The third wave of immigration from China has arrived, and having one or more foreign identities is no longer a rarity. Data shows that the main force of this third wave of immigration is generally aged between 30 and 40, many of whom possess skilled professional abilities and have accumulated considerable wealth domestically, making them leaders and outstanding figures in various sectors of society. However, compared to ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs with personal net assets exceeding 100 million yuan—commonly defined as wealthy individuals—this group is merely the middle class. It is evident that the middle class has become the backbone of overseas immigration today.
At the same time, influenced by the European debt crisis, various European countries have introduced immigration policies characterized by property investment to attract foreign investment, which perfectly aligns with the investment preferences of Chinese individuals and is highly favored by middle-class investors. Currently, the most popular countries for property investment immigration include Cyprus, Portugal, Greece, and Spain.
Another attractive point of the European property investment immigration policy for Chinese individuals is that there are virtually no residency requirements, allowing this group to acquire an additional identity while still being able to work and live in China. Moreover, the properties purchased by investors, if not for personal use, especially in tourist areas like Portugal and Spain, can yield considerable rental returns. Currently, European property prices are very low, and under stable return conditions, with the current recovery of the European economy, there is significant potential for price increases in European real estate.
Taking European property investment immigration as an example, families with an annual income level of around 1 million yuan actually have the opportunity to consider property investment immigration. Many applicants for property investment immigration often own more than one property in China and may consider selling one to facilitate immigration. This situation is more common in Beijing and Shanghai, where many middle-class individuals, despite seemingly low income levels, consider investment immigration due to their surplus properties.