What are the Documents accepted in applying for ARI/Golden Visa?
In order to prove the quantitative requirements, investors shall deliver the following documents in accordance to the type of investment made:
7.1. Bank transfer for an amount equal to or above 1 million Euros.
This requirement is deemed fulfilled where the applicant is able to demonstrate having transferred capital in the minimum amount required, including investments in shares of share capital of companies, for which he / she shall deliver:
- Declaration of a credit institution authorized to operate in Portugal, confirming the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, of deposit accounts with a balance equal or superior to EUR 1,000,000.00 , resulting from international transfer of funds, or;
- In the event of acquisition of public debt instruments from the Portuguese State, a certificate attesting the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, issued by IGCP, EPE, of instruments with a value equal or superior to EUR 1,000,000.00 and a declaration from a credit institution authorized to operate in Portugal, confirming the international transfer of funds for the
7.2 Purchase of property in value equal to, or above, 500 thousand Euros
This requirement is deemed fulfilled where the applicant presents:
- Sale and purchase deed (or promissory sale and purchase agreement);
- Declaration of credit institution authorized to operate in Portugal certifying the international transfer of funds of an amount equal or superior than EUR 500,000.00 for the purchase of the Real Estate property (or as down-payment under the relevant promissory sale and purchase agreement);
- Updated Land Registry certificate attesting the ownership of the Real Estate property, free of any charges and encumbrances (or a updated Land Registry certificate with the provisional registration of acquisition following the signature of the promissory sale and purchase agreement with a down-payment of, at least, EUR 500,000.00);
- Tax Booklet of the Real Estate property, when legally viable;
- Document attesting the presentation of the Prior Information Request, Prior Communication or License Request for the execution of the Real Estate urban rehabilitation works and, if applicable, a statement issued by the relevant urban rehabilitation managing entity, certifying that the Real Estate property is located in an urban rehabilitation area, or;
- Construction works contract for the execution of rehabilitation works on the purchased Real Estate properties, executed with a legal person duly authorised by INCI, IP, and a receipt confirming the payment of the construction works contract or, in case of failure for a motive not attributable to the applicant, declaration of the credit institution authorised to operate in Portugal, certifying the effective transfer of funds for an amount equal or superior than the price of the construction works contract;
- In the event of acquiring a property through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of the company which is the owner of the property or the promissory-buyer of same;
Purchase of real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing, for a total value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros:
This type of investment can be done by the applicant as a sole entrepreneur or the proprietor of a single member limited company.
- Sale and purchase deed;
- Statement issued by a financial institution accredited or registered in national territory by the Bank of Portugal, confirming the actual international transfer of funds (into an unencumbered deposit bank account, in the sole name of the applicant, or the share of which in the name of the applicant corresponds to the minimum required investment amount), for the purchase of the property;
- Land Registry Certificate issued within the prior 45 days, comprising the registrations, endorsements and entries in force and proving the ownership of the real estate, free of any encumbrances;
- Tax Booklet;
- Commercial Registry Certificate issued within the prior 45 days, in case the investment is made by means of a single member limited company, certifying that the applicant is the proprietor of that company;
What documents are needed to buy real estate in urban regeneration areas?
- Documentary evidence of
(i) having applied for previous feasibility, or
(ii) having obtained previous feasibility or
(iii) having applied for planning consent together with a statement by the entity managing the urban regeneration appropriately accredited to conduct that operation of urban regeneration.
What documents are needed to buy real estate with construction dating back more than 30 years?
- Evidence of
(i) having applied for previous feasibility or
(ii) having obtained previous feasibility; or
(iii) having applied for planning consent
- When the purchase of the property is concluded before a building contract has been executed, the difference between the purchase price of the property and the minimum investment value required must be deposited in a banking institution duly accredited or registered in Portugal by the Bank of Portugal in an unencumbered bank account in the name of the applicant, and the applicant must submit a bank statement as documentary evidence of the existence of such deposit.
- When the purchase of the property is concluded after a building contract has been executed by and between the applicant and a contractor appropriately accredited to conduct that operation of urban regeneration by the relevant authority [Instituto da Construção e do Imobiliário IP], the applicant must submit such contract, along with a payment receipt, or, if unable to submit such receipt for reasons beyond his / her control, a written declaration stating that the deposit was made, in value equal to or above the price, in a banking institution duly accredited or registered in Portugal by the Bank of Portugal in an unencumbered bank account
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros for investing in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technologic system:
- Declaration of the credit institution authorized to operate in Portugal, certifying the effective transfer of funds, for an amount equal or superior than EUR 350,000.00, to the designated bank account;
- Declaration issued by a public or private institution of scientific research included on the national scientific and technologic system, certifying the effective transfer of such funds;
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 250 thousand Euros for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage:
- Declaration of the credit institution authorized to operate in Portugal, certifying the effective transfer of funds, for an amount equal or superior than EUR 250,000.00, to the designated bank account;
- Declaration issued by the Office for Cultural Strategy, Planning and Evaluation, following the audience of the relevant cultural service with attributions on such sector, certifying the effective transfer of such capital.
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros, for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital created within the scope of Portuguese legislation geared to capitalize companies, for a minimum period of 5 years and with at least 60 % of the investment being materialized in companies based in Portugal;
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros intended to be materialized in the establishment of a company based in Portugal, and the creation of 5 permanent job positions, or as a capital reinforcement in a Portugal based company, along with the creation or maintenance of 5 permanent job positions, for at least 3 years.
- In the event of investing in research activities through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of same.
- In the event of investing in cultural activities, rehabilitation or maintenance of national cultural heritage, through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of same.
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 500 thousand Euros, for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies that, in turn, must present a feasible capitalization plan:
- Certificate attesting the ownership of the corresponding units/shares, free of any charges and encumbrances, issued by the relevant entity which has the obligation to keep an up-to-date record of the holders of the units/shares, in accordance with the applicable law, the fund management rules or the contractual instrument;
- Declaration issued by the investment fund management entity, certifying that the capitalisation plan is viable;
- Declaration of the credit institution authorised to operate in Portugal, attesting the effective transfer of funds, for an amount equal or superior than EUR 500,000.00, to the designated bank account, in order to carry out the relevant investment;
- In the event of investing through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of same
Depending on the type of investment made, the applicant shall deliver:
8.1. Regarding the transfer of funds in an amount equal to or above 1 million Euros:
- Declaration of a credit institution authorised to operate in Portugal, confirming the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, of deposit accounts with a quarterly average balance equal or superior to EUR 1,000,000.00 ; or
- In the event of acquisition of public debt instruments from the Portuguese State, an updated certificate issued by IGCP, EPE, attesting the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, of a debt instrument with a quarterly average balance equal or superior to EUR 1,000,000.00; or
- In the event of acquisition of book-entry securities, an updated certificate attesting the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, issued by the respective registering entity; or
- In the event of acquisition of bearer securities deposited with the depositary entity under article 99 of the Securities Market Code, an updated certificate attesting the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, issued by the depositary entity; or
- In the event of acquisition of nominative securities not integrated in a centralised system, an updated certificate attesting the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, issued by the issuer entity; or
- In the event of acquisition of certified securities included in a centralised system, an updated certificate attesting the ownership, free of any charges and encumbrances, issued by the financial broker where the account integrated in a centralised system is open; or
- In the event of acquisition of shares not covered elsewhere under the previous items, an updated trade registry certificate attesting the ownership of the shares and the respective purchase contract, indicating the price of acquisition;
- In the event of investing through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated TradeRegistry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder;
Creation of, at least, 10 job positions:
Updated certificate of social security attesting the maintenance of the minimum number of employees.
Purchase of property in value equal to, or above, 500 thousand Euros:
- Sale and purchase deed and updated Land Registry Certificate, attesting the ownership of the Real Estate property (or promissory sale and purchase agreement and, when legally viable, Land Registry Certificate attesting the provisional registration of acquisition following the signature of the relevant promissory sale and purchase agreement with a down-payment of, at least, EUR 500,000.00; until the second renewal, it shall be presented the definitive sale and purchase deed of the Real Estate property);
- Tax Booklet;
- In the event of acquiring a property through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of the company
The purchase of real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing, for a total value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros:
- Sale and purchase deed of the relevant Real Estate properties and updated Land Registry Certificate and Tax Booklet, attesting the ownership of the same;
- In case the construction works are subject to Licensing Procedure, the corresponding use permit, if applicable, the corresponding construction works agreement and, when applicable, a statement issued by the relevant urban rehabilitation managing entity, attesting that the construction works are still being performed or duly completed, or;
- In case the construction works are subject to Prior Communication, a statement issued by the relevant urban rehabilitation managing entity, attesting that the construction works are still being performed or duly completed and the corresponding construction works agreement;
- Whenever possible, the receipt confirming the payment of the price foreseen in the construction works agreement, or;
- In case of impossibility to pay the entire price foreseen in the construction works agreement due to a reason not attributable to the applicant, the same shall present a declaration from a credit Institution authorised to operate in Portugal, attesting the ownership of a deposits account with an average quarterly balance amount equal or superior than the construction works agreement price, or;
- In case the applicant paid a part of the price of the construction works agreement, the same should provide the partial payment receipt, as well as a declaration from a the credit institution authorised to operate in Portugal, attesting the ownership of a deposits account with an average quarterly balance amount equal or superior than the remaining price of the construction works contract;
- In the event of acquiring a property through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of the company which is the owner of the property or the promissory-buyer of same;
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros for investing in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technologic system:
- Declaration issued by a public or private institution of scientific research included on the national scientific and technologic system, certifying the non-existence of supervening changes, attributable to the Applicant, which may compromise the support/funds granted;
- In the event of investing in research activities through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of same.
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 250 thousand Euros for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage:
- Declaration issued by the Office for Cultural Strategy, Planning and Evaluation, following the audience of the relevant cultural service with attributions on such sector, certifying non-supervening changes, attributable to the applicant, which may compromise the support/funds granted;
- In the event of investing in cultural activities, rehabilitation or maintenance of national cultural heritage, through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of same;
Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 500 thousand Euros, for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies that, in turn, must present a feasible capitalization plan:
- Certificate attesting the ownership of the corresponding units/shares, free of any charges and encumbrances, issued by the relevant entity which has the obligation to keep an up-to-date record of the holders of the units/shares, in accordance with the applicable law, the fund management rules or the contractual instrument;
- In the event of investing through a sole proprietorship limited company, the corresponding updated Trade Registry Certificate attesting that the Applicant is the unique shareholder of same;