Tag: Portugal Golden Visa

August 8, 2025 – Lisbon – Portugal’s Constitutional Court has ruled unconstitutional five out of seven recent amendments to the Immigration Law (Law No. 23/2007) after a preventive review requested by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The most significant change rejected was the two-year minimum residency requirement for permanent residents before applying for family reunification. […]

In recent years, more than 21,000 Americans have settled in this Iberian gem, followed closely by newcomers from China. Today, around 15% of Portugal’s 10.6 million residents were born abroad, reflecting its growing international appeal. Why Portugal? Mercan Group is proud to be among the top three hotel developers in Portugal, with over 12 properties […]

Located in the heart of Vila Nova de Gaia, the newly opened Origine Porto Gaia, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott is a five-star luxury hotel that invites guests to begin their own story in one of Portugal’s most iconic destinations. Overlooking the Douro River and surrounded by the city’s historic charm, the property marks […]

According to the latest update of the Henley Passport Index, the Portuguese passport ranks fourth, along with countries such as Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, allowing visa-free access to 188 destinations. According to the latest update of the Passport Index, the Portuguese passport allows visa-free access to 188 destinations, a ranking that, […]

In the post-Brexit era, a growing number of British citizens are turning to Golden Visa programs to regain access to the European continent. Data shows a sharp rise in applications from UK nationals for investment residency in Greece and Portugal—driven not only by asset preservation goals, but also by tax optimization, lifestyle upgrades, and identity […]

Nestled on the tranquil shores of the Santo André Lagoon along Portugal’s scenic Alentejo coast, the newly unveiled Amarello Hotel Praia Santo Andre, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is now officially open. This marks Mercan Group’s first project in the region and its fourth partnership with Hilton, representing a new milestone in the Group’s expanding portfolio […]

Foreign investments in Greece’s real estate sector continue to rise sharply, with Bank of Greece data revealing €1.9 billion in inflows during the first nine months of 2024—a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Given that real estate inflows totaled €2 billion for the entirety of 2023, 2024 is on track to […]

Portugal’s tourism sector is on track for another record year, potentially surpassing 2023’s remarkable performance. While initially projected to stabilize, 2024 has seen continued growth, driven by increasing visitor numbers and stays. Entering the final months of 2024, Portugal’s tourism sector is surpassing expectations, positioning the year to potentially outperform the record-breaking numbers seen in […]

The Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel has earned international acclaim at the 2024 World Luxury Awards: Luxury City Hotel and Luxury Conference & Event Hotel. These prestigious awards celebrate the hotel’s exceptional leisure and business hospitality standards, positioning it as one of Porto’s premier destinations for travelers and event organizers alike. Located in the vibrant Lapa […]

October 8th marked the first chapter in the Algarve region for Mercan Group, with the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the first stone of the Lagos Marina Hotel project targeting an investment of 107.8 million euros. This development in Lagos, Algarve, will result in two hotels: the five-star Lagos Marina Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, and the […]

The Council of Ministers Resolution No. 87/2024, dated July 10th, established the creation of a “Task Force for the Resolution of Pending Applications at AIMA” (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo – Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum). The primary objective of this task force is to address the backlog of 410,000 pending immigration […]

In September, Mercan Group opened two new hotels Holiday Inn Express Porto-Boavista in Porto city and Holiday Inn Express Évora in the historic city of Évora, in the Alentejo region, will operate under the IHG Hotels & Resorts brand, one of the most prestigious global hotel brands Holiday Inn Express Porto The Mercan Group has […]

The new Mercan Group’ 4-star hotel – Holiday Inn Beja – was officially inaugurated yesterday, September 10, in a ceremony attended by local delegates, including the Mayor of Beja, Paulo Arsénio, and representatives from the Mercan Group – Mr. Jordi Vilanova, and Mariano Faz – President of AHM. This hotel represents a €16.8 million investment […]

Faro is the third city in Europe with the cleanest air, after Uppsala and Umea, in Sweden, with Funchal in eighth place, according to a report by the European Environment Agency. With 3.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter, Faro is in third place in the table, the same value as Umea but with […]

The contract was awarded through a public tender, which was only open for three days, to the law firm Eduardo Serra Jorge e Associados, and there were no other competitors. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has hired a law firm for 200 thousand euros to defend itself in court. The issues at […]