🇵🇹 Portugal Stands Firm on Golden Visa Program — While the EU Pulls Back

While many EU countries are scaling back or scrapping their golden visa programs, Portugal is taking a different approach. Rather than shutting the door, the government plans to modernize and strengthen the scheme to attract capital and skilled professionals — reinforcing the country’s reputation as a smart and stable investment destination.

🔹 Instead of slowing down, Portugal’s golden visa program is seeing record growth: nearly 5,000 approvals were issued in 2024, a 72% increase year-over-year. The majority of applicants are from China, Brazil, and the United States.

🔹 What draws investors in? Beyond the EU residency, Portugal offers significant tax perks — including a flat 20% rate on local income and a 10-year exemption on most foreign-sourced income.

Unlike Spain, which has announced a complete phase-out of its golden visa scheme by April 2025, Portugal is doubling down. The current government has made it clear: scrapping the program is not on the table. Instead, the focus is on fine-tuning the rules to meet today’s economic needs — while keeping the door open to international investors.

For those considering EU residency through investment, now may be an ideal time to take a serious look at Portugal.