Portugal's 'golden visa' delays spark legal fight
Key takeaways
- After waiting years for their "golden visas," investors are taking Portugal to court.
- That's exactly what so-called golden visas are for — and Portugal is one of the countries that offers them.
- The catch is that the government has recently changed the rules, and many people who have been waiting years for the residence permits they were promised are now planning to take legal action.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
After waiting years for their "golden visas," investors are taking Portugal to court. Tougher citizenship rules have added fuel to the growing dispute.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GFs DLuke Strzegowski and his family moved from the US to Portugal four years ago, and are still waiting for a temporary residence permit Image: Luke Stzegowsky Advertisement Can a non-European simply buy their way into the Schengen Area? Or even pay to become a citizen of an EU country?
That's exactly what so-called golden visas are for — and Portugal is one of the countries that offers them. Anyone who invests at least €250,000 ($285,000) can first obtain a residence permit and, later, if they choose, even apply for a Portuguese passport.