In recent years there have been an increased number of Americans making their way to Portugal with the goal of purchasing a property and obtaining a residence permit in our country, eventually allowing them to apply for Portuguese, and therefore European, citizenship.

The famous Golden Visa, which granted residence permits through investment in Portugal to citizens of non-EU countries, has offered a way of obtaining Portuguese residency of the past decade. This visa, however, is no longer applicable as a result of an initiative put forward by the Portuguese Government.

Whilst many legal experts in Portugal say the changes made by the Portuguese government were illegal, the termination of the granting of new golden visas was announced. The form and the application of this governmental decision was not compatible with some of the main laws in Portugal included the Portuguese constitution, and so there will be pushback on these changes for some time to come.

Whilst this has been hotly debated, let’s leave this topic to the side for now and focus on other important reasons so many are taking the decision to come over here. The Portuguese people and Portugal as a country continues to be hospitable and welcome visitors from all over the world. Portugal has a high level of English, with a large percentage of the population being able to communicate well in the language.

Portugal remains one of the safest countries in the world, and it’s a country where you can enjoy a few glasses of wine on your terrace until the late hours of the evening without worrying about the consequences, or even bothering the neighbours.

Portugal has not ceased to be the country it was before the decision by the government to end the Golden visa; it is, and continues to be, a country that offers an excellent quality of life and somewhere Americans can still purchase a wonderful house by the sea and enjoy all that this beautiful and thriving country has to offer. We are a nation with many stories to tell about our past and present. We do this most prominently through our songs and traditions, which are seen celebrated in every corner of this beautiful country.

For many Americans, Portugal is no longer the country on the other side of the Atlantic tucked away next to Spain, it is a country that is attracting more and more people each year wanting to live, work and study. The geographical location of Portugal means it sits in the London time zone, just 5 hours ahead of New York. Schools and colleges are also playing a part in attracting more American students to come and study in Portugal, both for short stays and long-term study.

Americans who want to come and live in Portugal can do so without the Golden Visa, and many American citizens are already doing just that.

In Portugal there are several visas and residence permits available, which don’t require an investment or the purchase of a property. The D3 Visa is an option for those who want to work in Portugal and who have a profession of added value, such as doctors, CEOs, CFO, architects lawyers and many more. This D3 visa may turn out to be an interesting option for those who want to enjoy the tax benefits of the Non-Habitual Residence Program (NHR). We have the D7 Visa, that has long been popular with retired people as it is intended for new residents who have a steady source of passive income which guarantees them a stable life in Portugal without requiring the financial support from the Portuguese state, but with access to public services like the national health service.

For those who want to establish a business in Portugal there is also the D2 Visa for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Finally, for those looking for a more flexible approach and who many want to live in freedom in Portugal for just a few years, there is the digital nomad visa ideal for those able to work remotely.

In summary, we can say that nothing has changed in terms of the reasons Portugal is sparking the interest of so many Americans. The Portuguese real estate market also remains a safe haven in terms of investment.


North Americans have been leading investment in the international Portuguese real estate market and even with signs of a slowdown in the real estate markets in many European countries, Portugal is still a top choice among tourists, those looking make a permanent move or purchase a second home, and those wanting to invest. We are a cosmopolitan and thriving country and want to make sure those considering coming to our beautiful country feel as welcome as possible.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes