LISBON: At present, investment in real estate and tourism in Portugal is skyrocketing. The demand for acquiring properties is mirroring the surge in tourists visiting the country. The sunny climate and numerous well-known restaurants and beach experiences, combined with a multitude of monuments and a rich history, are helping to create a vibe of excitement in the country. Portugal is proud to be one of the safest countries in the world and one of the best-rated in terms of the hospitality on offer. The Portuguese, having famously travelled the world in the 15th century and interacted with all types of cultures, are used to living in a cosmopolitan environment. It is this backdrop that makes investment opportunities in Portugal all the more appealing. Investment funds have become the vehicle solution to investment in Portuguese real estate. Not only do they provide the best structure for tax optimisation, since only 10 percent income tax is required, they also offer numerous opportunities for even small investors to invest in medium to large-scale projects. The Golden Visa Programme is directed at non-EU citizens without citizenship restrictions. It allows anyone investing more than €350,000 ($414,000) into real estate or Portuguese-qualified investment funds to benefit from a residence permit. All that is required is a minimum stay of just seven days per year. What’s more, after six years, investors are also eligible for citizenship. The programme was launched at the end of 2012 to attract foreign capital into real estate and to help renovate city centres in order to create a new dynamic in the market. The market was completely stagnated from 2009 to 2012, but it has gone from strength to strength ever since. PTGoldenVisa helps make this possible. It’s a one-stop shop that offers full support for individuals applying for the Golden Visa, or for those simply investing in Portugal’s real estate market. Not only do we provide all necessary legal and tax consultancy services, we also offer property management services. We currently hold opportunities in areas such as buy to let, renovation deals to sell, property trading, and property development, while we are also accessing real estate funds in several investment deals. Through opportunities such as Golden Visa, Portugal isn’t just a dream holiday destination it is a dream investment destination too.
Central bank destroys 8,923 counterfeit banknotes
Banco de Portugal (BoP) withdrew 8,923 counterfeit banknotes from circulation in the second half of the year, 1,496 more than...
