Since the Portuguese government launched the Golden Residence Permit program in October 2012, the enthusiasm of Chinese citizens for immigrating to Portugal has remained high. What makes the Golden Residence Permit so attractive?
Two years ago, the launch of the "Golden Residence Permit" sparked great interest among global investors. The program stipulates that non-EU residents can apply for immigration to Portugal for their entire family by purchasing real estate worth no less than 500,000 euros. This presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Chinese investors who aspire to a high-quality life in Europe. Following the policy's introduction, Chinese investors have actively invested in Portugal, accounting for over 80% of the total number of investors.
According to Worldway's European immigration experts, after obtaining the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit, investors can not only travel freely across 26 Schengen countries but also enjoy numerous living benefits:
1. High-Quality Life in Western Europe
Portugal, an ancient European country bordering the Atlantic Ocean, offers a comfortable lifestyle that makes one almost forget the grandeur of its ancestors setting sail during the Age of Discovery hundreds of years ago. Here, people love nature and enjoy the ease and leisure of the Iberian Peninsula.
Currently, the capital city of Lisbon has become a leisure and vacation destination for world-class wealthy individuals, European royalty, and Hollywood stars. Every street in the old city of Lisbon, built on a hillside, is a picturesque scene. The narrow and steep ancient streets crisscross, with cobblestone tracks for trams extending in a mottled manner, while cars of all sizes park or pass along the slopes, resembling an ancient and profound oil painting. Residents here can feel the charm of ancient Europe at any time and in any place.
2. Developed Education System
Portugal implements a 12-year free public compulsory education system, which lasts until the individual reaches 18 years of age, completing their high school education. Public primary and secondary schools in Portugal have an average of only 22.2 students per class, allowing for better small class teaching effectiveness. The significant investment in education is also one of the reasons for the high quality of public education in Portugal, with education expenditure accounting for 5.8% of the GDP, which is relatively high in Europe.
In higher education, Portugal has a sufficient number of public and private universities. The schools operate on a credit system that is widely recognized in Europe and the United States, allowing students to easily enroll in prestigious institutions in these regions. Additionally, Portugal has international schools that use various foreign languages as the medium of instruction, mainly concentrated in the capital Lisbon and Cascais. What interests Chinese individuals the most is that holding a Portuguese residence permit allows for varying degrees of tuition reduction at universities across EU countries.
3. Comprehensive Social Security
The Portuguese National Health System covers the entire country, with advanced medical equipment and highly skilled doctors, ranking among the top in European countries. Hospitals in Portugal are divided into public and private, with public hospitals and health centers providing free medical services, and foreign residents holding residence permits can also enjoy free public healthcare. Portugal's pension system is extensive and well-established, allowing individuals over 65 years of age to receive pensions and retirement benefits. To ensure the livelihood of the elderly, there are supplementary pensions (solidarity funds) for those over 80 years old, and long-term care allowances can be applied for those who are bedridden due to illness or suffer from severe mental illnesses. Elderly individuals living alone can also apply for widowhood benefits.
