The fascination of Portugal: Why invest in Portugal?

The pleasant Atlantic climate, the sea and sun which shines in Portugal almost all the year long, offer a unique living and working quality of life. Be it an apartment or a house, I can find the right property for your needs. With a wide range of international schools, it is also the perfect setting for families. Portugal also offers opportunities to receive a 10-year tax exemption for pensioners and freelancers when relocating. If you are not an EU citizen, only with an investment of €500,000 in real estate in Portugal, you are eligible to get a residency permit for you and your family, including dependent children.


Living in Lisbon

Lisbon is not only a World Heritage Site, but also a quaint and cozy city that combines a modern cosmopolitan lifestyle and historical architecture. As the second oldest capital in Europe, Lisbon captivates the imagination with its impressive sights, cultural treasures and picturesque landscapes.

The historical neighborhoods, traditional tile paintings and the world-famous trams take you back in time. The friendly nature of the Portuguese, the distinct café culture and lively nightlife make you feel welcome. It is only two to three hours flight from most European cities – direct flights from over 120 cities around the world are offered throughout the year. Lisbon is an important European hub for Brazil and South America and it is also one of the most important European hubs for Africa.

The mild Atlantic climate makes Lisbon the ideal trip destination or permanent residence year-round. The hot summer nights are comfortable, the mild winters attract plenty of sunshine and temperatures that rarely fall below 10 ° C. Moreover, Lisbon is one of the safest and most inexpensive capital cities to live in Western Europe.

Cost of living

Of the Western European capitals, Lisbon has the lowest cost of living. As a result of the economic crisis, prices have fallen dramatically in recent years. An espresso rarely costs more than 70 cents at a café and a dinner costs rarely more than 15 euros in a mid-range restaurant, with a bottle of wine usually costing between 12 to 15 euros.

Safety

Lisbon is one of the safest European cities. According to the Global Peace Index 2016, Portugal ranks fifth among the safest countries in the world.

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Surroundings

Discover the Arrábida Peninsula Natural Park, watch dolphins in Setúbal, visit the majestic castles of romantic Sintra, spend an exiting evening at Estoril, the largest casino in Europe, or surf the Guincho beach in Cascais, all within an hour’s drive.

Living in Cascais and on the Estoril coast

Located in the east of Lisbon and bordered on both sides by the Atlantic Ocean, lies the region of Estoril, Cascais and Sintra. In the past, the nobles and rich had their weekend and holiday homes on this magnificent “Portuguese Riviera”.

You can easily reach this unique area with one of the suburban trains from Lisbon or via the well-developed highways. The charming sight of the coastal route from the Lisbon train station on Cais do Sodré to Cascais is well worth the trip.

This area has many sandy beaches, ancient castles and luxurious villas, a new marina and offers the opportunity for countless outdoor activities such as surfing, cycling and mountain biking, sailing, golfing, hiking or tennis.

Romantic Sintra

Sintra is a center of classic romantic architecture and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 along with the surrounding Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais.

Hills up to 529 m high, the Serra de Sintra is an enchanted world of mountains and forests with fairytale castles, Moor Castles, hidden palaces, romantic parks and monuments. The lighthouse at Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of the European continent.

Elegant Estoril

Estoril is located 25 km west of Lisbon. It is characterized by the many beautiful and ancient villas from the time when Estoril was the seaside resort of the nobility and members of the Portuguese royal family. In the first half of the 20th century, many European kings and aristocrats chose Estoril as exile. Even today, many foreigners live in this cosmopolitan and cultivated atmosphere.

Estoril has the largest casino in Europe, a motorsport race circuit and a variety of cultural and sports activities. Once a year, the ATP tennis tournament Estoril Open is held here.

Sports in Cascais

Cascais, 35 km west of Lisbon and right on the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most popular and exclusive beach resorts in the Lisbon area. The Guincho beach is an internationally known surfing area.

With its 30,000 inhabitants Cascais preserves the charm of the old fishing village and has become cosmopolitan. Contrasting the elegant shops, boutiques and exclusive restaurants on the Guincho quayside, there are still fishermen mooring their boats in the harbor.

Fortunately, the city has invested in its infrastructure in recent years. Generous walking and cycling paths were created and public parcs were tastefully rehabilitated. The modern marina has sailing and motor yachts of all sizes.

Golf in Portugal

With more than 50 golf courses and an all-season pleasant climate, Portugal is a very attractive destination for golfers. In the region around Lisbon you can play world-class golf. Oitavos, Quinta da Marinha, Golf do Estoril or Penha Longa in the Estoril / Cascais region are among the most exclusive destinations for golfers in Europe.

Renzo Piano’s Prata

Between downtown Lisbon and the Park of Nations, a new residential district, the “Prata”, is being built. The extraordinary construction project on a former factory site on the banks of the Tagus River connects urban planning with the architectural finesse of the star architect Renzo Piano. Please contact me for this remarkable real estate object.

Excellent architecture

The design of the “Prata” is characterized by the geometric grid of the industrial past of the area as well as by the Tejo which flows perpendicularly to it. It is inspired in the traditional style of Lisbon, with its clear and orderly facades. These protect the intimacy of the areas between the buildings. The ventilated facades are also covered with 1.20 m wide ceramic tiles. Renzo Piano combines the ancient tiles of Lisbon with a touch of modern in his architectural design.

Exclusive location

The newly built “Prata” district is located between the downtown Praça do Comércio and the Park of Nations. Situated on the banks of the river Tagus, in “Prata” you will find not only luxurious apartments in a prime location, but also a variety of shops that will breath new life into the area. A large parking area enables direct access from the buildings to the Tagus River. This recreational zone was completed in 2018.

Fully equipped apartments

The building currently under construction consists of a total of 27 units consisting of 3-room (T2) to 7-room (T6 +) apartments. The ground floor includes shops and above five floors of apartments, the last two floors consist of duplex apartments with beautiful terraces.

All elevators are vitrified and give the opportunity to enjoy a magnificent view of the river while driving into the apartment. All apartments have a balcony or a spacious terrace, which allows a wide view of the Tagus River. The apartments are fully furnished, that is with complete kitchen, home automation, air conditioning, electric shutters, etc. According to their size, the apartments have two to four parking spaces and a storage room.

Star architect Renzo Piano

The Italian architect Renzo Piano is a master of construction technology and is considered one of the most important architects of our time. The recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize has designed innovative buildings throughout the world over the past 50 years, including cultural centers, airports, universities and museums. The Pompidou Center in Paris, the New York Times Building, The Shard skyscraper on Tower Bridge in London, and the Kansai Airport Terminal in Osaka and parts of Potsdamer Platz in Berlin are just some of the famous examples of his outstanding work. 

With his style, Renzo Piano is considered a wanderer between modernity and tradition. His buildings play with light, reveal an impressive brightness and are characterized by a clear design.

Tax savings in Portugal

NHR-Status = Non Habitual Residence

Since 2009, Portugal has offered the possibility for tax exemption for ten years if you reside there. So far, British, French, Scandinavians and also people from other countries take advantage of this opportunity. 

The basis for this is the “Regime Fiscal para o Residente nao habitual”, which means “tax law for non habitual residents.”

Retirees and pensioners

With NHR status, pensions, interests, dividends and royalties originating from non-Portuguese sources are exempt from income tax under certain conditions.

Professionals

This NHR regime can also be used by people who are still working. If you live in Portugal, but you earn your money outside the country, you may be able to obtain tax exemptions or tax relief (eg flat tax rate of 20% for certain freelancers, such as doctors, architects, engineers, artists, programmers, and designers, etc.).

Conditions

The condition for NHR status is that you have not been taxed in Portugal for the past five years. EU and EEA foreigners as well as Swiss are granted the NHR status on application.

All these questions should be obtained from experts who are familiar with Portuguese tax law and the relevant double taxation treaty.

Costs and expenses

Applying for NHR status at the local tax office costs nothing.

For somewhat more complex assets, it is recommended that an analysis be conducted by a lawyer or accountant. These are not cheap in Portugal with hourly rates between 100 and 200 Euros, but you are on the legally safe side.

The annual accounts of a Portuguese tax advisor will cost between € 300 and € 500. I am able to bring you into contact with the respective specialists in Portugal.