Urged by the need to attract foreign investment to Portugal, the Government has created, in August 2012, a new regime for the granting and renewal of the so-called "golden visas" to citizens of foreign countries willing to invest in Portugal.

This regime, known in Portugal as "ARI - Autorização de Residência para Actividade de Investimento" (which means Residence Permit for Investment Activities) foreseen in Law n.º 23/2007, of July 4, was recently amended by Law n.º 63/2015, of June 30. The main goal of this amendment was, in one hand, to broaden the scope of eligible investment activities to obtain the "golden visa" and, on the other hand, to widen the range of situations covered by the right to family reunification, within the specific golden visa regime.