Portugal Now One of the Top Choices for Business Leaders Seeking an Elevated Life

In today’s shifting global landscapes, the smartest leaders are not just focused on growing their businesses, they are actively searching for security, safety, and a stable country to relocate to.

Portugal offers a vast spectrum of opportunities and advantages– from strategic investments to easy routes to residency – for CEOs, investors, and business owners seeking to get a foothold in Europe. Strategically located in the same time zone as the UK, it is incredibly easy to do business from Portugal, where countless business leaders over the past years have relocated here and who now call Portugal home, enjoying its warm climate, high quality of life, and blossoming business environment.

Why Portugal?

So, what makes Portugal stand out as a hotspot on the map? While there are too many to list in detail, here are a few of the top reasons. 

• Investment opportunities: Portugal’s property market has moved from strength to strength over the past few years and is now one of the most highly sought-after markets in the world. Capital appreciation for luxury properties in Lisbon is expected to rise by 4.5 percent by the end of 2025, with higher growth than in Monaco, Milan, Paris, and Geneva.
• Thriving tech and business scene: Lisbon, Porto, and Braga, have each established themselves as being leading cities when it comes to tech and business, with many international companies and startups relocating to these cities. Perhaps the spark that caused such an interest in Portugal as being a tech hub was when Web Summit, the largest tech festival in the world, relocated to Lisbon in 2016. 
• Global mobility and European expansion: With an array of easy residency routes available and direct access to EU markets, Portugal is an excellent base for business owners and investors who want to establish themselves firmly in Europe. 
• Tax optimization and asset protection: There are several opportunities to benefit from tax reductions for businesses in Portugal, plus there is no inheritance tax. 
• Quality of life: Ranking in seventh position in the 2024 Global Peace Index and sixth in Global Citizen Solutions Quality of Life Index, Portugal is well-known for its high quality of life. 
• Excellent education and healthcare: With 51 high-class international schools in Portugal offering a range of curricula, languages, and teaching styles, should you be moving with children, you can rest assured that they’ll be set up in the best way for the challenges of life. Alongside this, the healthcare options in Portugal are very good, with the public service open to all residents and private healthcare also being very affordable, particularly when compared with other countries in Western Europe and the USA, 

A Thriving Business Landscape

Portugal has rapidly positioned itself as one of Europe’s most alluring destinations for business owners and investors, with a stable economy and government incentives – such as the Startup Visa and various funding programs – attracting high-net worth individuals and entrepreneurs from across the globe.

Global markets are dynamic and constantly evolving, with business leaders continually looking to be one step ahead. Portugal has a robust economy that is continually growing. The GDP of Portugal expanded 1.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the previous quarter, with the government’s welcoming approach to foreign businesses and commitment to innovation both key pillars to the county’s sustained growth.

Portugal’s strategic location is also a winner. Standing at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with regular flights to the Middle East and Asia, the country is perfectly positioned for international business. Whether you are starting a business in Portugal or want to grow your established business in Europe, you’ll find it comparatively easy to do business in Portugal compared with other countries. As we’ve mentioned, Portugal is also on the same time as the UK, and just an hour behind other major European countries, making it easy to do business across the continent. The international airports in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro, also make travel easy.

Lisbon, Now Firmly on the Head Table for Business and Innovation

Lisbon is a prime example of how a city has taken the world by storm – now being a magnet for innovation and investment and where entrepreneurship thrives – while also sticking closely to its core traditions. Lisbon is now the proud home of 342 startups, representing about 49 percent of the country’s startups. Investments in the startup scene have grown by 30 percent every year since 2016.

The city’s young population has a high proportion of STEM-graduates from world leading universities, with locals also being highly proficient in English, with Portugal ranking in sixth position in the English Proficiency Index (EPI), outperforming countries such as Denmark, Germany, and South Africa. For business owners seeking to grow their business, they will find a large pool of top talent in the Portuguese capital.

With Lisbon’s success, Porto and Braga have already moved into the limelight as top cities for tech companies, business owners, and entrepreneurs, while the fact that Portugal is squarely on the map has also opened opportunities in other parts of the country, such as the Algarve which is now investing in turning itself into a future tech hub in Portugal, while the towns of Ericeira and Peniche on the Silver Coast are now popular locations with business owners and digital nomads who prefer to work remotely from one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe.

An Elevated Lifestyle that Goes Far Beyond Business

Beyond choosing a destination based on ease of doing business, selecting a country that aligns with your lifestyle goals is essential. As we’ve mentioned, Portugal has many attributes when it comes to quality of life, regularly ranking as one of the safest and most liveable countries in the world.

More than 1,044,606 internationals now live in Portugal due to its warm climate and array of stunning locations – whether you are seeking a beautiful countryside villa, modern apartment in a bustling city, or a beachside villa – and excellent infrastructure. We’ve mentioned the top-quality education and healthcare that you’ll find in Portugal, but the country also has excellent transport links in the major cities and across the different regions.

Portugal’s mild climate and more than 300 days of sunshine each year make it possible to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the year, whether you are a keen golfer or a water sports fanatic. Some of the best golf courses in the world can be found in Portugal (Portugal retained its title as being the world’s best golf destination in 2024) and the west coast of Portugal is celebrated by keen surfers across the world.

Alongside this, you’ll be able to enjoy yoga, cooking classes, tennis, and an array of other sports and activities across the year. The fact that there are so many expats in Portugal that now call the country home, and given the friendliness of the locals, means that it is very easy to establish your base here and build your network of close friends.

Lucrative Property Investment Opportunities

As Portugal’s reputation grows on the world stage, so too has its property market. Prices across the country have been on the rise in recent years, particularly in hotspot locations such as Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve. As rising demand for luxury real estate in Portugal such as city apartments, coastal homes, and townhouses grows, there is strong ROI to a property purchase, with high potential for serious capital appreciation.

Rental yields for the Greater Lisbon Area currently stand at 6.8 percent, while for the Greater Porto Area, they clock in at 6.6 percent and, with both short-term rentals and long-term rentals profitable ventures, you should be able to secure a nice return on your investment. Bear in mind that there are currently restrictions on securing an Alojamento Local (AL) license in Lisbon, that is required to rent out your property short term.

Navigating Your Journey to Portugal with Goldcrest

What leads business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to relocate to Portugal? Whether it’s the high quality of life, ease of doing business, or the beauty of the country itself, it can be surprisingly easy to readjust to life in Portugal.

If you are looking to make the move but are unsure where to buy property in Portugal or what the property market in Portugal offers, get in touch with us at Goldcrest.

With years of experience on the market and having helped hundreds of clients secure their ideal property, we walk you through every step of the process, from sourcing to acquisition and beyond.