How Indians can acquire residence in Portugal

Here’s how you can navigate through Portugal’s golden visa program to acquire residence by investing in real estate

Wealthy investors from emerging and developed economies are opting for investment migration — the ideal mechanism for accessing alternative business, career, educational, and lifestyle opportunities on a global scale.

Acquiring multiple residences and citizenships broadens your option bases and helps you transcend the limitations of your country of origin, enhancing portfolio resilience and ensuring physical and financial longevity.

Read: Why Indians prefer Portugal for study after UK and US? (January 28, 2022)

A single alternative residence or citizenship is always an asset, but a suite of domiciles worldwide hedges against manifold levels of volatility, creating an enhanced combination of value and yield.

Domicile diversification has become a global trend. In unpredictable times, geographically diversifying domicile options with investment migration enhances long-term success by securing access to top quality education and healthcare, for example, and enabling you and your family to be location independent.

Investing in these programs is not merely about vital risk management and hedging potential volatility, however. It means taking a truly global perspective, and the best way to do so is to build a diversified portfolio of multiple domiciles — a range of locations and jurisdictions where you, your family and extended family, and your assets can be based.

Read: Portugal hiking golden visa investment from January (December 7, 2021)

Portugal – Invest in real estate and acquire residence

One of the top most countries offering a golden chance at residency through their golden visa program is Portugal in Europe. Nirbhay Handa, managing director and head of global South Asia Team, Henley & Partners, an investment migration consultancy based in London takes us through the process.

“Individuals of talent and means need no longer limit themselves to one country,” he says. “Residence programs, also known as ‘golden visa’ programs, provide affluent families with the option to relocate and the right to live, work, study, and receive healthcare in a different country.”

“The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program is in high demand, enjoying top spot on Henley & Partners’ Global Residence Programs Index in 2022. With a minimum contribution of 200,000 euros in three to six months you can acquire residence rights in Portugal and visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area,” says Handa.

Read: Immigrate to Portugal from India (May 23, 2021)

“The program also has a real estate option, where a minimum 350,000 euros property investment has the additional advantage of enhancing your options for relocation or retirement (or both), alongside the tried-and-tested benefits of investment in international real estate. After five years of residence, you are eligible to apply for citizenship of this EU country.”