1. Non Habitual Tax Residents and Golden Visas
Main features and opportunities

2. NHTR and Golden Visas: main features
Tax regime applicable to people who change their tax residency to Portugal
Reduced tax rates on domestic income and exemptions applicable to (certain items) of foreign income
Applicable for 10 years with an option of extension
Immigration regime applicable to non-EU passport holders
Visa exemption for Portugal and for travelling in Schengen area
Chance of obtaining permanent residency permit or nationality

3. The NHTR regime offers very interesting tax advantages
20% flat tax (as opposed to a maximum 56,5% progressive tax rate) on Portuguese employment income from value added activities (see the full list in the Annex)
20% flat tax (as opposed to a maximum 56,5% progressive tax rate) on Portuguese business income from value added activities (see the full list in the Annex)
Exemption on foreign income provided that it is subject to tax (in most cases, even if not effectively taxed) in the source country under the applicable Double Tax Treaty (allows for legitimate double non-taxation)

4. However, some issues shall also be taken into account for a proper planning
Capital gains are excluded from the regime and are therefore taxable at the domestic rates. However, with proper management it is possible to prevent taxation in Portugal in a legitimate manner
The reduced tax rate applicable on domestic employment and business income from high value added activities does not exclude the applicability of the 3,5% extraordinary surtax (this is however a temporary surtax bound to be eliminated in the coming year)

5. For specific items of income the regime allows for double non-taxation
Pension income
No taxation under Colombia-Portugal Double Tax Treaty for private pensions
No taxation under non-habitual tax resident regime

6. The procedures are relatively simple although it is very important to be 100% compliant
Analysis of applicable tax regime and implications in home country 1
Obtaining a non-resident tax number and residence permit 2
Registration as a resident taxpayer 3
Submission of application for the NHTR regime 4
Obtaining non-resident tax certificates from country of origin 5
Sign up for the electronic mail box (mandatory) 6
Compliance with tax obligations (filling of annual tax returns) 7
Generic information can also be obtained from the Tax Authorities website (

7. The golden visa regime also offers interesting advantages to non-EU nationals
Residence visa waiver for entering Portugal
Living and working in Portugal, on condition that they stay in Portugal for a period of 7 or more days, in the first year, and 14 or more days, in the following (no need to become a resident)
Visa exemption for travelling within the Schengen Area1
Opportunity for family reunification
Possibility of permanent residence (after 5 years of temporary residence permit)
Possibility of Portuguese citizenship (after 6 years of temporary residence permit)
1 Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland

8. The investing requirements are not very high as compared to similar regimes
Capital transfer of at least € ;
Creation of, at least, 10 job positions;
Purchase of real estate property with a value of at least €
Purchase of specific real estate property for refurbishing, with a value of at least €
Capital transfer of at least € for investment in R&D
Capital transfer of at least € for investment in artistic output or supporting the arts, reconstruction or refurbishment of national heritage
Capital transfer of at least € for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies
1 Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland

9. In addition there are formal requirements that must be met
Tax clearance certificate issued by the Tax Authorities and Social Security
Sworn statement by the applicant stating that he will comply with all investing requirements
Valid passport
Criminal record issued by last country of permanent residence
Health insurance
Proof of payment of application fee
1 Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland

10. ANNEX

11. List of high value added activities
PORTUGUESE
ENGLISH
1 - Arquitectos, engenheiros e técnicos similares:
101 – Arquitectos
102 – Engenheiros
103 – Geólogos
1 - Architects, engineers and similar technicians:
101 – Architects
102 – Engineers
103 – Geologists
2 - Artistas plásticos, actores e músicos:
201 – Artistas de teatro, bailado, cinema, rádio e televisão
202 – Cantores
203 – Escultores
204 – Músicos
205 – Pintores
2 - Visual artists, actors and musicians:
201 – Theater, ballet, film, radio and television Artists
202 – Singers
203 – Sculptors
204 – Musicians
205 – Painters
3 - Auditores:
301 – Auditores
302 – Consultores fiscais
3 - Auditors
301 – Auditors
302 – Tax Consultants

12. List of high value added activities
PORTUGUESE
ENGLISH
4 – Médicos e dentistas
401 – Dentistas
402 – Médicos analistas
403 – Médicos cirurgiões
404 – Médicos de bordo em navios
405 – Médicos de clínica geral
406 – Médicos dentistas
407 – Médicos estomatologistas
408 – Médicos fisiatras
409 – Médicos gastroenterologistas
410 – Médicos oftalmologistas
411 – Médicos ortopedistas
412 – Médicos otorrinolaringologistas
413 – Médicos pediatras
414 - Médicos radiologistas
415 – Médicos de outras especialidades
4 – Doctors and dentists
401 – Dentists
402 – Analyst doctors
403 – Surgeons
404 – Board doctors in ships
405 – General Practitioners
406 – Dentists
407 – Dentist doctors
408 – Physiatrists
409 – Gastroenterologists
410 – Ophtalmologists
411 – Orthopaedits
412 – Otorhinolaryngologists
413 – Paediatricians
414 - Radiologists
415 – Doctors in other specialties

13. List of high value added activities
PORTUGUESE
ENGLISH
5 - Professores:
501 – Professores universitários
5 - Teachers:
501 – University professors
6 - Psicólogos:
601 – Psicólogos
6 - Psychologists:
601 – Psychologists
7 - Profissões liberais, técnicos e assimilados:
701 – Arqueólogos
702 – Biólogos e especialistas em ciências da vida
703 – Programadores informáticos
704 – Consultoria e programação informática e actividades relacionadas com as tecnologias da informação e informática
705 – Actividades de programação informática
706 – Actividades de consultoria em informática
707 – Gestão e exploração de equipamento informático
708 – Actividades dos serviços de informação
709 – Actividades de processamento de dados, domiciliação de informação e actividades relacionadas/portais Web
7 - Professional services, technicians and similar:
701 – Archaeologists
702 – Biologists and experts in life sciences
703 – Computer Programmers
704 – Software consultancy and activities related to information technology and information technology
705 – Computer programming activities
706 – Computer consultancy activities
707 – Management and operation of computer equipment
708 – Activities of information services
709 – Activities of data processing, hosting information and related activities/Web portals

14. List of high value added activities
PORTUGUESE
ENGLISH
710 – Actividades de processamento de dados, domiciliação de informação e actividades relacionadas
711 – Outras actividades dos serviços de informação
712 – Actividades de agências de notícias
713 – Outras actividades dos serviços de informação
714 – Actividades de investigação científica e de desenvolvimento
715 – Investigação e desenvolvimento das ciências físicas e naturais
716 – Investigação e desenvolvimento em biotecnologia
717 – Designers
710 – Activities of data processing, hosting information and related activities
711 – Other information service activities
712 – Activities of news agencies
713 – Other information service activities
714 – Scientific research and development
715 – Research and development of science physical and natural
716 – Research and development in biotechnology
8 - Investidores, administradores e gestores:
801 – Investidores, administradores e gestores de empresas promotoras de investimento produtivo, desde que afectos a projectos elegíveis e com contratos de concessão de benefícios fiscais celebrados ao abrigo do Código Fiscal do Investimento, aprovado pelo Decreto -Lei n.º 249/2009, de 23 de Setembro
802 – Quadros superiores de empresas
8 - Investors, administrators and managers:
801 – Investors, administrators and managers of companies promoting productive investment, if allocated to eligible projects under tax benefits contracts awarded under the Tax Code for Investment, approved by Decree-Law No. 249/2009, of 23 September
 802 – Senior employees of companies