How to Immigrate To Portugal from the US?

Many wealthy Americans are looking for a country to move to. One of the most exciting destinations is Portugal. In terms of quality of life, it is among the best countries in Europe and the world. The country stretches along the coast and has quality beaches. The natives are very friendly towards foreigners. Local cuisine also leaves no one indifferent. There are quite a few ways to move to Portugal from the US. We will talk about them below.

Visa and Residency Options for US Citizens

Moving to Portugal is relatively easy. Americans do not need to obtain a visa if they are planning a short-term stay. It is a great way to look inside the country before making a long-term move.

For immigrants, Portugal has provided different ways to stay for long periods of time. One of the most interesting offers is the Golden Visa for US citizen for investment. According to My Golden Visa expert Kenley Henderson, most American investors prefer this program. The essential advantage is the possibility of receiving income from the transaction and return of invested funds in 5-6 years. In addition, the investor can freely reside in the territory of this state, use the entire infrastructure, and subsequently claim citizenship.

Other types of visas for moving to Portugal:

1. D7. It has many names, such as nomad visa and pension visa. It is necessary to confirm passive or active income to obtain it.
2. D8. It is one of the new programs. It appeared only at the end of 2022. This visa is designed for remote workers. The D8 Lite version gives the right to stay for 12 months, with a potential extension for another six months. If a USA citizen plans to stay longer, he should apply for the D8 Plus or Digital Nomad program. This program provides 24 months of residency with an extension of another 36 months. In this case, the applicant must indicate his monthly income of 2820 euros. Multiple sources of income are allowed. D8 Plus will require a deposit of at least €8,460 in a local bank.
3. Tech Visa and Startup Visa. Portugal actively attracts talented entrepreneurs who are ready to open production facilities for innovative products and employ residents. Approval of a startup visa is relevant for business founders, and a tech visa is relevant for specialists with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Having an additional minimum of 5 years of work in the profile is also necessary. 
4. D2. The visa is created for freelancers and entrepreneurs who already have their businesses. It can also be business people who invest in other companies. The applicant must contribute to the authorized capital of at least 50 thousand euros. The larger the size of the investment, the higher the chances of approval. The sector of the company’s activity also influences the decision.

All the mentioned programs have their pros. The choice depends on the objectives pursued. 

Reasons to Choose Portugal as a Citizen of US

The Portuguese passport is considered one of the strongest. It gives visa-free access to 186 countries. There are no border controls between Schengen states, which includes Portugal. Other reasons why immigration to Portugal for US citizens include high level of security, good medicine, excellent cuisine, etc. 

Key Requirements and Application Process

It is interesting for Americans to obtain Portuguese residency for various reasons. In particular, due to the legal possibility of having dual citizenship. Based on the visas mentioned above, it is possible to go through the naturalization procedure after 5 years of residence. 

The requirements of visa programs are primarily similar to each other. They differ only in some documents. Some visas also require mandatory investments. For the D7 visa, the stable monthly income should not be less than 760 euros per person. 228 euros for each increase, this amount in the presence of dependents. As documents, it is required to provide :

• application;
• passport;
• bank account statement;
• proof of residence;
• information about the absence of a criminal record.

The golden visa assumes investments of 250 thousand euros or more. The exact amount depends on the type of object. For example, the minimum investment in commercial real estate is 400 thousand euros, and the previously announced 250 thousand euros for reconstructing cultural and historical heritage objects.

Life in Portugal as an American Expat

Obtaining a residence permit gives a series of obligations and rights. The holder of this permit has the right to official employment and access to health care, education, and justice systems.

Responsibilities include:

• notification of the state authorities about a change of residence or civil status within 2 months at the latest;
• application for extension of stay at least 2 months before the expiration of the residence permit;
• mandatory stay on the country’s territory for at least 7 days a year (depending on the visa program).

Also, U.S. citizens must comply with all laws in Portugal and not disturb the public peace.

Path to Citizenship

To become a citizen, you must pass a national language proficiency test, prove your income and residency, and pass a criminal background check.

It is possible to prepare on your own. However, it is better to use the assistance of a specialized lawyer to avoid making mistakes.