Portugal has been for the last few years one of the main countries that has attracted foreign investment. This mainly a result of its safe environment, the ease to open businesses with little to no specific restrictions to foreign investment and its successful Golden Visa programme.

In 2021, Portugal received a record 200 projects associated with FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) – triple of what was received in 2020.

The country is expected to end 2022 having received 1300 high-net worth families, being the 2nd largest high-net worth immigration destination in Europe and the 7th in the world according to this year’s Henley Global Citizens Report.

The movement of high-net worth families migrating to Portugal is a great indicator of the country’s economic stability, especially during the troubled times the world has been going through after the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Not only has Portugal been able to keep a stable economy during these times, but projections for the future look much brighter.

One of the main focuses of the government to attract foreign investment is to transform Portugal into a sandbox for technological solutions such as  energy, resource management, mobility and  waste management. In keeping with the European Union’s European Green Deal, investment in the renewable energy industry sector has also been propelling the country’s economy alongside technology and science sectors.

That has brought the Web Summit, the world’s biggest technology event, to Lisbon; and the Unicorn Factory, a platform of programs and hubs which supports startups in creating sound products and business models that further Lisbon’s position as an IT and startup hub.

The real estate sector is still one of the main attractions for international investors, but in the last few years, private investment funds focused on real estate have been outperforming traditional sectors.

Reforms in the competition law, the labour market, and the tax system, all put in place to further drive economic development have made it even easier to invest in Portugal.

Corporate tax rates have been reduced and tax credits of up to 25% are now offered for incoming investments depending on the location, the number of jobs created, and the degree of technological innovation involved.

When added to Portugal’s high attractive Non-habitual Tax Residency programme, Portugal is one of Europe’s brightest economies to invest in.