In 2013, European countries opened their doors to investment immigration, providing investors from non-EU countries, including China, with a gateway to European investment immigration. To resolve economic difficulties, European countries such as Cyprus, Portugal, and Greece have successively launched property-buying immigration policies. By simply investing in real estate, one can obtain residency, attracting a large number of Chinese investors to apply. The new immigration policies of these European countries share common characteristics: simple investment methods, low thresholds, relaxed conditions, fast approval, and high success rates.
On November 23, Worldway Shenzhen successfully held a comprehensive investment immigration seminar for multiple European countries. Guests including Mr. Gonçalo, a leading lawyer from Portugal, and Worldway's European project managers attended the seminar. The guests provided detailed introductions to various immigration projects in Portugal, Greece, and Cyprus, offering a feast of information on European investment immigration projects for the vast number of clients.
The “N” reasons to be passionate about Portugal
Portugal is one of the few pro-China European countries. According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), Portugal ranks second. Portugal is currently the only country where one can apply for citizenship in a short period of time; immigrating to Portugal means stepping into a modern Western European country in one go. At the same time, Portugal is also a traditional, modern Western European country with relatively sound political, economic, legal, and broader social systems. It is also the only country in Western Europe to have launched an open investment immigration policy. Investing in Portugal allows for the rapid acquisition of a European pass, with approval possible in 1-2 months. Once approved, you can enjoy visa-free access to the 27 Schengen countries. Holding a Portuguese passport allows for visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 165 countries worldwide and makes it easy to obtain five-year multiple-entry visas for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Applicants can bring their spouse, minor children, and dependent parents and parents-in-law. One person invests, and three generations benefit; enjoy national treatment for work, education, and social welfare.
Of course, Portugal is also a world-class vacation paradise, with picturesque scenery, ancient castles, palaces, golf courses, sunshine, beaches, and coastlines… everything accompanies you to enjoy a high-quality life.
Greece: Building a beautiful “second home” overseas
Greece has a low investment amount. Non-EU citizens who purchase property worth 250,000 Euros or more in Greece can apply for a Greek residence permit visa. Compared to the 500,000 Euros required for Portugal and Spain, or the 300,000 Euros for Cyprus, it can be said that Greece has the lowest investment amount.
As Greece is an EU member state and also a Schengen country, obtaining a Greek residence permit means opening the door to Western-style education, convenient travel, and cultural exchange in 26 developed Schengen countries. Investors can freely settle, study, travel, and live in any Schengen country.
The law stipulates that after investors are granted a 5-year residence permit, there is no hard requirement for the time they must reside in Greece, which does not affect the investor's life and work in their home country. The lack of a "residency requirement" (immigration jail) also makes Greece one of the countries with the lowest residency requirements among EU nations.
Greece is known as the cradle of Western civilization. Its long history and unique Mediterranean natural scenery attract tourists from all over the world, making it a top-tier global vacation paradise. Diverse landscapes, towering mountains, endless plains, and pearl-like harbors are all features of Greece. In addition to numerous myths, Greece also has many temples and world-famous museums.
Cyprus: Enjoy permanent EU residency in one step
Cyprus has a low investment threshold. Non-EU citizens who purchase property worth 300,000 Euros or more in Cyprus can apply for a permanent residence permit visa. Compared to other countries that usually issue temporary residency first and only grant permanent residency after five years of residence, the Cypriot authorities issue permanent residence visas directly to qualified applicants.
Cyprus is an offshore financial center in Europe. Its management of offshore companies, tax planning, and trust asset management are among the best in the world. Cyprus provides a very high standard of legal, financial, and accounting services. Its corporate income tax is only 10%, the lowest among European countries, and the special tax rate for pensions is only 5%.
Cyprus has signed double taxation avoidance agreements with 45 countries (high-tax countries) worldwide, and dividend income, income from overseas permanent establishments, and income from securities sales are tax-exempt.
Cyprus is the sunny island of the Mediterranean, the birthplace of Aphrodite, a world-famous tourist destination, and enjoys the reputation of being a country of health and longevity. With a long history and rich cultural heritage spanning 5,000 years, Cyprus possesses some of the oldest human historical records in the world. Ancient villages, temples, palaces, tombs, stadiums, and fortresses can be seen everywhere. Existing villas, palaces, theaters, and fortresses have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
With the deepening of the 2013 Worldway European Immigration Year activities, European investment immigration has become a trend in China. As a leading institution for European property-buying immigration, Worldway has helped many domestic investors travel to various European countries for property inspections and successfully obtain immigration status. After the meeting concluded that day, many guests expressed satisfaction with Worldway's professional explanations and services and conducted in-depth one-on-one communication with consultants. In order to travel to Europe for inspections as soon as possible, some guests signed inspection agreements on the spot.
