Access to higher education for foreing students

The government approved exceptional measures to ensure access to higher education in the 2020-2021 school year by students with foreign secondary education systems.
These measures, approved by the Council of Ministers through Decree-Law no. 33/2020 of 1 July, aim to ensure that the continuity of studies of candidates for higher education, and specifically emigrants and family members residing with them, is not impaired.
This situation occurs because several foreign education systems have approved exceptional changes to the conditions for completion of secondary education, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In these countries, one of the measures is the waiving of national assessment tests, which under normal circumstances would dictate secondary school completion.
In this way, the government has approved exceptional measures so as not to hinder the entry of foreign students into Portuguese higher education, such as eliminating the need to present the results of final national exams.
With the adoption of these measures, students who have completed secondary education in countries that, due to the Covid-19, have opted for the cancellation of final secondary education exams, may have access to Portuguese higher education.

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How to live in Portugal

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Angolan criminal record and identity card can already be obtained in Portugal

Since June 8th, Angolan citizens living in Portugal can apply for a criminal record, as well as request the issuance of an Identity Card in Lisbon through a specific office operating at the Angolan General Consulate in Lisbon.

This office will operate by appointment and allows the collection of biometric data for the issuance of such documents. The criminal record will be issued on the same day of the request, and the Identity Card will have an estimated issuing time of 15 days.

This initiative will save time and money for the approximately 40 thousand Angolans living in Portugal, who had to go to their country of origin to solve this type of issue. In addition, it will be considered a priority to issue identity cards for the group of citizens who returned from Angola soon after independence (between 1974 and 1975) and who are now stateless, thus solving a very delicate situation that affects 125 people today.

Source: Agência Lusa

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Restrictive measures on air traffic in Portugal until 15 July

By Order No. 6756-C/2020, the Government decided to extend the measures restricting air traffic to and from Portugal until 15 July 2020, with certain exceptions.

From 00.00 on 1 July 2020 until 23.59 on 15 July 2020 the Government:

  • Authorises air traffic to and from Portugal from all flights to and from countries that are part of the European Union (EU), countries associated with the Schengen Area (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland) and the United Kingdom.
  • Authorizes flights from countries with a positive epidemiological evaluation, taking into account the recommendation of the EU Council regarding direct air links with Portugal, and included in the list of countries below, subject to confirmation of reciprocity:
  1. Algeria
  2. Canada
  3. China
  4. South Korea
  5. Morocco
  6. Tunisia

 

  • Prohibits air traffic to and from Portugal from all flights to and from countries that are not part of the EU or that are not associated with the Schengen area.

 

  • Makes the following flights possible, exclusively for essential journeys:
  1. Flights from Portuguese-speaking countries; from Brazil, however, only flights from and to São Paulo and from and to Rio de Janeiro will be allowed;
  2. Flights from the United States of America, given the presence of important Portuguese communities.

 

  • Classifies as essential journeys those destined to allow the transit or the entrance or exit of Portugal from:
    a) Nationals of the EU, nationals of States associated with the Schengen Area and members of their families, and nationals of third countries legally resident in a Member State of the European Union;
    b) Third-country nationals travelling for work, study, family reunification, health or humanitarian reasons and in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.

Important: Passengers on flights from Portuguese-speaking countries and the USA must, at the time of departure, present proof of a test to the Covid-19, with a negative result, carried out in the last 72 hours before boarding, otherwise they will be refused their entry into national territory.

 

  • Establishes that these limitations do not apply to flights intended to allow nationals or holders of residence permits to return to Portugal, or to flights intended to allow foreign nationals to return to their respective countries, provided that such flights are promoted by the competent authorities of those countries, subject to prior request and agreement, and in compliance with the principle of reciprocity.

 

  • Provides that nationals and foreign nationals legally resident in national territory who do not have proof of the Covid-19 test, with negative results, are immediately forwarded by the competent security authorities to carry out that test at their own expense.
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SEF

Granting and renewing residence permits are now simpler

In order to mitigate the consequences of the health emergency resulting from Covid-19 in the procedures for granting and renewing residence permits, the Government, through Order no. 5793-A/2020, is now adopting some exceptional and temporary measures that allow a recovery of pending issues at the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) and a gain in efficiency in the document management of foreign citizens. To this end, it has determined the following:

  1. The implementation of a simplified procedure for examining applications for residence permits with dispensation from the visa requirement under Articles 88(2) and 89(2) of Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July;
  2. That the pending applications for the granting of a residence permit for a reason other than that referred to in the previous paragraph, with the exception of those provided for in article 90-A of the same Law (ARI/Golden Visa), must be accompanied by the document that proves the purpose of the residence;
  3. The adoption of simplified procedures for the decision of applications pending renewal of residence permits, in which the Applicant will not need to go to a reception desk, by simply making the application at the SEF Portal;
  4. The provision of a means of electronic identification for foreign citizens residing in Portugal to access digital public services, namely through the possibility of joining the Digital Mobile Key at the SEF’s service points; and
  5. The exemption from the payment of fees for the issue of residence permits following decisions on applications which fall within the objective scope of this Order and which concern minors.

 

Within the changes that will come into force with this Order, there is the possibility that the documents presented together with the application for visa waiver (Expression of interest) prove the facts in the same certificates, regardless of their validity period, provided that they were valid on the date of that presentation, something that may constitute a substantial gain in the times of attendance at the SEF’s counter.

Please note that this Order does not affect the maintenance of the rights granted by Order no. 3863 -B/2020, of March 27, during the entire period of appreciation and processing of the respective processes.

 

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Lamares, Capela & Associados in partnership with CML to support companies

Lamares, Capela & Associados (LACA) has become a partner of the Lisboa Empreende + initiative. This project of Lisbon City Hall (CML), which objective is to provide support to companies in the phase they are going through, is an adaptation of the already existing Lisboa Empreende initiative and responds to the economic crisis experienced. LACA has become a partner of this initiative, providing specialized support to businesses that need it.

With several lines of action, you can resort to the site https://www.lisboaempreendemais.pt if you are seeking for a detailed summary of all measures to respond to the COVID-19 launched by the Government or the Lisbon City Council or specialized support in areas such as: Management, Legal, Technology, Marketing, Communication, Digital Transformation, Human Resources, and others.

LACA has partnered with this initiative, providing specialized support in the legal area to those who resort to it.

There is also the possibility for companies to resort to discount programs, personalized technical support and access to a micro-credit line of up to 20,000 euros.

With these measures available, CML and its partners aim to ensure that the business fabric of the city of Lisbon is as healthy as possible, able to cope with the changes it has undergone and those that will come about.

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E-Residency and Digital Modernization

Digital Modernization

The Portuguese Government’s priorities are modernization and digitalisation. As the world is going through a phase of digital transition, this is seen by Portugal as a powerful tool in the long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality (in line with the guidelines of the European Ecological Pact and the strategic challenge of the government, which relates to climate change).

The aim is to put Portugal at the forefront of the countries that are best prepared to face the challenges and changes that the global transition entails.

Thus, the Government has taken measures to ensure greater equality and inclusion of citizens, increasing the competitiveness of the economy and attracting national and foreign investment, as well as creating value in the business fabric.

 

E-Residency

One of the measures approved as part of this government action is the development of the E-Residency programme. This measure aims to create the concept of “digital identity”, allowing national or foreign citizens to use Portuguese public services online.

The Portuguese e-residency programme is to be launched globally during the 2020 edition of the Web Summit, and will contribute significantly to stimulating entrepreneurship in Portugal by promoting the construction of business bridges in Europe, thus allowing as many people as possible to create a virtual home in Portugal.

The creation of the E-residency meets the needs of a new type of public: the digital nomads, who can develop their economic activity, in a legal and transparent way, from anywhere in the world.

The adoption of this measure also allows minimizing costs and administrative inefficiencies, highlighting Portugal as a digitally advanced country internationally.

A working group will be created, which objective is to develop the best proposal at a technological and functional level. To this end, international examples will be taken into account (as is the case of Estonia, a successful case in the implementation of E-residency).

 

E-Residency in other countries

Estonia is the first country offering the possibility to create a virtual residency, and allows Digital Nomads, Freelancers, Startups and Digital Entrepreneurs to have access to this program.

The bases of the Estonian virtual residence are the same as the Portuguese program: the possibility to work, from any point, having an online office and remote access to the public services of the state where the E-residency is established.

This program guarantees several advantages, which the Portuguese will also ensure, for example:

  • The possibility of having a company based in a European Union country
  • The ability to run a business 100% remotely
  • The possibility of moving from one country to another without also having to change the company
  • The possibility to sign, authenticate and send documents in an absolutely digital and secure way;
  • The creation of a valuable network of contacts, with people who are in the same situation, and which could expand throughout the world
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Startup Voucher

Startup Voucher is a measure of StartUP Portugal – National Strategy for Entrepreneurship, and is an efficient support for intelligent, inclusive and sustainable growth of the Portuguese economy, which has been specializing and internationalizing.
It is part of the “Promotion of Entrepreneurial Spirit” support area and aims to foster the emergence of new entrepreneurs and businessmen, who promote innovative responses to the various challenges of society, through the dynamization, empowerment and awareness of the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

HOW?
It stimulates the development of business projects that are at the idea stage, and that are promoted by young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
A set of articulated measures is created to favour young entrepreneurs in their entrepreneurial project as a way of entering active life, making available several financial and technical support instruments, during the maximum period of 12 months, equivalent to the time of preparation of the business project.

WHERE?
This measure is intended for projects benefiting the North, Centre, Alentejo and Lisbon areas (NUT II). They may be located outside these areas, provided that they benefit the economy of these regions.

WHEN?
The submission period for StrartUP Voucher 2019 is taking place between 26 July 2019 and 26 November 2020 in four stages:
• – Until 26 November 2019,
• – Until 26 March 2020
• – Until 26 July 2020
• – Until 26 November 2020

SUPPORT INSTRUMENTS
The Startup Voucher has several typologies:
Grant: in the monthly amount of 691.70 euros, allocated for the development of the business project and for a maximum period of 12 months (up to a maximum of two scholarships per business project may be allocated);
Mentoring: Access to a network of mentors providing guidance to promoters;
Monitoring of the project by an accredited entity;
Intermediate evaluation award: award of 1500€ to projects that obtain a positive intermediate evaluation according to the fulfilment of the objectives of each phase;
Achievement prize: 2000€ to the achievement of the business project, through the creation of a company with the incorporation of a commercial company, provided that this occurs after the first 6 months of participation in the programme and up to 6 months after the maximum 12 months of participation in the Startup Voucher.

CONDITIONS OF ENTITLEMENT
In order to access Startup Vouchers, young entrepreneurs must meet the following cumulative requirements:
• To be between 18 and 35 years old
• To have Portuguese nationality or reside in Portugal
• Not benefiting from a grant for the same purposes
• To have no other source of income
• Not having a company already established

As for the projects, they also have a set of requirements with which they must comply. Thus, projects falling into the following categories are eligible for the programme:
• Projects of innovative and qualified entrepreneurship that promote innovative responses to social and societal challenges, contributing to the change in the productive profile of the economy, through the creation of companies with qualified human resources, developing activities in sectors with strong growth and/or sectors with higher intensity of technology and knowledge, or that value the application of R&D results in the production of new goods and services

• Innovative and creative entrepreneurship projects that promote innovative responses to social and societal challenges, and include the activities of cultural and creative industries, which make use of creativity, cultural knowledge and intellectual property the resources to produce marketable and internationalizable goods and services of social and cultural significance. Examples are: performing and visual arts, cultural heritage, crafts, cinema, radio, television, music, publishing, educational and entertainment software and other software, computer services, new media, architecture, design, fashion and advertising

Note: social and societal challenges are considered:
1. Health, demographic change and well-being
2. Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, research
3. Continuous, non-polluting and efficient energy
4. Intelligent, ecological and integrated transport
5. Climate action; ambient, resource and raw material efficiency
6. Europe in a world of change: inclusive, innovative and weighted societies
7. Secure societies: defending Europe’s freedom and security and its citizens

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Support measures to startups

The outbreak of COVID-19, and the restrictive measures imposed by the government, affected all economic areas. Startups are no exception and in general have had a strong break in their performance.

To minimize the mortality of startups, by their nature highly vulnerable to risk, especially those with innovative business models, several support measures have been created:

 

Innovative and Specific Measures for Startups:

StartupRH Covid19

This measure aims to support early stage startups (founded less than 5 years ago), with an incentive equivalent to a minimum wage per employee, up to 10 employees, and aims to mitigate the immediate lack of liquidity, particularly with respect to operating expenses with Human Resources.

For Startups to be able to resort to this support, they must guarantee the maintenance of jobs in 2020, and they may not have already used the lay-off regime.

 

Startup Voucher Extension

Targeted to entities with active Startup Vouchers, which are extended for three months, in the amount of 2075 euros per entrepreneur. To resort to this support measure, it is sufficient that the startup already has a Startup voucher assigned.

The Startup Voucher is a measure that drives projects of young entrepreneurs, and is embodied in various support instruments, during the process in which the projects pass from idea to reality.

This measure arises as a way of making up for the immediate lack of liquidity on the part of start-ups, particularly regarding operational expenses and the fulfilment of long-term responsibilities.

 

Incubation ticket COVID19

Supports startups under 5 years old, providing a simplified incentive of EUR 1,500 in incubation services (which include rents, telecommunications, and other aspects). This support takes the form of a 100% non-refundable incentive.

These services will be provided by accredited incubators belonging to the National Network of Incubators.

In order to access this support, in addition to the proper records of all entities concerned, it is also necessary that no workers are made redundant in 2020.

 

 

“Mezzanine” funding for Startups Covid19

It is aimed at high-potential start-ups that have benefited from investments by Business Angels, venture capital investors or other partners, or have benefited from incentive schemes and have undergone technology transfer processes.

This measure intends to inject liquidity into these companies, through debt instruments (loans) convertible into share capital after 12 months and applying a discount rate that avoids the dilution of promoters.

This line aims to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting start-ups that are positively signaled by certified incubators and that present a plan to maintain their business and a recovery of their business in the post-crisis period.

To be able to make use of this support, Startups must:

  • Keep all the employees in 2020
  • Be registered at StartupHub
  • Present a statement proving the negative impacts of the pandemic on their economic activity
  • Have had previous funding
  • Have been involved in technology transfer processes
  • Preferably, have business that involves circular economy or energy efficiency
  • Have a mentor assigned to monitor the company’s activity, for a maximum period of 12 months (this cost is included in the investment)
  • Operate the financing line through Portugal Ventures

 

Launch of the instrument Covid19 – Portugal Ventures

It facilitates the reinforcement of the liquidity of the startups, in cooperation with already existing shareholders who hold at least 30% of the capital, through the Operation Follow-Ons of Portugal Ventures, for investments in strartups, with an amount of investments (tickets) from EUR 50,000.

This measure, aimed at startups in all sectors, is financed by the Development Finance Institution (IFD); Portugal Ventures; and Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda.

 

Measures already existing and adapted to startups:

200M Fund

This fund, which already existed before the crisis we are going through, makes it possible to provide technological start-ups with greater investment capacity, in late seed and Series A and B phases. It consists of a co-investment between qualified private investors and the 200M Fund, allowing rounds of 10 million euros or more.

This measure allows significant capitalization of companies, to support them in this phase of uncertainty, and boost growth after COVID-19.

To join this measure, startups should only be based in Portugal and have qualified and experienced private investors interest to invest in their capital, in at least EUR 500,000.

 

Co-investment Fund for Social Innovation

It aims to provide the social impact startups with greater investment capacity, in late seed and Series A and B phases.

It is, essentially, a co-investment, between private investors and the Fund for Social Innovation (a public instrument aimed at boosting social impact investment in Portugal). The minimum public investment will be EUR 50,000 and the maximum EUR 2.5 million.

This measure will allow for a significant capitalization of companies with strong social impact, supporting them during the crisis and boosting their post-COVID-19 growth.

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Portugal is an example in the response to COVID-19

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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.

 

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