According to Dinheiro Vivo, the president of the association, Pedro Fontainhas, accuses the Government of making a “blind decision” and calls for “common sense” to avoid a “catastrophe” in the sector, warning that investors are “trading Portugal for Greece”.
According to figures disclosed to Dinheiro Vivo based on the 27 members of the APR, since the announcement of the end of the gold visas, between February 16 and the end of April, residential tourism projects worth 800 million euros that lead to the loss of 500 million euros in taxes that would have been collected by the State. 2,090 jobs involved in canceled projects have also no longer been created.
Among the regions of the country that saw projects canceled are Alcácer do Sal, Amarante, Beja, Castro Marim, Évora, Faro, Grândola, Lagos, Óbidos, Portimão, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Sagres, Salir, Santiago do Cacém, Sines, Tavira, Troia, Vila Real de Santo António and Vila Viçosa.
Golden visas were supposed to be temporary in the first place. It served its purpose and lingered for too long. It would always take a hit when gone but it's not a zero sum
By Jc from Lisbon on 28 May 2023, 21:03
In the end it isn't Portugal's decision. The pressure from the EU was huge. Portugal will in the end also get high speed trains it doesn't need. D and F need to sell them.
By Tom from Lisbon on 29 May 2023, 08:58
Cry me a river, Mr. Costa.
In the final analysis, the Golden Visa scheme harmed Portuguese society much more than the tax revenue generated from foreign investment could ever compensate for.
A significant portion of this money has already been blown on vanity projects like TAP, & the average Portuguese is priced out of the real estate market by people from countries where they are not taxed half to death like we are.
By Quentin Ferreira from Lisbon on 29 May 2023, 11:02
I am glad this was finally canceled. This opened the door to a luxury real estate market that was destroying the country's housing market. The Golden Visa should focus on productive assets and not on real estate. Once the visa targets companies through equity then it will contribute to the development of the country. These real estate conglomerates need to be stopped as they are destroying everything they touch, especially from the United States and China. The United States already is in crisis with a country which is extortionate and also with a housing crisis, yet Americans continue to do the same. Stupid should be their middle name.
By Pedro from Lisbon on 29 May 2023, 11:15
Haha you think people buying a golden visa are buying a home that most Portuguese can afford? That’s laughable .
By George from Algarve on 29 May 2023, 16:43
Canceling the Golden Visa will create a massive financial hardship for Portugal and doing so will not help with affordable housing.
Golden Visa homes are NOT those that people who can't afford housing are competing for. All this does is take money out of the pockets of all Portuguese tpeople who build and maintain these homes, removing all the spending of the GV people. Cars, furniture, electronics, restaurants, stores, etc. No more airline tickets, hotels, rental cars and similar while searching for a GV home. No more guests visiting GV people or people scouting out GV locations. All of the VAT and earnings from the above just goes away. Meanwhile, all this taxation that's vaporized cannot fund an already financially challenged Portugal and its social programs.
I get the desire of the Portuguese to have their autonomy and normal life, as well as the desire to keep a bad element out, but at what cost? All of these billions of Euros lost will be missed. Far less funding for social programs.
This move is simply a "feel good" move for people who blame foreigners for their housing challenges and out hurts all the merchants who were these people and removes all the money, and taxes, they spent. Truly a bad move.
By Mike Schmidt from Algarve on 29 May 2023, 20:39
Portuguese Government needed a fast inflow of money to burn in TAP and pay loans. A fast bandage that hurted the Portuguese Economy medium and long term. Portugal exchanged a few golden visa inflows for the outflow of thousands of the best portuguese high-quality minds and work force. A good business for the few, a horrible one for the Country. Now to compensate the lack of young people, is giving more fiscal advantages for foreign young workers to relocate to Portugal that for its owns. Destructive.
By Rp from Lisbon on 30 May 2023, 07:11
It’s sad to see Portuguese people blaming the golden visa for their country problematic management over the last 20 years - seems like a pattern to blame others for their own problems - canceling the golden visa won’t solve your country housing problem - you should embrace FDI inflow and the positive associated impact
By Eduardo Liuzzi from Lisbon on 30 May 2023, 08:21
Quentin Ferreira - What you forget is that people that come here and benefit from various schemes are rich already. If you still just earn 20-50k a year, it doesn't help so much. The investments and consumption from those rich individuals benefit the entire society in Portugal.. After all, not many Portuguese could afford to move to a nice flat in Principe Real, Lapa or Avenida Liberdade before either, unless they got it from their family since before and grown up rather well off. Also - there are not so much tax benefits of the scheme as you might think. It's a one off - when moving here. After that, there are usually not so many benefits. Same tax if you run a business here. But I guess you just like to complain and sit on your ass doing nothing? Well, most of the ones coming here worked 12-15+ hours a day in intensive jobs that pays well. That's how they can afford it. Not by being lazy at their jobs and not increasing productivity or income for the business the work for..
By Martin E from Lisbon on 30 May 2023, 13:25
Is Amazing how 60% of the comments here are complains of how the money earners and the ones taking risks and make every part of a Portuguese economy move and pay for their social programs and their countries sustainability.
Is amazing how the stupidity of the claims .
, Lisbon was an Old falling apart City , when the risk takers with money started the Revitalization of Lisbon with projects that the some Portuguese can’t afford but others can and want .
Bringing investors and future residents to spend money and creat Jobs
The Socialists that keep complaining they can’t afford the housing I say work harder be wiser stop complaining, stop voting for Governments that have no Idea how to govern and develop a society Mitch less a country , you keep voting for politicians that promise you the world but only wok 4 days a week !
Guess what , your socialism ideas is creating a country of entitled brats Lazy complainers, with no ideas.
When you complain about Americans and Europeans pumping money into a country that was in decay, tell us why so many Portuguese live Portugal for hard working free money making countries that keep reinvesting and reinventing
Where Citizens from all over are welcome with their ideas and money
When 90% of the Portuguese society is open and recognizes such Portugal will be transformed and their people can afford lots more on their own not by government hand outs
We all recognize that no world or country is Perfect but perfection is for the complainers and idealists not real people
My piece of advise for the Complainers
Work harder learn more from the money makers and the ones that do well
And be wise and try hard new ideas be strong and wise in adversity
By Antonio F. from Algarve on 04 Jun 2023, 19:01
Haters are going to hate.
It is easier to point a finger of blame at somebody else than take responsibility.
Problem is when pointing a finger of blame 3 fingers are pointing back at you.
In 2022 Portugal issued 1200 golden visas, do you really think this had any effect on affordable housing?
Calling Americans stupid says much more about you than it does about Americans.
By jeffrey Kugler from Algarve on 14 Jun 2023, 14:07