Urged by the need to attract foreign investment to Portugal, the Government has created, in August 2012, a new regime for the granting 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) is currently foreseen in Law n.º 23/2007, from June 4^th as amended by Law n.º 29/2012, from August 9^th. 

The process and requirements of the regime are stated in the Order n. º 11820-A/2012, of September 4^th, recently simplified by the Order n. º 1661-A/2013, of January 28th.