At the end of July, the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) unveiled a new functionality in SEF Portal allowing foreign nationals and third-country nationals to renew their residence permit online up until October 30, 2020.

With the aim of providing ease and convenience to residents and potential citizens during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, SEF’s new service offers a solution to those needing to renew their residency.

This will of course be useful for those foreign nationals who are currently involved in the country’s Golden Resident Permit Programme, which enables them to secure citizenship after five years.

Those wishing to obtain citizenship by investment in Portugal via the country’s Golden Resident Permit Programme, must first obtain residency by minimum investment of €250,000 in Portugal via a residence permit, which must be renewed every two years, with citizenship granted after five years of holding a residence permit (with only 35 days of residency required in the five-year process).

This means that those applying for citizenship by investment can now renew their residency permit remotely and online via the new portal, making the process of citizenship by investment even simpler.

Those wishing to renew their residency permit should simply access the Personal Area of the SEF Portal where access is given to the Automatic Renewal of the residency permit. The Service will then undertake security consultations and checks to confirm the good repute of the applicant, along with the applicant’s compliance to various obligations, before issuing a new Residence Permit.

For more information, click here https://www.sef.pt/en/Pages/homepage.aspx

Portugal’s citizenship by investment programme
Unveiled in 2012, Portugal’s Golden Resident Permit Program has been updated a number of times over the years.

Considered to be the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get EU citizenship, it gives citizens visa-free access to a huge number of countries (186). While potential citizens must reside in Portugal during the five-year residency period, which leads to citizenship, it only requires seven days of residency in Portugal in the first year and 14 days for subsequent two-year periods, a great bonus if you don’t wish to live there permanently but want to access the benefits of EU residency.

There are eight investment options to choose from. Extendable to family members, including spouse or legal partner; children under 18 years; dependent children under 26 years (if unmarried and full-time students); parents of spouses (if over 66 or over 55 and dependent); siblings under 18 years.

Portugal delivers diverse and affordable real estate offerings and investors can earn very good ROI from properties due to the country’s burgeoning economy and super-healthy tourism industry. The country is also safe and stable and has a focus on family. Citizens can receive a 10-year tax exemption or low tax on most non-Portugal-sourced incomes, via NHR status.

For more information about Portugal’s Golden Resident Permit Programme, read our Country Profile by clicking here