Read the latest press updates and news for Non-habitual residency status, provided by our NHR specialists team from EDGE International Lawyers firm.
Much has already been written on the new R&I Regime and whilst it the regime is still in its infancy with the full regulation pending, we will explore over a series of articles focussing on the main principles behind the regime.
Can I still apply for the NHR status?Yes, you can. Although the NHR status was phased out by the Portuguese Budget for 2024, there is still a window of opportunity to apply on or before 31st March 2025 under certain exceptions. Before examining these exceptions, let’s have a look at the benefits.
The Budget which referred to in our previous Briefing 2 has now been approved in Portuguese Parliament at the end of November, with some alterations. Specifically in relation to the Non Habitual Residency programme some transitional provisions have been approved which will enable certain classes of applicant to apply on or before 31st December 2024.
BRIEFING 2 THE DRAFT BUDGET 10th OCTOBER 2023. Further to the announcement regarding the Non-Habitual Tax Residency Programme last week referred to in our
On the evening of Monday 2nd October, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa during a TV interview, principally on the Budget for 2024, spoke about his government’s intention not to allow the Non-Habitual Tax Residence (NHR) status to continue into 2024. However, this was not an official government announcement and no further details have been released, neither has any draft legislation been circulated.
Gonçalo Figueira from our EDGE team will provide you with information regarding recent changes to NHR and ongoing applications during the lockdown.
Geoffrey Graham, Senior Partner at EDGE International Lawyers in conversation with Chitra Stern, CEO, Elegant Group, Portugal. Hear their experiences of living in Portugal for several years as foreigners, doing business in Portugal and how Portugal has fared in the pandemic.
Portugal has risen to be regarded as a COVID-19 haven, while at the same time, a great financial opportunity for anyone considering moving and investing here.
We were delighted to participate in the DSBA Annual Conference held at the head office of the Law Society of Portugal. Our Senior Partner Geoffrey Graham delivered a presentation on the Ireland Portugal Business Network, of which he is Chair, focussing on the evolving trade partnership between Portugal and Ireland.
After the successful pilot programmes of Madeira and Azores, followed by the biometric data collection (required to issue the residency cards) at the Cascais Citizens Bureau, there have now been further developments in Lisbon.
After many months of waiting, from 10th August British nationals resident in Cascais who have registered under the Withdrawal Agreement are being notified regarding the availability of appointments. The notifications are being made by SEF to the individual national’s registered e-mail address and typically provide a deadline of 10 days to make the appointment at the Cascais Town Hall. August dates are still available.
Geoffrey Graham, Senior Partner at EDGE International Lawyers in conversation with Christina Hippisley, Head of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK, to find out how these attractive financial incentives work, what might or might not change after Brexit and more about the Portuguese Health Passport.
A discussion about the different ways to move to Lisbon, the lifestyle, the start-up scene, business set up and the lowdown on international schools and healthcare in the city with Geoffrey Graham (Senior Partner EDGE Lawyers), Chitra Stern (CEO of Martinhal Resorts & United Lisbon International School) and Miguel Fontes (Executive Director StartUp Lisbon), moderated by Kitty Jones, Real Estate PR Expert.
With the end of Summer, school starts, business gets back to full speed and those working more closely with tax matters start wondering about what next Budget will bring. The fact that Portugal has a minority government brings an added level of uncertainty as every year a hard Budget negotiation takes place.
Covid-19 vaccination is now available for foreign citizens that are in Portugal and do not hold a residency permit. The vaccination is held in a National Health Care public service. It is not required to hold a National Health Number to take the vaccine.
Optimism is not, most say, one of the defining traits of the Portuguese. However, the feeling, the facts and the numbers, of the last few years have made even some of the most unyielding pessimists admit that major changes have occurred, for the better, in the country, and Portugal is now a place of choice for people from all over the world.
The discussion of a “Portuguese miracle” may have been too much, but now that Europe is tentatively emerging from the first wave of the coronavirus, it’s clear that the country performed well.
On another positive note, the Prime Minister, António Costa has declared that not only has the foreign investment which was planned for Portugal before the pandemic been maintained, but also there has been as increase in interest.
With its rapidly ageing population and close-knit family-oriented society, Portugal has much in common with its neighbour Spain. But while the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc in Spain, Portugal has had vastly lower infection and death rates.
In the new dawn of travel, when the starting gun has sounded and we are all longing for a taste of the unknown, exotic or merely different, Portugal is that rare thing of being near but with beaches that rival the Caribbean, of being foreign but familiar. Best of all, the Portuguese people are amazing hosts. Not only that, but Portugal is England’s oldest ally with a friendship formalised in 1386 when Richard II of England agreed the Treaty of Windsor with John I of Portugal promising, among other things, ‘If in time to come… we shall need the support of the other, the ally shall be bound to give aid and succour to the other’.
We are very pleased to announce our webinar “Door opened to a long future for NHR under new rules”, where Gonçalo Figueira from our EDGE team will provide you with information regarding recent changes to NHR and ongoing applications during the lockdown.
We are living in unprecedented times of a global pandemic during which the Portuguese Government is seeking to implement as effective measures as possible in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including the Declaration of the State of Emergency on 18th March 2020. The implementing legislation means that all public places are closed other than those which are essential, social distancing and quarantining where appropriate is mandatory and only essential public and other services will continue to operate. However, we at EDGE understand that existing and new clients need our continued support and assistance, now more than ever but it is also mandatory for us to adopt best practices in compliance with the State of Emergency legislation.
Taking in consideration the increasing numbers of those infected with the Covid-19, a State of Emergency has been declared in Portugal on …. and multiple special measures and legislation have been approved. This is the first such declaration since the 1976 Constitution has been in place.
The 2020 Budget, which was approved by Parliament on 6th February will result in some important changes to the NHR programme, particularly for NHRs in receipt of pension income and self-employment/consulting income. Due to the development of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current State of Emergency, the Budget was only recently approved by the President and will enter into force on 1st April 2020.
This is a message by way of reassurance to inform you that, despite the constantly evolving nature of the COVID-19 threat, EDGE International Lawyers will continue to be operate as normally as possible. At the same time, we felt it prudent to also reassure you that, due to the recommendations of the Portuguese Government together with the Portuguese and International Health organizations, we are taking proportional measures in terms of implementation of our contingency plan in order to control, and as far as possible prevent, the spread of COVID-19. These measures can be summarized as follows: remote working is being implemented as far as possible; all international business travel for our employees has been suspended; and meetings are being replaced by videoconferencing/conference calls.
The much talked about changes to the Portuguese Non-Habitual Tax Resident status (NHR) were approved by the Portuguese Parliament on Thursday 6th February 2020. These changes, which have not yet come into force will likely add another chapter to the success story of the Portuguese NHR programme and promote its longevity.
The vote on the 2020 Budget amendment to the non-habitual tax residency programme was approved in the Portuguese Parliament yesterday evening by an overwhelming majority. In summary, the amendment will result in new Non Habitual Tax Residents paying 10% tax on their pension income.
After much speculation based on reports in the newspapers and information from sources close to the government, PS, the government’s party has presented amendments to the 2020 Draft BudgetProposal, including changes to the NHR programme, which were made public on Monday 27th January as originally scheduled.
Following on from the news just under two weeks ago that the Portuguese NHR programme was under scrutiny, particularly in relation to pension income, sources are now indicating that there will be a wider change to the programme. By way of a reminder, and despite the fact that there has been no specific reference at all to the NHR in the original draft budget, two respectable Portuguese newspapers reported that a change to the treatment of pension income was being contemplated in the following terms:
With the UK scheduled to exit the EU on 31st January 2020, and the transition period due to run from 1st February to 31st December 2020, there is now a small window of opportunity for British citizens still to establish residency rights in Portugal.
On 8th October a circular was published by the Portuguese Tax Department changing the approach to and methodology in respect of the High Added Value Activity (“HAVA”) application. The benefits of the HAVA include paying tax on domestic salary at a flat rate of 20% and an exemption on overseas consulting income generated in the exercise of the activity. Conscious of its excessive delays in the granting of approvals, running up to 12 months and more, with the resulting lack of certainty, it was decided that, upon approval, the NHR applicant will automatically acquire the right to be taxed with the special tax rate of 20%. This is on the basis that they already meet the HAVA requirements, without the need for a separate application.
As a British and Irish dual national living in Portugal for almost 20 years, I believe it is extremely positive that the Portuguese Government through Tourism Portugal launched the #Brelcome campaign launched earlier this year. In increasingly uncertain times, the campaign is underpinned by one o
The Portuguese Government has published a new High Added Value Activities (HAVA) list for Non-Habitual Residents Regime. This new list shows a strong commitment of the government with the NHR status and a will to revamp the HAVA side of the NHR. Hopefully the waiting time for approval process will also be reduced significantly.
Over the last 10 years, a succession of Portuguese governments has sought to incentivise investment through tax residency and start-up programs, which have proven successful in contributing to the rehabilitation of the Portuguese economy.
The new legislation granting tax benefits on long term leases is now in force. Landlords may benefit from reduced tax rates in property income, with the rates varying in accordance with the length of the contract.
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