Recently, the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) officially released the latest data on Golden Residence approvals up to December 2016. The data shows that 131 investors were granted the "Golden Residence Permit" in December, with a total investment of 88 million euros.
I. Total Investment in "Golden Residence Permit"
From October 8, 2012, to December 31, 2016, the total investment in the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit program reached 2.567 billion euros, of which 2.315 billion euros was invested in real estate. Over 90% of investors completed their Golden Residence Permit applications through real estate investment.
II. Number of "Golden Residence Permit" Approvals
From October 8, 2012, to December 31, 2016, the "Golden Residence Permit" program attracted 4,202 investors, with 3,964 approved through real estate investment. Compared to 2015, the number of "Golden Residence Permit" investors increased by 1,414 in 2016, with 1,329 of those approved through real estate investment. "Real estate" remains the most favored investment method for global investors.
III. Number of Dependent Applicants for "Golden Residence Permit"
From October 8, 2012, to December 31, 2016, the cumulative number of dependent applicants for the "Golden Residence Permit" was 6,637. This is an increase of 226 from the 6,411 in November. Compared to the 4,293 dependent applicants in 2015, there was a total increase of 2,344 dependent applicants in 2016.
IV. Main Sources of Investors
Among the 4,202 approved investors, 3,050 were from China, 247 from Brazil, 148 from Russia, 137 from South Africa, and 72 from Lebanon. China continues to top the list, accounting for 72.6% of all approved applicants, with numbers far ahead of other countries.
Since its launch in 2012, Portugal's Golden Residence program has won the favor of global immigrants due to its simple application requirements and fast approval process, and it is particularly popular among Chinese investors. Now, by immigrating to Portugal through the Golden Residence policy, you only need to invest in real estate or agricultural land in Portugal worth 500,000 euros or more to obtain Golden Residence status for the whole family in one go. You can enjoy the same benefits as Portuguese citizens in terms of medical care and education, and children can enjoy most-favored-nation treatment within the EU when applying to universities in EU countries. For inquiries about investment immigration to Portugal, please contact Worldway Immigration Group: 400-138-2929.