Investing in Portuguese National Heritage & Resident Permit

Background

Portugal has an immense built historical heritage, but unfortunately some of it is still awaiting for restoration without being used, valued and appreciated as it should be.

The extinction of religious orders in Portugal began in 1759, when the Jesuits were expelled from the country and their property confiscated and incorporated into the National Estate Heritage, followed by the extinction of their religious order "Companhia de Jesus" / Jesuitas (Society of Jesus), established by Saint Ignatius de Loyola (16th century). After the liberal wars in Portugal, all feminine and masculine religious orders were extinguished as well. In other words, all the countless monasteries, convents, churches, farmhouses, ... passed to the Portuguese State, being this process concluded in 1862.

Since the end of the 19th century, all this National Estate Heritage has taken on to other functions: schools, hospitals, universities, military headquarters, mental health institutions, other  public and religious facilities, .... lacking proper maintenance due to the country's lack of financial resources.

But that's not all. There are also medieval castles, palaces and houses of noble families from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, fortresses used to defending the territory both at coastline but also inland near the spanish border, that have been maintained by the Portuguese State.

Thankfully, since the three french invasions at the beginning of the first quarter of the 19th century, Portugal has not suffered any wars, and in particular, the Great War and World War II. Portugal did not benefitted from the Marshall Plan for assistance in reconstruction of Europe, as it happened with sixteen participating countries. Despite, nowadays, these countries seems to have forgotten this essential American contribution to its postwar reconstruction, including their National Heritage, many rebuilt from scratch, and nowadays well kept less than 70 year old copies of what it were before.

In Portugal, heritage reflects the weight of time, some over several hundred years old, and some of which being deteriorated due to lack of investment or with limited financial resources for years,  while some well kept until now. The main issue here is to by transforming the historic legacy in valued assets, by developing there economic activities that allow to maintain, preserve and valorise them.



A. Rehabilitation programmes

In recent decades, this heritage in danger has been restored, mainly for tourism purposes, on the basis of private concessions for certain periods of time. Several programmes have been set up for the rehabilitation of historic buildings, and one of these is the "Revive" Programme.

https://revive.turismodeportugal.pt/en
(Videos available inside)

All finished recovery works were very well done so far (see concluded procedures (*) ),  and thanks to tourism, it must be said, these historic heritage have been converted into excellent museums, historic inns (Pousadas de Portugal) and 4 and 5 star hotels in regions where there was a scarce of hotels, mainly in inland countryside.

This rehabilitation programme is also open to non-portuguese citizens who wish to invest in Portugal, with several financial Instruments available.

About Revive Programme:
https://revive.turismodeportugal.pt/en/guiao-tecnico

FAQs:
https://revive.turismodeportugal.pt/en/ … frequentes

Properties:
https://revive.turismodeportugal.pt/en/imoveis

Locations:
https://revive.turismodeportugal.pt/en/node/618

Financial Instruments:
https://revive.turismodeportugal.pt/en/node/389
Please select "Revive Program Support Line" (PDF doc).

You can also select 'Tenders' from the main menu:
- Concluded procedures (*)
- Ongoing procedures
- Open procedures



B. Residence Permit

Residence Permit for Investment Activity in National Heritage (ARI / Golden Visa) 

Regarding the reconstruction or maintenance of the National Heritage, and in addition to programmes like the previous one, other investment options are related with this kind of Visa:

https://www.sef.pt/en/pages/conteudo-de … spx?nID=21

...
vi. Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 250 thousand Euros for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage;
...

I would warn everybody (especially a foreigner to a country) from take on a heritage redevelopment. his isn't specific to Portugal, but to any country. Heritage always means that a large number of people will be involved in every step of the process of the reconstruction. I would seriously leave these heritage redevelopmens to the "the state", because they can become a bottomless money pit.

I don't know if you are aware of what you are saying about these programs.

Point A refers to concessions to private companies some non portuguese, for periods of no less than 50 years. Making comments here in everything, just only because, without being informed judgements about what you are writing, is not worth it...

Dear Johnny, warning somebody means asking him to be careful. What's wrong about this? I do have friends that fell in love with a heritage building and it was extremely complicated to manage all the people that needed to get involved (because it is heritage). And yes, it got way more expensive than anybody had expected.

If you want me removed from this forum, then talk to your administration. YOU are also commenting on everything.

I don't only comment, I launch new topics, I try to inform and help... about this country because I know it.

I don't talk about what I don't know, and I don't talk about Germany. Although I have realised that there is a problem understanding about your post-war generation... It's not hard to find here where most conflicts arise from. And I'm not the only one to have noticed that already.

I'm deeply sorry about that.

JohnnyPT wrote:

I don't only comment, I launch new topics, I try to inform and help... about this country because I know it.

I don't talk about what I don't know, and I don't talk about Germany. Although I have realised that there is a problem understanding about your post-war generation... It's not hard to find here where most conflicts arise from. And I'm not the only one to have noticed that already.

I'm deeply sorry about that.

Be nice!

JohnnyPT wrote:

I don't only comment, I launch new topics, I try to inform and help... about this country because I know it.

I don't talk about what I don't know, and I don't talk about Germany. Although I have realised that there is a problem understanding about your post-war generation... It's not hard to find here where most conflicts arise from. And I'm not the only one to have noticed that already.

I'm deeply sorry about that.

Maybe you are in the wrong position in this forum? I wonder, why you are so aggressive. Have you even been an expat anywhere. I am providing my opinion and ideas from the point of view of a person that has been living in Portugal for over 5 years.

You better don't talk about Germany, if you have never lived there. But if you did live there, it would be great to learn about your point of view! And even if I don't like it, I would accept it!

I know Germany well. Regarding my last comment, I wanted to refer to the post-war generation born in Germany.

It is not difficult to understand who has been aggressive... It is not difficult to find postings of some German expats in Portugal written in this forum. Some posts were already deleted by the forum moderators due to excessive aggressive writing ....

Tom, I wish you all the best.

JohnnyPT wrote:

I know Germany well. Regarding my last comment, I wanted to refer to the post-war generation born in Germany.

Hi JohnnyPT, why don't you share your expat history with us on the forum. I did that and everybody can see that where I have been and where not. There are over 80 Millione Germans and I bet some have made aggressive comments. Have I?
Cheers ... Thomas

Hi Thomas, you are absolutely right.

Your input is always welcome here.
Please accept my apologies. Sometimes we are betrayed by our own ego, as happened to me here.

No worries. You are definitely providing much more valuable information than I do.