Portugal’s Golden Visa program has been one of the most popular ways in which Chinese immigrants can gain residency in the country. Applicants have a set of benefits when choosing to invest in real estate, however, this is not the only available option for those who immigrate to Portugal from China.
When moving to Portugal, Chinese nationals need to understand the Portuguese immigration legislation as well as the entire process not only for the golden visa but also for the other situations in which a foreign national is allowed to obtain permanent residency. Working with our team of immigration lawyers in Portugal can be helpful for all expats, including Chinese who are planning on living in Portugal for long periods of time or even indefinitely.
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What are the conditions for moving to Portugal for Chinese individuals?
Chinese citizens who wish to enter Portugal need to apply for a visa according to their purpose of stay. For example, when applying for a golden visa in Portugal, they will submit the needed documentation and will bring forward proof of their intended investment.
A residence permit in Portugal that is suitable for the chosen purpose of stay will need to be valid at all times. Chinese nationals can start by obtaining a temporary residence permit which is valid for one year and then can be renewed for two-year periods. When a foreign national has been living in the country for five years based on this temporary residence permit in Portugal, he/she may request a permanent residency permit.
The digital nomad visa for Portugal allows Chinese applicants to remain in the country for a limited time if they can engage remotely in their professional activity. The visa is designed for working professionals who provide their work outside the national territory. A minimum income requirement applies, and the actual application procedure can be described in detail by our team.
Where are the visa applications submitted?
The visa applications are submitted at the local Portuguese Embassy or Consulate General in the area where the Chinese applicant resides. Some of the most popular ones are the Embassy of Portugal in Beijing, the Consulate General of Portugal in Shanghai or the Consulate General of Portugal in Guangzhou. Other Portuguese visa applications centers are open in areas in China. Before visiting one of these centers, it is important to know the visa type and one of our Portugal immigration specialists can help answer your questions.
What is the Golden Visa program?
The Golden Visa or the Golden Residence program is a manner in which a foreign national can gain residency in Portugal when making certain investments. These can be real estate purchases of at least 500.000 Euros, capital transfers of 1 million Euros or more or creating at least ten jobs in Portugal. For example, Chinese nationals can purchase a property in Portugal and then, by proving ownership, can apply for the golden visa. This program has certain other advantages in as that it is not only beneficial for the investor but also his family. The holder of such a permit has the right to reunite with his family and the family members will have access to residency permits and Portugal citizenship when complying with the Portuguese regulations in force.
Golden Visa owners need to be able to show that they resided in Portugal for at least 7 days (consecutively or separately) during the first year and then 14 days in the following two-year periods. This is needed for the purpose of renewing the residency permit. An immigration lawyer in Portugal from our team can give you more details about these requirements.
What are the post-visa application requirements?
Once they apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate, Chinese nationals need to wait for its approval and, when they receive the answer, collect the visa in person or through a representative. When the visa is collected in person, the applicant will need to bring a copy of the visa fee receipt and a stamped passport copy. When the visa is collected by a representative, he or she will need to bring a letter of authorization (a specialized format is commonly used) in addition to the identification documents and the copy of the visa fee receipt.
Chinese nationals can then travel to Portugal and once they arrive there, handle the subsequent steps, including scheduling an appointment with the Immigration and Borders Service for the purpose of requesting their fiscal identification number. Our team can detail the process of applying for a residence permit in Portugal.
Moving to Portugal is an important decision and many Chinese nationals who are taking this step are attracted not only by the residency programs but also by the country’s position in Europe, the fact that they will easily access the EU as well as the general living conditions. If they live in the country long enough and comply with the conditions, they can ultimately apply for citizenship in Portugal. One of the first and foremost conditions for this application is to lawfully reside in Portugal for at least five years before applying for citizenship by naturalization. Additionally, the candidate will also need to show proof of satisfactory Portuguese language knowledge and proof of sufficient income. Our team can help you with more information if you wish to apply.
If you are interested in finding out more information about how to immigrate to Portugal from China, please contact our team of Portugal immigration agents. We can help you prepare the visa documents and submit the required forms so that the application is processed and accepted.
We are available to all foreign nationals who wish to find out more about how they can apply for a residence permit for Portugal. While nationality is clearly important for the purpose of application, so will be the intention for the medium or long-term stay. Both EU and non-EU nationals can reach out to our agents for more information about residency and, ultimately, citizenship.