Chinese Golden Visa investment tumbles 60%

Chinese investment in property through the Portuguese Government’s Golden Visa scheme fell 60% in the first quarter of this year like-for-like on 2021, to €20.7 million according to Portugal’s borders and immigration agency SEF.

In the first quarter of 2021, the Chinese led the table of the top five nationalities applying for residency through investment under the Authorisation of Residency for Investment (ARI), with an amount of €51.7 million from 100 Golden Visas issued.
In the first three months of this year, the United States led the table, overtaking China in second place with an accumulated investment by the end of March of €20.7 million, which represented a fall by more than half (59.9%) like-for-like on 2021 to €25.1 million, corresponding to 52 Golden Visas issued.
A year ago, US investment through Golden Visas was €6.8 million (12 ARIs issued). India was in third place in Q1 2022 with just over €8 million invested and 18 Golden Visas issued. In 2021 India had not been in the top 5.
India was followed by Brazil with an increase in investment of €11.4 million and 17 ARI issued. In Q1 of 2022 Brazil was responsible for €11.2 million from 18 Golden Visas.
In fourth place this year is South Africa with an accumulated investment to March 2022 of €7.6 million and 15 Golden Visas issued.
Russia was in 5th place (€5.2 million and 10 Golden Visas) and Pakistan (€4.6 million and 10 Golden Visas granted in sixth place last year. This year only one Golden Visa was issued to a Russian citizen (before the invasion) and to two Ukrainians.