Recently, the corruption incident related to Portugal's "Golden Residence" program has attracted significant attention from various sectors of Portuguese society and mainstream media. Many Chinese compatriots planning to invest in Portugal are closely monitoring the developments of this incident and the new trends in Portugal's investment immigration policies. On the morning of November 24, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Portugal answered questions from reporters regarding this issue. WorldWay presents the original transcript of the Q&A and provides an exclusive analysis.
Reporter: Recently, we have noticed that the Portuguese judicial authorities are seriously investigating the corruption case related to the "Golden Residence" program, in which several Chinese individuals are involved. This has garnered significant attention from various sectors of Portuguese society and mainstream media. How does the embassy view this incident?
Spokesperson: The "Golden Residence" policy in Portugal began in October 2012, aiming to attract more foreign investors' funds into the Portuguese market to alleviate the severe economic and financial situation faced by Portugal. Over the past two years, many foreign individual investors, including Chinese citizens, have applied for the "Golden Residence," with a significant proportion being Chinese citizens.
Spokesperson: Portugal is a country governed by the rule of law. We hope that Chinese citizens strictly adhere to local laws and customs in Portugal, operate legally, and act in accordance with the law. It is essential to promote the development of their own careers through legal, compliant, and orderly means, while also fostering the sustainable and healthy development of the industry. We hope that all Chinese citizens in Portugal continue to uphold the excellent traditions of hard work, entrepreneurship, law-abiding behavior, and mutual assistance, maintaining a positive image of overseas Chinese citizens while achieving their own development, thus contributing positively to the friendship and cooperation between China and Portugal.
From the above Q&A regarding the "Golden Residence" policy, it can be interpreted that the Golden Residence policy is a mutually beneficial initiative for the Portuguese government and immigration investors. It not only boosts Portugal's economy but also provides an entry opportunity for investors seeking immigration status. As the embassy spokesperson stated, Portugal is a country governed by the rule of law, and we hope that Chinese citizens strictly adhere to local laws and customs in Portugal, operate legally, and act in accordance with the law. Therefore, it is extremely important to choose a legal, compliant immigration agency with a local branch in Portugal for immigration applications. It is particularly important to select a legitimate, formal immigration agency with a local branch in Portugal for application processing. We believe that the Portuguese government will continue to strongly support legitimate and compliant immigration agencies with qualifications, while severely cracking down on illegal black intermediaries that affect policies and industry development, thus cleansing the industry of its chronic issues.
As the first immigration agency to pioneer immigration to Europe and the Portuguese immigration business, WorldWay Group, in early 2013, collaborated with the then Portuguese ambassador to launch the "Golden Residence Program Landing in China" ceremony. It was also the first to propose the concept of 2013 as the Year of European Immigration, making the Portuguese Golden Residence project well-known and esteemed among Chinese investors.
To better serve our clients, WorldWay's Portugal branch relocated to a new address in June this year, now situated on the 3rd floor of 190 Avenida da Liberdade, a bustling area in Lisbon. As the only immigration agency in the industry with a local branch in Portugal and possessing legal qualifications, WorldWay will continue to provide better one-stop property immigration services for immigration investment clients.
For more details on Portuguese immigration, please inquire at: 400-138-2929
