From tourist visa, D7 Visa or Golden Visa, what's the best solution for you? There are several possibilities for British citizens to travelling safely and legally to Portugal at the moment.
Let us explain in easy steps:
1. You are a Non-Resident in Portugal: If you are a tourist and travelling to Portugal for less than 90 days you may not need a visa, but you should check the requirements when booking a flight and accommodation, as you may be asked about the following, at the airport, customs or by the police:
- Your passport must be valid, not older than 10 years and have at least 6 months left before it expires.
- It is advised to apply for health care insurance, either British or European.
- Check your driving license and driving permits.
- Organise your pet travel in advance.
- Check the current travel restrictions and pandemic requirements.
- You may need a return ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient financial sources.
2. You are a Non-Resident in Portugal: If you wish to visit the Algarve for example as a businessperson, for house hunting, etc., but wish to stay longer than 90 days in Portugal, you need to apply for a Schengen Visa in the UK at the embassy or consulate or in any Schengen country representing Portugal. Please check further conditions.
3. You are a Non-Resident in Portugal: If you prefer to stay longer you can apply for a D7 Visa and residence permit which allows you to stay for up to 4 months. It is suitable for retirees and entrepreneurs regardless of age. You need to prove a passive income of the current minimum wage in Portugal for the first applicant and 50 % of that amount for a partner or parents plus 30 % for each child. The requested income could come from rentals, retirement, dividends, or investment. You need to have a home in the Algarve, either a rental property with a contract or owned. After the first period of 120 days the applicant can obtain a residence permit for 1 year which can be renewed every 2 years. After 5 years it is possible to apply for a permanent residency. You can travel throughout the Schengen territories. The D7 Visa is compliant with the Non-Habitual Tax Regime and is meant for Brits supporting themselves. Further conditions, time compliances well as application forms are available on SEF website or Portuguese consulate or via a law company, please see sources below.
4. You are a Non-Resident Portugal: The next possibility is The Golden Visa Ticket for Non-Europeans. However there have been changes. After January 2022, to apply for the Golden Visa, you can only buy property for habitation purposes in the municipalities of Aljezur – Vila do Bispo – Monchique – Castro Marim and Alcoutim (and other specific low density/interior parishes). The rest of the Algarve is still considered, If the property is commercial, services or touristic.
After the agreement from SEF that the entire Algarve is considered low density, the minimum investment to apply for it is € 280.000 or € 400.000 depending on whether the property is over 30 years old and in need of rehabilitation works or not and is privately owned.
The goal is to achieve a residence permit within 5 years, it includes sizeable administrative and tax costs, however you can travel throughout the Schengen areas. Please check the conditions and time compliances with your Law Company, tax advisor and SEF. You also need an established and professional real estate agency, as we are.
Applicants still have time until January 2022 to take advantage of the current Portugal Golden Visa scheme. British citizens could either travel to the Algarve to apply (depending on flight restrictions) or apply for it from the UK. You will need advice from a good Law company, Tax Advisor and an experienced Real Estate Agency, like us. We can guide you through the process and bring you happiness, helping to find your ‘dream property’.
Due to the impact of BREXIT the new ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization) scheme will operate visas from 2022 on the 90-day rule. That means Non-Resident British Homeowners in Portugal can now spend a total of six months in a year (two separate periods of three months) at their homes in Portugal by comparison to previously unlimited time they could spend.
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Sources:
Schengen Visa: Requirements and Elegible Schengen Countries (etiasvisa.com)
Direção Regional do Algarve (sef.pt)
D7 Residence VISA For Foreigners (cscadvogada.com)
Golden Visa Portugal 2021, The Ultimate Guide by Experts (globalcitizensolutions.com)
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