Close Menu
Fund Focus News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • 5 top-rated equity mutual funds with highest assets in 2025: Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund tops chart – Money News
    • A closer look at ETFs vs. mutual funds
    • Passive mutual funds gaining traction; now 17% of total AUM: Motilal Oswal report – Money News
    • Top 3 Energy Mutual Funds to Turbocharge Your Portfolio
    • Holiday home investments dip as taxes and rules kick in
    • Thematic mutual fund hype fizzles out, but what about returns? Why investors time their exit in these funds
    • Property118 | Case Study: How Martin Escaped a Hybrid LLP and Built a Family Investment Company
    • SBI Mutual Fund launches new ETF: Should you invest?
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Fund Focus News
    • Home
    • Bonds
    • ETFs
    • Funds
    • Investments
    • Mutual Funds
    • Property Investments
    • SIP
    Fund Focus News
    Home»Property Investments»The Biggest Portuguese Golden Visa Misconceptions – IMI
    Property Investments

    The Biggest Portuguese Golden Visa Misconceptions – IMI

    July 25, 2024


    Optylon Krea
    IMI Official Partner


    The Portuguese Golden Visa has undergone considerable changes over the past few years, but as we set on a stable path, Optylon Krea wants to address some of the most common misconceptions about the program since its last update.

    Optylon Krea’s Sales Manager Manuela Luz and Tirso Olazábal, Partner at MdME, a law firm with offices in Lisbon and Hong Kong, sit down to explore some of the most common questions they get regarding the Portuguese Golden Visa in Hong Kong, starting with its current status.

    Yes, the Portuguese Golden Visa is still open

    Manuela: Focusing on the Hong Kong area, a question I keep getting is whether the Portuguese Golden Visa is still available. In short, the program is still alive and well.

    There are many misconceptions here stemming from media outlets not fully understanding what is going on and advisors who want to shift to other programs and—sadly—just saying the program is closed because they do not offer anything other than real estate, which is no longer an eligible investment.

    I want to make it clear that the program is still open. The only change is that the government removed any real estate or real estate-adjacent investment options from it.

    Investors can still qualify through other investment options, and the fund option is now the most popular among investors since it is simple, quick, and beneficial.

    There is still a lot of demand for Portugal’s Golden Visa in Hong Kong. Yes!

    Tirso: As probably the only Portuguese law firm with an office in Hong Kong, I have kept closer tabs than most on the developments in Portugal. The Golden Visa kept running even as the government implemented the changes, but I found that the awareness about the subject among interested parties is warped. This may be due to misinterpretation of what they read and see online and the fact that other EU countries had effectively shut down their visa on investment programs.

    The regulatory changes, the change in naturalization laws, and the switch from SEF to AIMA all came in quick succession, which is why many may have assumed that the program had closed.

    I explain the changes in detail to investors who visit our office, and I found that many of them see no difference in the program because they were still considering the immigration aspect and haven’t gone into the investment details.

    Is investment in real estate available?

    Manuela: No, that has been the most significant change in the Golden Visa program. In 2023, almost 67% of all Golden Visa applications were real estate-based. The government’s decision to remove property investments when they were so popular is probably why people started thinking, “the Golden Visa is closed.”

    The Golden Visa still has other investment options, with the fund category leading the way, but none of those options can be real estate-centric.

    Funds that invest in real estate are also uneligible, so anything connected to property is now off the table.

    This development, while major in scale, actually has little to no effect on the Golden Visa itself.

    Fund investments have been prevalent, even when the real estate option existed. The percentage of Golden Visa applications under the fund option grew from 0.56% in 2019 to 28% in 2023.

    This is the natural progression of the Golden Visa, and whether real estate is available or not, the fund option will continue to grow.

    Tirso: This is a fundamental question. No, real estate is not available, and neither are investments directly or indirectly connected to real estate.

    This is important because of the complexities of the new investment landscape. It is crucial that investors choose a fund that aligns with the Golden Visa’s requirements; if not, their applications may be rejected.

    In addition, some funds have stringent contractual arrangements, so if a Golden Visa applicant invests in a fund that doesn’t qualify for the program, he or she may have a challenging time withdrawing their investment and, in some cases, may have to pay penalties.

    This is why it is so important to work not only with an experienced law firm but also with a trusted fund leader in the market.

    Is investing in hospitality the same as real estate?

    Manuela: No, not necessarily. I think there is a misconception regarding this because of how things work in the Caribbean, where hotel shares count as real estate investments.

    In Portugal, it is different. A hospitality-focused fund may be tied to real estate (if it builds projects and sells them), but most of the time, it isn’t a property-based investment channel.

    Optylon Krea’s venture capital Ando Europe Fund invests in the Ando Living brand, operating companies, and subsidiaries, specializing in hospitality F&B and services.

    The fund’s main focus is the hospitality sector, and since it is not involved in real estate development, it is eligible for the Golden Visa. 

    Hospitality offers high profit margins and is very safe, making it the best alternative to real estate under the Golden Visa.

    Ando Europe Fund operates on a regional scale, which allows us to lower the risk margin and adapt quickly to changes. This flexibility means that Ando Europe Fund can capitalize on opportunities, providing greater returns for investors on the lowest risk level possible.

    Tirso: Most Golden Visa investors look for low-risk venture investments. The investment itself is usually a means to an end, and in this case, they are right to prioritize risk mitigation.

    This is where the hospitality sector comes in. Portugal is a highly touristic destination that is becoming more and more popular.

    The number of tourists in Portugal exceeded the pre-pandemic level by 10% in 2023, and this growth is outstanding news for those with investments in the hospitality sector.

    There is a fine line between hospitality management and development, so not all funds will qualify for the Golden Visa. 

    What is the best way to approach the Portuguese Golden Visa?

    Manuela: That is a simple one. Optylon Krea is the market leader in the fund route in Portugal, with extensive experience serving over 600 investors from 40 different nationalities. We are currently advising the fifth fund of our portfolio. Through Tirso, we have boots on the ground, and our vast expertise in operating funds under the Portuguese Golden Visa means we are the best partner for anyone in Hong Kong.

    Tirso: We are in a unique position as we can meet investors on the ground on a daily basis, which usually gives more comfort to someone who is investing in a foreign country. We understand what Hong Kong citizens and residents need and how that can align with what the Golden Visa offers.

    It is rare to find an investment migration professional who understands both sides of the coin, but that is precisely what we offer.

    To learn more about the Golden Visa, contact Optylon Krea today through their website. 



    Source link

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email

    Related Posts

    Holiday home investments dip as taxes and rules kick in

    August 4, 2025

    Property118 | Case Study: How Martin Escaped a Hybrid LLP and Built a Family Investment Company

    August 4, 2025

    Asda eyes £400m property deal to fund turnaround push

    August 4, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Top Posts

    5 top-rated equity mutual funds with highest assets in 2025: Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund tops chart – Money News

    August 5, 2025

    Qu’est-ce qu’un green bond ?

    December 7, 2017

    les cat’ bonds deviennent incontournables

    September 5, 2018

    ETF : définition et intérêt des trackers

    May 15, 2019
    Don't Miss
    Mutual Funds

    5 top-rated equity mutual funds with highest assets in 2025: Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund tops chart – Money News

    August 5, 2025

    If you’re looking to invest in equity mutual funds and want your money in schemes…

    A closer look at ETFs vs. mutual funds

    August 4, 2025

    Passive mutual funds gaining traction; now 17% of total AUM: Motilal Oswal report – Money News

    August 4, 2025

    Top 3 Energy Mutual Funds to Turbocharge Your Portfolio

    August 4, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    EDITOR'S PICK

    Janus Henderson élargit sa gamme d’ETF sur actifs titrisés

    May 12, 2025

    qu’est-ce que cela va changer ?

    April 10, 2025

    Institutional Investors Drive Adoption of Cryptocurrency ETFs

    August 8, 2024
    Our Picks

    5 top-rated equity mutual funds with highest assets in 2025: Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund tops chart – Money News

    August 5, 2025

    A closer look at ETFs vs. mutual funds

    August 4, 2025

    Passive mutual funds gaining traction; now 17% of total AUM: Motilal Oswal report – Money News

    August 4, 2025
    Most Popular

    ₹10,000 monthly SIP in this debt mutual fund has grown to over ₹70 lakh in 23 years

    June 13, 2025

    ₹1 lakh investment in these 2 ELSS mutual funds at launch would have grown to over ₹5 lakh. Check details

    April 25, 2025

    ZIG, BUZZ, NANC, and KRUZ

    October 11, 2024
    © 2025 Fund Focus News
    • Get In Touch
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.