Golden visa down 19% in September, 5% on year
Golden visa permits for major investors fell by 19% in September, in comparison to August, according to SEF. So far this year, almost €593m has come in under the programme.
Foreign investment in Portugal under the ‘golden visa’ programme of fast-track residence permits for major investors in September fell 19% from August to €37 million, and was down 5% from the same month of 2017, according to the latest statistics from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
Last month 64 permits were issued under the scheme, 61 of them for the purchase of property totalling €33.9 million. Of that, just under €3.7 million targeted property for rehabilitation, for which 10 residence permits were issued.
A further three permits were issued for capital transfer, which in September totalled €3.1 million.
So far this year, almost €593 million in investment has come in under the programme, but that represents s 19% drop on the first nine months of 2017.
In the almost six years since the ARI programme, as it is officially known, was launched, in October 2012, cumulative investment is more than €4 billion, with property purchases accounting for more than €3.6 billion of that value.
By nationalities, China leads in terms of residence permits issues, with 3,952, followed by Brazil with 590, South Africa with 262, Turkey with 247 and Russia 228.
In all, since the start of the programme, 11,125 permits have also been issued to the families of permit holders, with 1,810 of this being this year.
Source: Lusa
