Investor Visas
Portugal
Portugal’s Citizenship-by-Investment program holds significant appeal for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a gateway to residency in a European Union member state, granting investors and their families access to the EU’s benefits, including freedom of movement within the Schengen Area.
Secondly, Portugal offers a stable and attractive investment environment, with a thriving real estate market that has shown resilience even during challenging economic times. Investors can choose to invest in real estate, funds, or create jobs to fulfill the program’s requirements, providing flexibility to suit various investment preferences.
Moreover, Portugal’;s program stands out for its relatively straightforward application process and reasonable investment thresholds compared to other European citizenship programs. The program typically involves a minimum investment in real estate or other qualifying assets, along with meeting residency requirements, before becoming eligible for citizenship.
Additionally, Portugal is renowned for its high quality of life, excellent healthcare and education systems, safety, and welcoming atmosphere for expatriates. Citizenship through investment not only offers financial returns but also opens doors to a desirable lifestyle in a culturally rich and picturesque European country.
Benefits of The Programme:
- Global Mobility: Residency card holders enjoy visa-free access throughout the Schengen area for tourism.
- Include dependent family members to the application from a single investment of 500K euros and commit to 35 days spent in Portugal over a 5 year period.
- There is no requirement to donate to the government like there is with other Programmes
- You may hold both Portuguese nationality without having to give up your other passport(s)
New Qualifying Criteria:
A minimum capital transfer of €500,000 is required for the acquisition of units/shares in non-real estate collective investment funds incorporated under Portuguese law. These funds must have a maturity period of at least five years at the time of investment, with a minimum of 60% of the investment value allocated to commercial companies based in Portugal.
How often are you required to be in Portugal?
The residency requirements are quite manageable. You only need to spend an average of seven days per year in Portugal.
Portuguese Language Examination for Permanent Residency and Citizenship A crucial component of applying for Portuguese permanent residency and citizenship is demonstrating proficiency in the language. This entails taking a level A2 exam (known as CIPLE), assessing your comprehension and communication skills in Portuguese.
You can undertake the exam at any time after obtaining your Golden Visa successfully. Given the preparatory nature of this aspect, we recommend initiating language learning soon after acquiring your Golden Visa.
Many of our clients have found success with online courses, aiding them and their families in test preparation. The exam can be taken in South Africa, Portugal, and various other global locations.
Malta
The updated regulations for Malta’s Citizenship by Investment program enable individuals and their dependent family members to obtain Maltese citizenship through exceptional service to Malta via direct investment.
Malta’s Citizenship by Investment Program Update
On July 3, 2020, the Maltese Government announced the replacement of the Malta Individual Investor Programme (Malta IIP) rules, as the quota of 1,800 applications had been reached. Prospective applicants seeking Citizenship by Investment in Malta under the IIP rules were required to submit their citizenship applications by September 2020, provided they were IIP residents in Malta or had submitted their IIP residence applications before August 15, 2020. Subsequently, on November 20, 2020, the new regulations for Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment were released. Formally titled “Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment”; they are commonly known as the “Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalisation” (MEIN) procedures.
Malta Citizenship By Investment: Eligibility Criteria
Understanding the eligibility requirements for Malta Citizenship by Investment is pivotal to navigating the application process successfully. It is essential to acquaint oneself with these prerequisites and ensure compliance for a smooth application journey.
Financial Investment Criteria for Obtaining Maltese Citizenship
The new Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment Regulations offer individuals and their family dependents the opportunity to attain Citizenship, and consequently a Maltese Passport, through a direct investment in the country.
Under the Malta Citizenship by Investment (MEIN) procedures, the following direct investments are mandated:
Government Contribution:
A government contribution, directed towards the national development and social fund, must be settled before being granted Maltese Citizenship. The contribution amounts vary as Follows:
Standard Procedure: For applicants applying after 36 months of residency, a contribution of €650,000 for the Main Applicant, with an additional €50,000 for each dependent.
Expedited Procedure: Applicants opting to apply at the 12th month or later, within a year, are required to make a contribution of €750,000, with an additional €50,000 for each dependent. This constitutes the minimum investment threshold.
Property Investment in Malta:
Either purchase real estate or property in Malta valued at a minimum of €700,000, or lease a property for an annual rent of at least €16,000, and maintain it for a minimum of five years from the date of the Citizenship certificate.
Donation:
A mandatory donation of €10,000 to a registered non-governmental organization or society.
The qualifying investment must be retained for a period of five years, and the applicant must demonstrate strong ties to the island.
Who is Eligible to Apply for the Malta Citizenship by Investment Program?
Individuals and their dependents are eligible to apply for the Malta Citizenship by Investment program, now known as the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN). The qualifying dependents are outlined in Legal Notice 437 of 2020 as follows:
Spouse:
Dependent children:
Those under 18 years old at the time of submitting the citizenship Application.
Dependent children aged 18 to 29 (excluding 29-year-olds) at the time of submitting the citizenship application, who are unmarried and primarily supported by the applicant.
Dependent children aged 18 and above at the time of application who are qualified as persons with disabilities.
Dependent parents:
Those over 55 years old at the time of submitting the citizenship application, who are fully or primarily supported by the main applicant.
The definition of dependent children also encompasses adopted children.