Investments through ‘gold’ visas fell 43% year-on-year in January to €43.4 million, down 45% compared to December, according to Lusa accounts based on SEF data.
In January, the value of the investment raised through the Residence Permit for Investment (ARI) program, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last October, fell by 43% compared to January 2022 (48 million), to 43.3 million euros.
Investments fell by 45% compared to December (79.1 million).
In the first month of the year, 93 “golden” visas were issued, of which 75 for the acquisition of real estate (31 for urban rehabilitation), 18 for capital transfers, with no visas issued for the creation of jobs of work.
The amount raised in January from the purchase of real estate totaled 36.9 million euros, of which 11.1 million euros corresponded to purchases for urban restoration. The remaining EUR 6.4 million relates to the capital transfer criterion.
In January, the United States ‘beat’ China in the number of ‘golden’ visas issued, with 21. China was second with 11, followed by the United Kingdom and Brazil (both with 10) and Lebanon (8).
In January, 153 visas were also issued to reunited family members.
Cumulative investments from October 2012 to January amounted to EUR 6,797 million.
During this period, 11,628 ARIs were allocated, of which 5,258 were allocated to China, 1,178 to Brazil, 558 to the United States, 547 to Turkey and 508 to South Africa.
Since the start of the programme, 10,668 ‘golden’ visas have been granted through the acquisition of real estate, for a total amount of more than EUR 6,078 million. Of this amount, 545.2 million euros concerns the purchase for urban restoration, a total of 1,516 ‘golden’ visas have been granted.
In terms of capital transfer, the accumulated amount is EUR 718.7 million, out of a total of 938 ARIs awarded, and in more than 10 years of the program only 22 ‘golden’ visas were awarded through job creation.
Investments in 2022 amounted to 654.2 million euros, an increase of 41.9% compared to last year.
On Thursday, Prime Minister António Costa announced that the government will no longer grant ‘golden’ visas as part of measures to curb property speculation.
Speaking to journalists at the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, in Lisbon, António Costa announced that the government will abolish the “granting of new ‘golden’ visas” following a council of ministers devoted exclusively to housing.
“As for the ‘golden’ visas already granted, (…) they will only be extended if it concerns permanent accommodation of the owner and his descendant, or if the property is placed on the rental market for a long period of time”, announced the prime minister. minister.
Source: DN
