Australia's Lockdowns Drive Surge in Golden Visa Applications for Portugal
The Portugal Golden Visa program, launched in 2012, has seen a surge in interest from Australian citizens since 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns in their home country. This residency-by-investment scheme, open to non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens over 18 with a clean record, has initially attracted Chinese, Turkish, Russian, and Brazilian investors. Now, Australians are joining the list, drawn by the promise of eventual citizenship and the program's popularity in Europe.
The Portugal Golden Visa program offers temporary residency for two years, renewable for another three. After five years, applicants can apply for citizenship by passing a basic Portuguese language exam. The program aims to encourage foreign investment, with qualifying investments including subscriptions to a Portugal investment fund for €500,000 or setting up a company that creates at least ten jobs for Portuguese citizens. Since its inception, the program has attracted billions in investment, with over a thousand family applications received annually. Australians, frustrated by strict lockdowns and travel restrictions, are now exploring this pathway to European residency and eventual citizenship.
The Portugal Golden Visa program, initially popular among Chinese, Turkish, Russian, and Brazilian investors, is now attracting Australians disillusioned with COVID-19 lockdowns. Offering temporary residency and a path to citizenship after five years, the program requires a qualifying investment, such as subscribing to a Portugal investment fund or creating jobs through a new company. With billions invested since 2012, the program continues to draw global interest, including from Australian citizens seeking an alternative to strict pandemic measures.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
