Portugal gains pace as a global investment hotspot for real estate and residency > CEOWORLD magazine
The latest market data has revealed that Portugal is on track to hit the 10,000 Golden Visa investor milestone in the third quarter as the country benefits from the flood of other popular destinations like Greece and Malta. This comes from the latest market data released by Christian Henrik Nesheim, founding editor of Investment Migration Insider.
Research by Astons, the international experts in real estate, residency and citizenship through investment, has shown why Portugal is becoming one of Golden Visa’s investment hotspots.
With the ability to secure the EU residence permit in just 90 days, Portugal offers investors a quick route to an alternative residence permit as well as the added benefit of visa-free travel to 26 countries in the Schengen zone.
It also offers the option to apply for citizenship after five years of residence, with investors only having to stay in Portugal for 7 days in the first year and only 14 days in the following two years.
But it’s not just speed and flexibility that Portugal offers investors, their entire family is eligible under the country’s Golden Visa system, and the country offers a high level of schooling and access to prestigious higher education at lower EU tuition fees, as well as an attractive tax system for non-habitual residents.
Perhaps one of the most attractive benefits is the upfront cost. Applicants can invest in property purchases for as little as € 280,000, which makes them far cheaper than other programs such as the UK, Malta, Spain and Cyprus.
Investing through the real estate route also allows investors to rent out their properties so that their investment brings a return on top of their alternative residence. In addition, property prices in Portugal have increased by 5.9% overall in the last year, with double-digit growth rates in Vila Real (16.6%), Aveiro (14.2%), Viseu (14.1%) and Porto ( 11.6%) slightly exceeded), Coimbra (11.3%), Braga (10.5%) and Setúbal (10%) bring investors another advantage.
According to Aston, the Golden Visa program invested a total of € 647 million in Portugal in 2020, with the average applicant investing € 547,377. While this sum fell by -13% compared to the previous year, it is a remarkable 119% more than in 2013, with total investments constantly exceeding EUR 600 million per year since 2016.
As early as January and February of this year, EUR 85 million was invested, with the average investment per applicant rising to EUR 548,387, suggesting that Portugal is becoming increasingly popular in the global investment community.
Astons Managing Director Arthur Sarkisian said: “Investor interest remains high in many European countries. This is being driven not only by UK investors looking to break down obstacles to Brexit due to the political instability of the past few months, but also by American investors.
Portugal is beginning to take center stage in this regard, having previously played second fiddle to other, traditionally more popular investment programs such as Greece and Cyprus. As a result, overall investment levels have declined in recent years, but this appears to be changing as the nation has a lot to offer from an investment standpoint.
It is affordable, offers flexibility, a high standard of living and good educational prospects, so not only is it financially viable, but many investors are interested in their family being the main motivation. “
Investment in the Portuguese Golden Visa program
2013
Total investment: € 296,000,000
Main applicant: 494
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 599,190
2014
Total investment: € 916,000,000
Main applicant: 1,526
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 600,262
2015
Total investment: € 460,000,000
Main applicant: 766
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 600,522
2016
Total investment: € 848,000,000
Main applicant: 1,414
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 599,717
2017
Total investment: € 811,000,000
Main applicant: 1,351
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 600,296
2018
Total investment: € 839,000,000
Main applicant: 1,409
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 595,458
2019
Total investment: € 742,000,000
Main applicant: 1,245
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 595,984
2020
Total investment: € 647,000,000
Main applicant: 1,182
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 547,377
2021 (January and February)
Total investment: € 85,000,000
Main applicant: 155
Average investment per main applicant visa: € 548,387
Residential property prices per m² across Portugal
- Q1 2019: € 1,849
- Q2 2019: € 1,932
- Q3 2019: € 1,981
- Q4 2019: € 2,028
- Q1 2020: € 2,060
- Q2 2020: € 2,070
- Q3 2020: € 2,090
- Q4 2020: € 2,147
Residential property prices per m² in Portuguese districts and the annual change from Q to Q.
| circle | Q4 2019 | Q4 2020 | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real village | € 739 | € 862 | 16.60% |
| Aveiro | 1099 € | 1255 € | 14.20% |
| Viseu | € 774 | € 883 | 14.10% |
| postage | 1918 € | 2140 € | 11.60% |
| Coimbra | € 1092 | 1215 € | 11.30% |
| Braga | 974 € | € 1076 | 10.50% |
| Setubal | 1536 € | 1690 € | 10.00% |
| Faro | € 2209 | 2368 € | 7.20% |
| Viana do Castelo | 987 € | 1032 € | 4.60% |
| Santarem | € 763 | € 796 | 4.30% |
| Lisbon | 3276 € | 3346 € | 2.10% |
| white lock | € 683 | € 695 | 1.80% |
| Évora | € 869 | € 884 | 1.70% |
| Braganza | 750 € | € 761 | 1.50% |
| Portalegre | € 635 | € 644 | 1.40% |
| Be yes | € 800 | € 777 | -2.90% |
| Leiria | 1209 € | 1137 € | -6.00% |
| Look | € 673 | € 628 | -6.70% |
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