According to data requested by Lusa from the SEF, cited by Eco, the Chinese investment that was captured through Gold Visas, in the first half of the year, fell by 60% compared to the same period in 2021, corresponding to 20.7 million euros.
China, in the first half of 2021, raised a total of 51.7 million euros and 100 Golden Visas granted, thus leading the 'top 5' by nationalities of the Residence Permit for Investment (ARI) program.
In the first quarter of 2022, the United States overtook China, which now occupies the second place, with an accumulated investment, until the end of March, of 20.7 million euros, corresponding to a percentage drop of 59.9% compared to the same period in 2021. According to the SEF, 43 Gold Visas were granted to Chinese nationals in the first quarter.
It should be noted that investment from the United States more than tripled in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year, to 25.1 million euros, equivalent to 52 golden visas granted.
In third place is India, with an investment of more than eight million euros and 18 Golden Visas awarded in the first quarter. Last year, in the same period, the country was not in the top 5 of the first quarter.
Brazil occupies the fourth place, with a year-on-year rise of 1.7% in the investment raised, corresponding to 11.4 million euros and 17 ARI granted. In 2021, in the first quarter, Brazil was responsible for 11.2 million euros raised through Golden Visas, with 18 residence permits granted.
South Africa follows, with an accumulated investment until March of more than 7.6 million euros and 15 Gold Visas.
It should be remembered that, in the first quarter of last year, Russia and Pakistan were on the 'top 5' list. In the first quarter of this year, seven Gold Visas were granted to citizens of Russian nationality, and on February 26, by indication of the Portuguese Government, the granting of ARI to Russian citizens was suspended, recalls the entity.
In general terms, the investment raised through Golden Visas fell by 5.7% in March, year on year, to 34.6 million euros, but rose by 2% in the first quarter, totaling 124.7 million euros. Since the creation of this ARI concession program, in October 2012, 6,224,560,351.18 euros have already been raised, with the large share corresponding to the purchase of real estate, which until March totaled 5,604,285,459.59 euros, amounting to acquisition for urban rehabilitation at 402,058,997.04 euros.
Through capital transfer, 715 Visas were granted, while through job creation they reached 20.
It should also be remembered that, since the beginning of the program, 17,498 residence permits have been granted to reunited family members, of which 277 in 2022.