This programme is being conducted under a collaboration among agencies:
• Portuguese Embassy: The embassy’s deputy head of mission Vasco Carvalhosa Costa and Afonso Duarte, economic and commercial counselor and director of AICEP Portugal Global.
• Canadian startup company Mercan Group and its subsidiaries Mercan Asia and Mercan Siam: The group CEO and founder Jerry Morgan and director of global business development Jasmine Dang.
• Mercan Group’s credited distribution partner Ekthana Services: The company’s managing director Ekthana Faisaikram and deputy managing director Soraya Bunnag.
The programme allows investors and their families to receive Portuguese and European Union (EU) citizenship after five years of investment.
Visa holders will be allowed to travel and purchase properties in Portugal and 26 other EU countries. They will be able to access free education, safe foods, clean air and good medical treatment there.
Other privileges are also available once becoming European citizens, such as pensions, holiday leave, social security and health insurance, and free visas for 191 countries worldwide.
Apart from the aforementioned privileges, investors can receive a 2% return on investment (tax free), a 100% buyback after investing for six years, and a 2% bonus in the eighth, 10th and 12th years of investment. They can also enjoy free seven-night stay at hotels in Portugal, and a 25% discount for additional rooms.
As of September last year, Portugal had issued 12,718 and 20,424 visas for investors and their family members, respectively.
“In 2015, Mercan Group decided to invest in the hospitality sector of Portugal to be the top line in Europe,” Jasmine Dang said.
She said the group is also promoting others to invest in commerce, trade and beauty of Portugal, hoping that the collaboration with the embassy will be strengthened for the country’s future.
