Portugal Golden Visa Property Investment Changes

Note (2026): Malta’s former Citizenship by Investment program has been replaced by the Citizenship by Merit framework.

Planned Changes: Lisbon and Porto property investments to be discontinued.

*** February 2021 Update: The changes announced in October of 2020 have been delayed until 2022. All investment options remain available as of now. ***

October 26, 2020. According to news received this week, the government of Portugal has announced it will no longer allow investments into property located in the popular coastal areas of Lisbon and Porto to satisfy the Golden Visa application requirements.

This decree becomes effective by the end of this year, which means Golden Visa applicants who wish to buy a personal or rental property in these areas must complete the process within the next eight weeks.

Because of COVID, government offices remain on limited staff, which might delay application processing. Therefore, and in order not to miss the deadline, our recommendation is to start the application procedure immediately should you be interested in making a property investment in the affected regions. Please connect with us or your assigned advisor to discuss next steps.

If, on the other hand, you are now looking for an alternative to Portugal please don’t hesitate to contact us about the Malta MRVP permanent residency program which starts at EUR 120k for a financing plan. Additional details can be found on our website here: https://global-residency.com/malta.html .

Please contact us at any time with your questions or comments.

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Program Interest

Permanent Residency: Non‑EU nationals who obtain permanent residence in Malta under the MPRP program are granted the right to live, work, study, or retire in Malta. The program requires a minimum investment from €99,000, in addition to either purchasing or renting property, along with applicable professional and legal fees.

Citizenship: Malta citizenship under the Malta Citizenship by Merit framework grants the right to live, work, study, or retire in Malta, along with access to public healthcare and education. It also provides an EU passport, allowing holders to live and work in any EU member state, not just Malta. Eligible applicants typically include individuals with exceptional achievements in science, technology, or innovation; those distinguished in culture, the arts, or sports; business leaders and entrepreneurs whose ventures create employment in Malta; and philanthropic or humanitarian figures whose work and contributions demonstrates a broader international impact.

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Are you a citizen of one of the currently prohibited countries (Afghanistan, Belarus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela)?

Contact Information

Because residency and citizenship frameworks can evolve over time please contact us to speak with an advisor or to receive a preliminary quotation. The information provided in this blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal or financial advice.

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Portugal Golden Visa Property Investment Changes

Take the Quiz: Malta (EU) Residency or Citizenship. Which one is right for me?

Find out if you qualify for Malta permanent residency or Malta citizenship, including an EU passport / dual citizenship status.

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