Buy a property to qualify for the Golden Visa

Buy a property to qualify for the Golden Visa

British buyers looking to move to Portugal have been given extra time to buy a property to qualify for the golden visa, the quickest and easiest route to residency after Brexit.

This week the Portuguese government announced the deadline for this fast-track EU residency programme has been extended from July 2021 to January 2022. This applies to bought property in Lisbon, Porto and coastal areas such as the Algarve, while those in low-density regions — or the Azores and Madeira — will still qualify next year.

The golden visa allows applicants and their families to work, live and study in Portugal and spend more than the two 90-day periods per year in the Schengen zone that British citizens now face. Since becoming non-EU nationals, Britons can apply for the golden visa, but with coronavirus flight restrictions likely until the summer the clock is still ticking for anyone keen to decamp to Portugal’s laid-back beach towns or fashionable cities.

“There will only be a narrow window of opportunity for buyers to get out and view properties before putting in an offer by October — allowing two to three months for the purchase to go through,” says Charles Roberts of Fine & Country estate agency in Lisbon.

“The alternative to buying a standalone villa in Lisbon is a ‘touristic property’ that will still qualify for the golden visa scheme after this year, such Marinha Prime [a contemporary development close to the beaches of Cascais; properties from €580,750] or in Authentic Bicas Comporta [a rustic-style development in the surfing village of Comporta, about 1.5 hours south of Lisbon; properties from €250,000].”

David Finlay and his wife, Tanya, from London, chose to establish a start-up and to raise their toddler in Lisbon because of its culture, pace and innovation. They purchased a two-bedroom apartment at Martinhal Residences, in the waterfront district of Parque das Nacoes, with family-friendly parks, services and an international school. Similar properties start from €650,000.

“With English widely spoken and a vibrant expat community, property in Lisbon was the ideal choice,” says David, 47. “For residency, the golden visa is the most simple and time-efficient, and comes with longer-term options to apply for EU citizenship.”

https://buypropertyinspain.eu/ offers plentiful of real-estate options for UK nationals looking to buy a property to qualify for the golden visa and to apply for EU citizenship. Moving to Spain and Portugal carries a lot more options than sunny beach near your property.

Do not hesitate to contact https://buypropertyinspain.eu/ immigration lawyers in Spain and Portugal to find out additional information at info@buypropertyinspain.eu or by calling +371 67240090