Investing in Madeira

Simply a wonderful place to live

Tranquility | Security | Prosperity

Madeira – Portugal’s endearing little cousin

What a difference a few decades make. Track back to 1974. Portugal - an impoverished dictatorship, grimly hanging on to the ramshackle remnants of an African Empire – a country struggling to get by under the burden of a decaying dictatorship.

Fast forward 40+ years, and you find one of Europe’s most attractive and desirable destinations – in which to work, live, visit, or retire.

And there’s nowhere more attractive and more desirable that Portugal’s endearing little cousin, just 1,000 kms from its coastline - Madeira.

Madeira attracts people from across the world, lured by the idyllic climate, those beautiful coast lines, that warm, friendly welcome from its people and its high, yet surprisingly low-cost, standard of living. There are also outstanding tax benefits for Madeira and The Azores.

Is it any surprise that this jewel on Europe’s western edge is the first choice for many in the EU who seek a second citizenship?

Portuguese citizenship – what’s the appeal?

So many are drawn to this great country as a destination for a second citizenship. It’s easy to see why. As other parts of the world increasingly show signs of fracture and disorder (Ukraine, Hong Kong, Brexit and the United States), Portugal and Madeira grow even more attractive as havens of tranquillity, security and prosperity.

For its part, Madeira is doing all it can to attract investment by offering the following attractive benefits -

• Dual/multiple citizenships allowed
• Citizenship of the European Union
• Low language requirements for naturalisation
• Only 5 years to gain Portuguese citizenship
• Outstanding tax benefits for Madeira and The Azores. 10-year preferential tax treatment for those eligible.
• Flexible immigration pathways - via the D7 visa. Ideal for those with passive income from overseas, including from salaried remote work (not always available for comparable passive income residency programs in other countries).
• Access to the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) tax program - preferential tax treatment for a 10-year period for eligible new residents
• Access to Golden Visa Residency scheme   - granting foreign investors immediate five-year temporary residency, with no need to live in Portugal.

1. Moving to Madeira as an EU citizen 
   If you’re a citizen of the EU/EEA, you can move freely to Madeira anytime and immediately get your five-year temporary Portugal residency card.
   
   If you’re an EU citizen with non-EU family members, they can move to Madeira by using the EU family reunification pathway.
   
   
2. Moving to Portugal as a non-EU citizen
   Are you a non-EU citizen? Then moving to Madeira is slightly more complex - but still easier than many other countries in Europe.

Portugal has a publicly financed national health service (SNS), which offers coverage through its health centres across the country.

Coverage includes all care, apart from dentistry, and is available to all residents of Portugal. You’ll need to get a número de utente (health number) from your local health center.

Healthcare in Portugal is free for under 18s and over 65s. Otherwise, it’s available at a lower rate. If you’re hospitalised, medication administered during a procedure is free of charge.

Medical care in Portugal has improved greatly in recent years. It’s now ranked amongst the finest in Europe – above the likes of Spain, Italy, Ireland and the UK.

If you need medical attention in Portugal, you’ll first visit your local health centre (centro de saúde). In an emergency, you can go to the nearest hospital. The SNS also has a free 24/7 hotline available in English. Call 808 242 424.

For those preferring private health care, there are a variety of affordable options and plenty of private doctors.