High-profile guests gathered to learn more about Portugal’s coveted Golden Visa program through Golden Visa Centrale’s enlightening June roadshow.
On June 25, 2024, Golden Visa Centrale (GVC)—a prominent player in international property marketing consultancy specializing in residency-by-investment—held a roadshow at the Rizal Room in Manila House with the aim of shedding light on Portugal’s Golden Visa program. With many of the world’s wealthiest applying for multiple citizenships, the intimate event garnered the interest of more than twenty of Manila’s high-profile individuals, each one looking to secure their mobility and widen their lifestyle opportunities.
Throughout the event, it was made clear to guests that Portugal’s Golden Visa program is truly among the best in the world in terms of requirements and overall benefits. Providing insights to the application process were GVC co-founder and president Vicky Luis, as well as her Portugal partners Arish Capital Partners (ACP) and Portuguese Law firm Pinto Ribeiro (PR).
Demystifying The Process
ACP walked guests through the enticing advantages and reasonable requirements for the Golden Visa—which primarily involves a €500,000 investment in a private equity fund for co-working spaces in Lisbon’s central business district (CBD1). Being one of the most powerful districts in the entire country, CBD1 naturally draws the attention of wealthy investors. As the place to be for everything from business to shopping, it’s a prime location that’s resilient in economic downturns and incredibly lucrative during upturns.
It also helps that Portugal has a robust economy, emergent real estate market, and stable government, which assures would-be applicants that they’re making a smart investment.
Members of ACP also discussed the pros and cons of investing in a private equity fund, and gave more elucidating details on how award-winning asset management firm Sixty Degrees will help make the investment journey a smooth one. GVC and its partners will also be giving €200,000 of incentives to their first 20 applicants for Portugal’s Golden Visa. In just its first few weeks, the program has already been well-received, with 16 out of 20 slots filled.
Prospective applicants still have a chance to fill up the last few slots, but even those who aren’t part of the first 20 have much to gain from working with GVC and its partners. The consultancy boasts a 100% success rate, having successfully processed hundreds of applications since its establishment in 2019.
Family First
PR also helped demystify the application process, taking the time to answer the guests’ pertinent questions during the latter half of the roadshow. Given the large size of many Filipino households, as well as their strong dedication to family, guests asked how a Portuguese Golden Visa (and later on, a European citizenship) could benefit their loved ones, and if there are limits to reunification.
The law firm clarified that once an investment is made, applicants can reunify as many direct family members as they want, provided they fulfill certain criteria. For children who are adults, this includes proving that they are unmarried and financially dependent, or still pursuing their studies. For older family members over 65, similar criteria apply, including proof of their financial dependence.
The guests’ excitement was palpable, as many were not only entrepreneurs or high-flying professionals, but also parents. To further help them in the decision-making process, GVC offered private consultations to attendees on the second day of their roadshow, which took place on June 26 at Shangri-La The Fort.
A Gift That Keeps On Giving
When a family has successfully attained European citizenship after a five-year period, a bright future for the next few generations is as good as secured. European passport holders are not only eligible to live, study, and work in European countries like any Portuguese citizen, but are also able to avail of perks like considerably smaller education fees in the continent’s top universities.
As ACP expressed during the talk, such a move is a “priceless” gift that, in a way, is as much a necessity as it is a luxury for those who truly want to give their family the best life possible.
“The program will help so many Filipino families with kids,” Luis added. It will not just give you discounted tuition fees and opportunities, it will give you a Plan B. The world is changing so rapidly before our eyes: so having that mobility, even for your businesses, is always something good.”
Those looking to join the next Golden Visa Roadshow can catch it on the following dates this August 2024:
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | 5:30 PM | Manila House | Rizal Room
Thursday, August 22, 2024 | 11:00 AM | Last Chukker | Manila Polo Club
Friday, August 23, 2024 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Shangri-La Horizon Club Lounge
Photos by Ed Simon of KLIQ, Inc.
