The government has even ended the Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI) program, commonly known as golden visas. “Nothing justifies” its maintenance, justified this Thursday the Prime Minister, António Costa.
The leader of the Executive recalled that 89% of the ARI awarded since the start of the program in 2012 has been related to the purchase of real estate. “Only in 22 were there jobs,” he said.
Thus was approved today in the Council of Ministers, and as already foreseen in the first version of the Mais Habitação program, the refusal of new golden visas from February 16 this year.
Announcing the measures adopted today for the Mais Habitação program, António Costa also said that visas for investment purposes, cultural and/or scientific activities are now subject to the conditions of the general regime.
The ongoing processes will move to the sphere of the residence permit regime for enterprising immigrants. As for the extension of visas already granted, this will be ensured by the conversion of the residence permit into an authorization for enterprising immigrants.
Sónia Santos Pereira is a journalist for Dinheiro Vivo
Source: DN
