Chinese citizens account for 60% of all `golden visas`

Source: The Portugal News, 30/01/2018

Cumulative investment in Portugal by citizens of China who have
applied for ‘golden visas’ â€` fast-track residence permits for major
investors â€` totalled €2.06 billion at the end of last year, official
figures show.
That is 60% of the total for the programme as a whole, according to
the figures from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
In all 3,588 permits were issued to Chinese applicants from 2013 to
the end of last year.
In total, since the Residence Authorisations for Investment (ARI)
programme was launched in October 2012, it has attracted investment
of €3,411,265,842.39.
Last year Chinese investment under the scheme totalled
€306,397,093.97 â€` down 37% in 2016 â€` with 538 residence permits being
issued, down from 848.
By far the best year in terms of Chinese investment was 2014, when
the programme brought in almost €711 million and 1,235 permits were
issued.
Citizens of Brazil, meanwhile, have invested a cumulative total of
€400,252,098.21, with 473 permits being issued between 2013 and 2017.
Brazil is the second country, after China, in terms of permits issued.

Last year investors from Brazil put in almost €179 million, making it
the best year ever on that measure.
South Africa, the third most important country in the scheme, is the
origin of a cumulative €139.635,801.71, for 218 permits. Last year
was the best year so far on this measure, with more than €50 million
in investment â€` up almost 26% - and 81 permits issued.
Total investment under the ARI scheme last year slipped 3.4% to €844
million. A total of 1,351 ‘golden visas’ were issued.
Property continues to be the main destination for investment, with
almost €771 million last year â€` the vast bulk of it for purchases
(for which the eligibility threshold is €500,000) rather than
purchase with rehabilitation (for which the threshold is €350,000),
for which 75 residence permits were issued.
The separate criterion of transfer of capital (minimum €1 million)
brought in more than €73 million last year, with 70 permits being
issued on this basis.
For the creation of at least 10 jobs, the other criterion, just two
permits were issued.
In all, since ARIs were launched, a total of 5,553 have been issued.