment. This is a great limitation, once we know that most of the investors in the Golden Visa Program are citizens who want to obtain this residence permit exactly to establish their business and also their personal life more easily in the countries where they make their investment, being therefore “obliged” to create a company in Greece if they want to work there.

 

Tax Advantages

Even in the case of investors who actually wish to reside in Portugal, the Golden Visa Program presents a tax advantage over the Greek Program, since foreign investors who wish to reside in Portugal can benefit from the Non-Habitual Resident Status (NHR), which allows its holders, for a period of ten consecutive years, to be entitled: to the exemption of income obtained abroad from pensions, dependent, independent work, capital, real estate income and capital gains, intellectual or industrial property; and to the taxation of income obtained in Portugal at reduced rates relating high added value activities.

 

Family reunification

In Portugal, it is possible for the investor to reunite with his/her adult children (regardless of their age) as long as they prove economic dependence on the investor and continue to study. In the case of the Greek Golden Visa, the age limit for reunited children is 21 years, and it is only possible to reunite children after 21 years in more specific circumstances.

/by

The five advantages of Portuguese Golden Visa over the Spanish program

In Portugal, as in Spain, it is the Chinese citizens who lead the number of Applicants for the Golden Visa Program. However, there are 5 advantages of the Golden Visa Program in Portugal that the Chinese still see as crucial in their choice over the Spanish Golden Visa.

Both in Portugal and Spain, Golden Visa holders are entitled for five years: to enter and stay in the country where the investment was made; to move to the other countries that integrate the Schengen Area without the need for a visa; to family reuniofication; to access the permanent residence permit at the end of the five years of the Programme; and to the nationality of the country where the investment was made, fulfilling the legal requirements for that purpose.

Portugal, however, has greater advantages than the Spanish Golden Visa, the main reasons for Chinese citizens to prefer the Portuguese Golden Visa being the following:

 

Permanent Residence

Portugal allows the holder to obtain a permanent residence permit at the end of the 5th year of the Golden Visa Program, even when the investor has only stayed in Portugal for the minimum required periods, in a total of 35 days over a total of 5 years. While the Spanish Golden Visa requires legal, effective and continuous residence in Spanish territory during those 5 years. This means that the investor will have to reside in Spain for at least 183 days per year, not being able to be absent for more than 10 months from Spain for a total of 5 years to obtain the permanent residence permit.

 

Obtaining european citizenship

Another of the main advantages of the Golden Visa Portuguese Program, compared to the Spanish, is the acquisition of Portuguese nationality at the end of the 5 years of the Program. Even having stayed in the country for the minimum mandatory periods of the Programme – 7 days, followed or interpolated in the first year; fourteen days, followed or interpolated in the subsequent two-year periods – investors will only have to demonstrate some basic knowledge of the Portuguese language. As for the Spanish Programme, investors will only be able to obtain Spanish nationality at the end of 10 years of actual residence in Spain (as indicated above), which is twice as long as the requirement in Portugal.

 

 

Tax Advantages

Even in the case of investors who actually intend to reside in Portugal, the Golden Visa Program presents a tax advantage over the Spanish Program, since foreign investors who intend to reside in Portugal can benefit from the Non-Habitual Resident Status (RNH), which allows its holders, for a period of ten consecutive years, to be entitled: to the exemption of income obtained abroad from pensions, dependent, independent work, capital, real estate income and capital gains, intellectual or industrial property; and to the taxation of income obtained in Portugal at reduced rates in the case of high added value activities.

In Spain, there is no such tax status, there is only a similar regime called “Beckham” which has a duration of only 6 years and has more conditioning factors than in Portugal.

 

Investment amount

In both Spain and Portugal, there are several possible types of investment. However, over the years, the type of investment most chosen by investors is real estate. In Portugal, the minimum investment amount in these cases is €280,000, unlike Spain which has a minimum value of €500,000.

When analysing the other possible types of investments, the minimum investment possible in Portugal in order to acquire a Golden Visa is €200,000, unlike Spain which has a minimum investement amount of €500,000.

 

Political Stability

When making any kind of investment in a foreign country, one of the most relevant factors for any investor is the analysis of the socio-political stability of the country in which the investment will be made.

Portugal presents itself as a safe and stable country both socially, politically and economically, while Spain, in recent years, has presented an unstable political framework, already counting with 4 legislative elections in the last 4 years. Moreover, the crisis in Catalonia presents a divided country, a very risky scenario for investment, especially when 44% of investors who have already opted for the Spanish Golden Visa, have chosen Barcelona to invest in real estate.

If Catalonia becomes independent (as the Catalan people desire), the consequent exit from the European Union may harm the investors who have invested there, and who may thus lose the greatest advantage that the Golden Visa presents, which is free movement in the European Space.

/by
SEF

INFORMATIVE NOTE – COVID-19 – APPOINTMENTS, SCHEDULES AND PENDING CASES AT SEF

,

 

COVID-19 – Management of appointments, schedules and pending cases at Immigration and Borders Services (SEF)

 

Automatic regularization of foreigners in Portugal

The Government, through the Order no. 3863-B/2020, of 27 March, determined that foreign citizens who have made requests for regularization of their stay in Portugal, under the Immigration Law (in a generic way), are in a regular situation in Portugal, from March 18 – the day when the state of emergency was declared.

 

Which documents certify the legal residence?

  • Applications submitted under Articles 88 (subordinated workers), 89 (self-employed workers) and 90-A (Golden Visa) of Law No. 23/2007 of July 4 (Immigration Law) through an Expression of Interest document or requests issued by the registration platforms used by SEF;
  • In other situations of proceedings pending before the SEF, namely concessions or renewals of residence permits, either of the general regime or of the exceptional regimes, by means of a document proving the scheduling at the SEF or a receipt proving that the application was made.

 

Note: The above-mentioned documents are considered valid for all public services, namely for obtaining the SNS’s user number, access to the National Health Service or other health care rights, access to social support benefits, signing of tenancy contracts, signing of employment contracts, opening of bank accounts and procurement of essential public services.

 

Scheduling and appointments at SEF

The scheduled appointments will be suspended and all the appointments that were scheduled up to 27 March 2020 will be rescheduledin chronological order , starting from 1st of July 2020, guaranteeing equal treatment among foreign citizens.

 

Urgent Scheduling

Urgent scheduling is allowed by a decision of the Regional Directors of SEF that attests to these reasons, in the following situations:

  1. Citizens who need to travel or who prove the urgent and unavoidable need to be absent from national territory, for imponderable and unavoidable reasons;
  2. Citizens from whom necessary documents have been stolen or lost.

 

Note: For the urgent issue of passports, only requests in compelling cases of greater force or other duly proven emergencies will be considered by SEF.

 

Visits to SEF

In cases where SEF must guarantee assistance, by means of a scheduling request sent to the email address <gricrp.cc@sef.pt> or through the Contact Centre, the operation of the following network of SEF’s exclusive service stations or in other cases, in articulation with the managing entities, is ensured:

  1. Algarve Regional Directorate;
  2. Portimão Regional Delegation;
  3. Regional Directorate of Azores;
  4. Regional Directorate of Madeira;
  5. Regional Delegation of Porto Santo;
  6. Regional Directorate of Lisbon, Tagus Valley and Alentejo;
  7. Regional Delegation of Setúbal;
  8. Coimbra’s Loja do Cidadão;
  9. Aveiro’s Loja do Cidadão;
  10. Porto’s national Support Centre for the Integration of Migrants;
  11. Asylum and Refugee Office.

 

/by

Portuguese Nationality

,
Read more
/by

PUBLIC HEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

,

Given the global public health emergency that is currently occurring due to the Coronavirus, it is important to reflect on the importance of betting on a “Plan B” when Public Health is at risk in your country of residence.

Having the possibility to easily travel to another country with your family and stay there legally, can be a great advantage in the context of the spread of any disease.

COVID-19, considered a pandemic by the World Health Organization since 11 March 2020, is having a Global impact, affecting 201 territories at present. Now, although we live in a time of intense international migratory flow, the truth is that there are viruses or diseases that affect only one region or country in particular. It should also be noted that at the time of classification as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, there were more than 118,000 confirmed cases worldwide and more than 60% were located in one country: China.

For that reason, and because no one likes to feel trapped by one option, having the possibility to travel, to live in another country for a long period, or even to change the residence permanently to another country, by obtaining a new passport, can be one of the best investments to make.

Nowadays, it makes more and more sense to invest in a “Plan B” for the whole family.

Portugal has one of the most attractive Residency Programs through Investment in the European Space (Golden Visa) and occupies the 12th position in the Ranking of the Best Health Systems in the World, according to the World Health Organization.

According to the same Organization, a well-functioning health system requires a stable financing mechanism, an appropriately trained and properly paid workforce, well-maintained facilities and access to reliable information to support decisions.

Unfortunately, in some countries in the world, this is not the case and we are well aware that the lack of  medical care quality can result in poor quality of life and even lower life expectancy in times of crisis or when the Health Service in the country is put to the test.

Countries such as Lebanon, Indonesia, Iran, India, Pakistan, China, Vietnam and South Africa, occupy very low positions in the ranking and, for this reason, end up being countries that seek alternatives to their Health Systems and not only in others countries, particularly in the European environment.

From the moment the Applicant acquires the Portuguese Golden Visa, he has access to the same rights and duties as a Portuguese citizen, namely, access to education and health.

The Golden Visa Program has a duration of 5 years, after which, the Applicant can choose to obtain the permanent residence card or apply for Portuguese nationality and, with that, have access to the Portuguese passport, which is the 3rd strongest in the World, according to the “Passport Index 2020”.

For these and other reasons, the Golden Visa Program in Portugal has been, over the last few years, a reason for so much interest on the part of foreign citizens coming from all over the world.

/by