Notification of changes to an application for recognition of Inland Investment Project (IIP) status

This service is used to communicate any changes to an application for recognition of Inland Investment Project (IIP) status, and will entail a reassessment of the project.

The process manager must be notified of any changes within 15 days after the change occurs.

Service channels

Procedure and requirements

Documentos and requirements

Whenever the promoter of a project recognised as an Inland Investment Project (IIP) changes or is replaced, up-to-date information on the new promoter and the new company developing the investment must be provided, including:

  • the new company’s permanent certificate from the commercial register
  • name
  • address
  • tax identification number (TIN).

Furthermore, whenever there are any changes in the assumptions on which the decision to grant IIP status to the investment project is based, such as the eligibility requirements described in the ‘criteria’ section, these must be explained and justified by filling in the form.

Procedure

Notifications of changes to the status of an Inland Investment Project (IIP) are made via the ePortugal portal.

To access the service, click on ‘access the service’ and sign in using one of the following means of authentication:

Once you have signed in, fill in the IIP recognition application form and submit it.

Time of issue/decision

A decision on the recognition of a project as an IIP will be given no later than 30 days from the date of receipt of the application form duly completed by the promoter.

Validity

Recognition of an investment project as an IIP will expire in the following situations:

  • when the project promoter does not comply with the defined timetable;
  • when the project promoter does not fulfil the tasks laid down in the timetable after 90 days from the date on which IIP status recognition was notified;
  • whenever the promoter violates the law or a regulation.

The supervision process by the CPAI ends when the implementation phase of the project starts.

Obligations

IIP status recognition is given to investment projects that meet all of the following eligibility requirements, provided for in Decree-Law No 111/2018 of 11 December:

  • they represent an overall investment of EUR 10 million or more;
  • they create 25 or more direct jobs;
  • they are located in inland territories, being categorised as such those referred to in Ministerial Implementing Order No 208/2017 of 13 July;
  • they have proven economic viability;
  • they are environmentally and territorially sustainable;
  • they are submitted by promoters of recognised good repute and credibility.

They must have a positive impact in at least three of the following areas:

  • harnessing the endogenous resources of the region in which they are located;
  • enhancing the region’s natural or cultural heritage;
  • integrating into the region’s specialisation strategy;
  • producing tradable innovative goods and services, with a competitive advantage in the global market;
  • introducing innovative or developed technological processes in collaboration with entities in the regional scientific and technological system;
  • knock-on effects on upstream or downstream activities, particularly on small and micro-enterprises in the region where they are located.

Investment projects with a total value of less than EUR 10 million and/or that create fewer than 25 direct jobs may, exceptionally, also be recognised as IIP projects, provided that they meet three of the following requirements:

  • there is a declaration on Recognition of Municipal Interest;
  • there is a manifest social and environmental interest;
  • in-house research and development activity amounts to at least 5% of the business’s turnover;
  • there is a strong applied innovation component proving the introduction and development of technological processes carried out in collaboration with recognised entities in the scientific and technological system;
  • the installation of a productive base, with strong regional incorporation (competitiveness clusters) creating gross added value;
  • they are diaspora investment projects.

Legislation, refusals, contests, claims

Legislation

Special arrangements applicable to IIPs

IIPs are subject to the same special arrangements as those granted to projects recognised as having National Interest Potential (NIP) status.

Thus, IIPs, despite being governed by the legal and regulatory norms that – due to their nature – apply to them, benefit from special administrative procedure arrangements that translate into:

  • administrative procedures falling within the competence of the central administration being dealt with simultaneously;
  • reduction and simultaneous duration of procedure times;
  • a single public consultation period for the purposes of the various administrative procedures;
  • simplification of procedures relating to territorial management instruments relevant to the project;
  • positive tacit opinions and tacit acceptance under the various applicable procedures;
  • simplification of procedures relating to necessary urban planning operations.

Moreover, certain general legal arrangements are also adapted, always with the purpose of reducing the timeframes or simplifying procedures, as is the case for the environmental impact assessment, where the decision period is shortened to 90 days.

Process manager

A project classified as an IIP is allocated a process manager, who is responsible for closely monitoring the development of the process, liaising directly with the promoter about all the legal and regulatory procedures that provide for the issuing of opinions, authorisations, decisions or licences.

In particular, the process manager is responsible for ensuring that the timetable is adhered to and making the necessary efforts to clarify and coordinate positions with a view to implementing the investment project, in particular by promoting meetings with the public authorities and the promoter, as well as the respective coordination with local authorities.

Among the entities comprising the Standing Committee for Investor Support (CPAI), the AICEP, the IAPMEI or Turismo de Portugal may act as the designated process manager, depending on the nature of the project in question and the remit established in the respective organic laws on the monitoring of investment projects.

Reasons for refusal

  • Incorrectly submitted application/notification.
    • any form, document or other type of information missing,
    • the documents are submitted after the deadline, the documents have expired or the documents are of no value,
    • application/notification incompatible with another ongoing application.
  • Unclear application/notification – a lack of information that prevents a proper assessment of the application/notification, as a result of the way in which it is written or erasures.
  • Application/notification submitted by someone not authorised to act – the person concerned does not have the legal capacity to submit the application/notification, or the application/notification has been submitted anonymously.
  • Failure to comply, in whole or in part, with any of the technical requirements under the law and/or regulations.

Competent Entity

Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal

Address: Rua Júlio Dinis n.º 748, 9º Dto 4050-012 Porto

Phone number: 808 214 214

Email address: aicep@portugalglobal.pt

Web url: http://www.portugalglobal.pt/