Getting Portugal's NHR status before it's derogated

[European]

Hi all,
Portugal has recently announced they will be eliminating their NHR scheme soon.
I was considering moving to Portugal in a couple of years to benefit from the scheme.
What about renting a place in Portugal in Nov-Dec 2023, perhaps a few months into 2024, so that I can apply and get NHR in 2023 before it disappears?
I've understood that once granted, NHR is valid for 10 years since the initial year, regardless of whether you move out of Portugal in between.
So if I am granted it in 2023, NHR will be valid until 2032 (included). If I am not a tax resident in Portugal in, say 2024 and 2025, I could still move to Portugal in 2026 and enjoy NHR status till 2032
Any thoughts?

 

[Martin Everson]

It is worthwhile getting professional advice here. Just‌ imagine becoming tax resident in Portugal without obtaining NHR because of bad timing, misunderstanding etc‍ 🙁.

Btw seems Portugal announced a a replacement to NHR called the Incentivized Tax Status⁠ program. It has a more limited range of benefits.

https://www.portugalpathways.io/documentation-posts/guide-to-incentivised-tax-status-its-in-portugal

 

[Don]

I believe you cannot get it anymore as you need to have the residence permit‌ before 1st January 2024.
You need to account in the time for processing the permit,‍ which can take 2+ months.
Perhaps as an EU citizen you might have a chance.⁠

 

[WorldCitizen99]

I was considering the same and so I looked into it and did interviews with lawyers︂ in Portugal
If you can get the application in by Dec 31st you will be︃ grandfathered in for 10 years
To rent a place you need a NIF and a︄ bank account - both of which you can get remotely pretty easily.
But to be︅ eligible for the NHR, you need to be at a certain stage of the visa︆ application process - I can't recall exactly what stage that is.
But if there isn't︇ enough time to make that cutoff, there may be a workaround where you can express︈ an interest in moving and somehow get a spot that way.
I think there is︉ still time but everyone is running for the entrance and things will be busy.

PS: I am non-EU so it will be much easier for an EU citizen

 

[European]

Thanks all.
Sure, I will be getting professional advice soon but wanted to get as‌ much info in advance as possible.
@WorldCitizen99 I am a EU citizen so no visa‍ problems. Are you sure you can get the PT NIF and bank account remotely? I⁠ had understood you had to go physically to a Finanças (PT tax agency) office for⁤ the NIF. I wonder why you need a PT bank account though; a EU bank⁣ account should do given EU's rules on free movement of capital.
A tax advisor in⁢ PT told me about the possibility of being a partial tax resident in PT only︀ from the time you register. For instance, if you register in December 2023, in most︁ other countries you wouldn't be a tax resident at all that year but PT considers︂ you a partial tax resident for only that month, so that you could apply straight︃ away for NHR.
I wonder though how taxes for that month work if you are︄ a fiscal resident in another EU country that year.
Guess once you have NIF and︅ rental contract, getting the application in before Dec 31st shouldn't be hard as I assume︆ you can apply online (or a local advisor can on your behalf)

Thanks