How to move to Portugal from the UK: getting a residence permit by investment

According to data from Portuguese media and government sources, British nationals are among Portugal’s top 10 foreign residents.

By the end of February 2023, Portuguese authorities reported that 27,080 UK citizens had been issued residence permits.

Post-Brexit, UK citizens can still travel to Portugal visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. However, for those wishing to stay longer, the rules have changed.

How to move to Portugal from the UK?

Living and retiring in Portugal remain feasible options. To do so, one must obtain residency. The most convenient routes for those who do not work or study in Portugal are through the Golden Visa program or the D7 Visa, which is designed for financially independent individuals.

For UK citizens wanting to work in Portugal, a work permit or a Blue Card, a residence and work permit for highly qualified professionals, is required. Both the Golden Visa and the D7 Visa primarily demand sufficient financial resources.

Investors holding a Golden Visa or those with a residence permit via the D7 visa also have the right to work and run businesses in Portugal.

There are many ways to obtain a residence permit in Portugal. Most involve major life events, such as marriage, local company employment, or Portuguese university enrollment.

However, there are two options to obtain Portugal residency for UK citizens who are not willing to change their whole lives and tie it to Portugal just yet. These are the Golden Visa and the D7 Visa, whose main requirements are only having enough funds.

The Portugal Golden Visa program allows investors from the UK and other non-EU countries to obtain residency in Portugal. To join the program, one has to invest in the country’s economy by at least €250,000. There are five options, including purchasing fund shares, supporting art and culture or science, and business investment.

Golden Visa holders can live in Portugal for as long as they want, provided that they renew their residence permit on time every two years. On the other hand, if the investor is not living in Portugal, they are obliged to spend at least seven days a year in the country to maintain their residency.

This option is available to anyone who has reached the age of 18, has no criminal record, and has earned investment money outside of Portugal.

The D7 visa allows people with passive income or remote jobs to obtain residency in Portugal.

To apply for a D7 visa, one has to have a passive income equal to the minimum salary in Portugal, which is €820 per month in 2024—renting real estate, intellectual property, or securities, as well as a pension. Aside from that, the applicant has to rent or buy housing in Portugal to be able to apply for residency.

The visa for the financially independent is valid for four months and allows two entries into the country. Once the applicant has arrived in Portugal, they apply for a residence permit. The residence permit issued based on the D7 Visa is valid for two years. After that, it can be extended for another three years.

To extend a residence permit in Portugal, you must either stay in the country for 1.5 consecutive years or accumulate a total of 16 months over a 2-year period.

To extend a 3-year residence permit or convert it into permanent residence or citizenship, you must stay in Portugal for either 2.5 consecutive years or a total of 28 months over 3 years. These regulations do not apply to residence permits obtained after a Golden Visa.3 years. These regulations do not apply to residence permits obtained after a Golden Visa.

The Golden Visa program has been operating in Portugal since 2012. In ten years, it has provided residence permits to over 27,000 investors from all over the world.

Anyone who meets the requirements of the program may join it. The main requirements for applicants are:

• age over 18;

• no criminal record or prosecution;

• investment money is earned outside Portugal;

• the legality of income is proven;

• no depts in Portugal;

• medical insurance is provided.

Along with the investor, their close family members can also join the program. This applies to the spouse, children under 18 and financially dependent children under 26, financially dependent parents, and siblings under 26 years old under the investor’s custody.

There are five investment options to join the Golden Visa program:

1. Purchase of investment fund units. The minimum fund investment is €500,000 with a minimum holding period of 5 years.

2. Supporting arts and restoring cultural heritage. The threshold for those who want to invest in the development of arts is €250,000.

3. Investment in research activities. For those who are willing to invest in research activities in Portugal, the threshold is €500,000.

4. Business investment. Foreigners who create at least five new job openings by investing €500,000 or more are also eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa program.

5. Opening a company. A new business registered in Portugal that provides at least ten new job openings gets its owner a Golden Visa.

Although Brexit did change the face of UK citizens' travel habits, British retirees are free to obtain residency in Portugal.

Now, not only getting a plug adapter is an issue to consider before moving to the EU from the UK long-term, but also getting a residence permit. One of the most convenient ways to get one is to apply for a D7 Visa designed for the financially independent, including retirees.

Once they become residents, retirees in Portugal can access the public healthcare system, or SNS, for healthcare. While waiting for residency approval, it is advisable to have private health insurance.

The cost of living in Portugal is generally lower than in the UK, making it an attractive destination for retirees. One can live comfortably with a budget of €1,300—1,700 per month, depending on whether they choose to live in smaller towns or larger cities like Lisbon or Porto​.

1. Opportunity to reside in Portugal. Any residence permit allows living in Portugal without any limitation as long as the permit is valid. Portugal attracts retirees, digital nomads, and expats from all over the world with its mild climate, access to the ocean, rich cultural heritage, and relatively low prices.

2. Access to local English-speaking schools and kindergartens. For those who are considering moving to Portugal with kids, there is no need to switch to homeschooling. There are lots of English-speaking educational facilities. For instance, there are more than 20 international schools in Lisbon alone.

Why expats choose Portugal for relocation

3. Access to local healthcare. In Portugal, healthcare is generally cheaper than in the UK. A visit to a general practitioner will cost you around €7, and treatment in an accident and emergency department will be €15—20.

4. Freedom to travel within the Schengen Area. Holding a Portuguese residence permit grants UK citizens the ability to travel freely within the Schengen Area. This seamless access not only makes short trips and holidays more convenient but also simplifies business travel across multiple European destinations.

5. Prospect to obtain a Portuguese passport. Anyone legally residing in Portugal for five years can apply for citizenship and get a passport.

The applicants must prove that they have spent the required time in Portugal. For Golden Visa residents, the requirement is seven days per year, and the D7 Visa holders, on the other hand, have to spend at least 8 months a year within the country.

Aside from that, applicants will have to prove their knowledge of Portuguese by taking an exam or providing a certificate from an educational institution in a Portuguese-speaking country.

Foreigners can apply for Portuguese citizenship 5 years after requesting residency and paying the state fee, not 5 years after getting an actual residency card.

The requirements for applicants include:

• physically residing in the country for at least seven days during the first year of holding the Golden Visa and for at least 14 days during the two subsequent 2-year periods;

• absence of criminal records for offences that carry a prison sentence of three years or more by Portuguese law;

• prove knowledge of the Portuguese language.

To prove the knowledge of the language, one has to provide a certificate of Portuguese proficiency at the A2 level. There are several ways to do so, including attending classes in an educational institution and passing a state tasting.

The list of documents needed to apply for citizenship includes the following:

• an identity document;

• a birth certificate;

• a certificate of non-conviction;

• a certificate confirming knowledge of Portuguese at the A2 level;

• a completed application form.

British citizens do obtain Portuguese citizenship often, although the exact annual number isn’t readily available.

1. British nationals rank among the top ten foreign residents in Portugal. By the end of February 2023, Portuguese authorities reported issuing residence permits to 27,080 UK citizens.

2. Despite the changes Brexit brought to UK citizens' travel habits, British retirees are still able to obtain residency in Portugal.

3. The Portugal Golden Visa enables investors from the UK and other non-EU countries to obtain residency by investing at least €250,000 in the country’s economy. Options include purchasing fund shares, supporting arts, culture, or science, and business investments.

4. The D7 Visa allows individuals with passive income to obtain residency in Portugal. Applicants must have a passive income equal to Portugal’s minimum salary of €820 per month and secure housing by renting or purchasing property.

5. Anyone legally residing in Portugal for five years can apply for citizenship and obtain a passport. Applicants must prove they have met the residency requirements: Golden Visa holders need to spend seven days per year in Portugal, while D7 visa holders must spend at least eight months per year in the country.