Portugal Golden Visa for clients awaiting residency in the USA

Investors’ background. Farid and Sabina, a couple from Azerbaijan, had spent their entire lives in their home country. Farid owns a fintech company, while Sabina is a housewife. Though they loved Azerbaijan, they began to feel constrained by it after years of living there.

Farid sought a place with greater business opportunities, and Sabina dreamed of exploring new horizons. Together, they decided to relocate for a fresh start. The United States seemed like the ideal destination.

After several months of preparation, the couple moved to the US on tourist visas and applied for residence permits.

Investors’ problem. While preparing their application, Farid and Sabina discovered that obtaining a US residence permit could take up to 10 years. This was hard to accept, but they chose to proceed regardless.

The situation worsened when Donald Trump announced that residence permit applicants might need to await approval outside the US. This raised Farid and Sabina’s concerns about potential deportation. Returning to Azerbaijan was not an option they wanted to consider.

Seeking a sense of security, the couple explored alternatives and considered obtaining residence permits in Europe. This would allow them to relocate to a European country instead of Azerbaijan if they had to leave the US.

Portugal became the couple’s first choice, as their son was already living and working in Lisbon. He informed his parents about the possibility of obtaining Portuguese residency through the Golden Visa program.

To learn more, Farid reached out to Immigrant Invest for assistance.

Farid scheduled an online consultation with Immigrant Invest. During the call, he explained his situation and said he wanted to obtain a Portuguese residence permit remotely. As an applicant awaiting US residency, he could not leave without risking denial of re-entry.

The Immigrant Invest consultant informed Farid that obtaining a Portuguese residence permit remotely was impossible. Investors must visit the country to submit their biometrics.

After careful consideration, Farid and Sabina decided that relocating to Europe would be more practical than staying in the US and living in constant fear of deportation. Moving to another country would also not impact their chances of obtaining US residence permits. With this in mind, they chose to apply for Portuguese residence permits and relocate to Portugal.

The Portugal Golden Visa is available to investors who meet the following criteria:

• are over 18;

• have no criminal record or prosecution;

• earn money for investment outside Portugal;

• can prove their income legality;

• have no debts in Portugal.

Investors can include close family members, such as spouses, children under 26, and parents, in the application. Adult children and parents must be financially dependent on the investor.

Applicants for the Portugal Golden Visa must contribute at least €250,000 in the country’s economy. Five investment options are available:

• supporting arts and restoring cultural heritage — €250,000+;

• purchase of investment fund units — €500,000+;

• supporting research activities — €500,000+;

• investment in a business that creates at least 5 jobs — €500,000+;

• opening a company that creates at least 10 jobs — no minimum investment threshold.

Additional costs include application and residence permit issuance fees.

Farid chose to purchase units of Portuguese funds. The Immigrant Invest team provided detailed information about eligible funds and helped him select the most suitable option. Farid opted for a fund contributing to real estate, considering it a low-risk investment.

Applicants for the Portugal Golden Visa can no longer purchase real estate solely to obtain residency. This meant Farid, who planned to live in Portugal, needed to rent or buy a property and invest in fund units. The benefit was that there were no longer minimum investment requirements for the property’s cost.

The couple decided to buy a home, wanting to move into their property immediately. The Immigrant Invest team assisted them by presenting several housing options, verifying their legal clearance, and managing the contract signing.

Farid purchased a semi-detached house in Porto, a coastal city in northwest Portugal, for €435,000. The property features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, and a front garden, providing a comfortable and welcoming living space.

Farid and Sabina moved to Portugal at the beginning of December 2024. Shortly after, they contacted a design agency to arrange renovation services and are now in the process of creating a comfortable place to live.

The couple anticipates that their application for US residence permits will take a few more years to process. In the meantime, they are focused on building a proper home in Portugal. Having their son living nearby has made the transition to their new life much easier and more enjoyable.

In addition, Farid, eager to make the most of his time, is considering opening a branch of his fintech company in Portugal.

Although living in Europe was not part of their original plan, Farid and Sabina have grown to love their new home and feel fortunate to have obtained Portuguese residence permits by investment.

Farid,

Investor

Peace of mind cannot be overrated. If in the US, I was constantly thinking about how we could be deported back to Azerbaijan, in Portugal, I feel so calm and secure. I know we can settle and not be scared that one day, we will need to urgently pack our bags. This is the best feeling!