Golden visas rise. Investment goes beyond 650 million euros
Investment had decreased in July, but the balance continues to be positive in comparison to last year. The largest slice continues to be invested in real estate, especially by the Chinese.
Investment from golden visas increased 14.8% in the first seven months of the year, in comparison to the same period of 2016, to 656 million euros, according to data from the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).
In July, the investment resultant from the Residence Permit for Investment (ARI), also known as golden visas, achieved 59,779,968.88 euros, a 2.8% decrease in comparison to the same month of 2016 (61,552,086 euros) and a 52% increase in comparison to June of this year (39,250,091.91 euros).
From the amount gathered in June, the majority continues to correspond to the purchase of real estate (57,760,317.22 euros), while the criterion for the transfer of capital ascended to 2,019,651.66 euros. 98 golden visas were granted last month: 96 to acquire real estate properties (57,760,317.22 euros), and two for requiring the transfer of capital.
In the first seven months of the year, investment went up to 656,226,116.72 euros, 14.8% more than the 571,511,345.63 euros from the same period of 2016.
Since these instruments began being implemented aiming to achieve investments in Portugal, on October 8, 2012, investment ascended to 3,223,403,061.34 euros. From this amount, 311,956,342.61 euros came from capital transfer and 2,911.446.718.72 euros to purchase real estate properties. Also in accumulated terms, 4,849 visas were granted to acquire properties, while 288 were granted for capital transfer and eight were granted to create at least 10 job positions.
China heads the list of countries which received more golden visas (3,472 by June), followed by Brazil (432), South Africa (201), Russia (179) and Lebanon (103).
