Portugal Retirement Visa For Australian Citizens

For those who are not European Union citizens, a visa is necessary for retirement in Portugal. There are two most popular visas that people usually choose to allow them to live as retirees in Portugal. These two most popular visas include:

• The Retirement Visa: This is a national residency visa that is granted to non-European Union citizens who wish to live in Portugal without having to work. These individuals will have a steady income, however, such as money from savings or pensions.
• The Golden Visa: This is a visa that is primarily used for retirement and investors. This visa can be applied for if you meet one of the various criteria for investments in Portugal. Be aware that the Golden Visa used to allow for investment through real estate; however, this is no longer the case.

Health Insurance Requirements

To be considered eligible for the Portugal retirement visa, the applicant has to have valid health insurance coverage that is recognised as legitimate in Portugal. Whichever health insurance policy you choose will need to provide coverage for all potential medical expenses, including hospitalisation, emergency medical treatment, or repatriation in cases of illness or death.

The policy should be in place to cover the entirety of the stay in Portugal and should also include any dependents that will accompany the applicant.

The Portuguese National Health Service is accessible to foreign retirees who have a residency permit. Yet, SNS is not a substitute for private health insurance, and a majority of retirees from overseas will usually choose to supplement SNS coverage with private insurance for the highest quality of medical care.

Proof of health insurance coverage is required when applying for the retirement visa, and the policy needs to be maintained throughout the residency permit as well.

Criminal Record Check

When applying for a retirement visa, an applicant will need to show they have a criminal record check. For applicants to qualify, this criminal record check needs to be issued by competent authorities in the home country or residing country of the applicant. It also must be legalised by relevant authorities.

However, if the country is not in the Hague Convention, an apostille will be needed, and it will be authenticated by the Portuguese Consulate in said country as well as by a competent Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

These checks may also be required from other countries if the applicant has resided in them for over a year.

To be eligible for this visa, applicants must not have any conviction for a crime that is sanctioned in Portugal with a detention sentence of a year or more.

Should an applicant have a criminal record, they need to speak to a lawyer to determine if they are eligible for this programme. Speak to one of our lawyers at Total Law today to speak to them about your eligibility if you have a criminal record. Call us at +44 (0)333 305 9375.

The Portugal Golden Visa programme is also an eligible route for those wishing to retire in Portugal.

In this visa route, the investor will make a significant donation to the economy in Portugal using one of a variety of options, including venture capital fund investments, job creation, research funding, commercial company investments, and cultural heritage support.

One of the most popular investment options used to be real estate, which is now no longer an option.

To retire via this visa type, the applicant must make their investment and show relevant documentation regarding this in their application.

The documents required for a Portugal Golden Visa include the following:

• The official application form.
• A valid passport.
• Two passport-sized photos.
• A relevant medical insurance policy.
• Birth, marriage, and divorce certificates.
• A certificate proving the applicant has no previous criminal records.
• Documents that are relative to the investment.
• Declaration of a transfer of funds by the relevant Portuguese financial institution.
• Documents that outline a good standing with the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority and Social Security.
• Receipt of ARI application payment.

Applicants must also make and maintain their investment for five years. As a part of the application for this visa type, the applicant needs to present supporting evidence that they made the investment with the minimum required amount and that they will maintain this investment as long as they and their dependents hold residency status in Portugal.

Once an investor Golden Visa holder has become a permanent resident, after five years, the investment does not need to be maintained any longer.

Every document needs to be legalised if it is not from a Portuguese entity; it will also need to have an apostille should the subject country not be a part of the Hague Convention. Similarly, any original documents that are not in Portuguese will need to be translated and certified.

Overview

The Golden Visa is a popular route to retiring in Portugal for many, despite the fees, which make it limited to wealthier retirees. With minimum investments required to qualify for this visa, there are substantial fees associated with it, but it does come with benefits.

Applying for the Golden Visa for retirement may not be suitable for every retiree due to the more substantial associated fees; however, it is a valid option for many.

Benefits Of Retiring Under The Portugal Golden Visa

Its validity for many wealthier retirees comes with benefits. One of these is the minimum stay requirement. The minimum stay requirements of the Golden Visa are not as strict as those of the Retirement Visa.

After being in Portugal for five years, applicants can apply to gain permanent residency in the country, which leads to citizenship.

Portugal Golden Visas will also automatically grant those who hold this visa the right to travel anywhere in the EU without a visa. Golden Visa holders can enjoy free-flowing travel in the Schengen region for 90 days each, or 180 days.

Additionally, any dependents that join the applicant on the Golden Visa will also be eligible for permanent residency and citizenship after five years in the country. The Global Visa also allows for dual citizenship, and there are no additional requirements for applicants to do this. Applicants must ensure that this is enabled for their country of origin, however.

The Portugal Golden Visa also has a beneficial tax system. Golden visa holders are exempt from paying personal taxes for ten years; there is a 20% flat-tax on Portuguese-sourced income for the first ten years; all revenues outside of the country are non-taxable; there are no inheritance taxes; there are no added fees for transfers; and the wealth tax has been abolished.

Applying For The D7 Visa For Retirement Purposes

The requirements for a D7 visa in Portugal include the following:

• The applicant must be a non-EU national.
• The applicant must be earning a passive income of a minimum of €760 per month. This can come from a pension, intellectual property, transferrable equity, or even financial equity.
• Proof of having accommodation in Portugal.
• Be willing to reside in Portugal for 183 consecutive days per year.
• The applicant must not have a criminal record.
• The applicant needs to have a Portuguese NIF.
• The applicant must have a Portuguese bank account.

The applicant must also be prepared to provide a wide range of documents in the application process to prove to the Portuguese Immigration and Border Services that they meet the criteria for this visa.

This means that applicants do need to prove that they will be able to meet the minimum passive income requirements. This amount can vary depending on whether or not the applicant is bringing dependents with them to Portugal.

To satisfy Portuguese authorities that the applicant meets the minimum passive income requirements for this visa, they will need to show documents and forms. Depending on the situation of the retiree, any of the following can be submitted to prove passive income stability:

• Bank statements from the previous 3 months with details such as name and address visible.
• Traveller checks.
• Proof of cash funds.
• A company pension certificate, pension check statement, or notarized letter confirming a pension
• Social Security benefits letters.
• Tax returns from the previous fiscal year, or proof of previous economic activity and incomes from the previous year

Benefits Of Retiring Under The Portugal D7 Visa

The Portugal D7 residency visa is one of the best options for expats who are looking to retire in Portugal without having to make any massive investments, such as would be traditional with the Golden Visa.

This visa is affordable, family-friendly, and easily accessible. It is the ideal scheme for retirees who are self-sufficient and want to live in Portugal.

This visa is renewable after a year or two in successive two-year periods. This can also be converted into a permanent residence after five years have passed. Once you have held the D7 visa for five years, applicants will then be eligible to apply for a Portuguese passport and eventually citizenship.