Portugal Golden Visa Applications Reach 16-Month High in July as Brazilian Investors Rival Chinese

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Not since March 2018 has the SEF approved more applications in a single month than it did in July. Investing a combined EUR 98.3 million, 155 main applicants received their residence permits during the month.

Never before have so many Brazilians participated in Portugal’s Golden Visa program; at 37 approvals in July, Brazilians were second only to the Chinese (40). Turks, Brazilians, and South Africans accounted for six, six, and four applications, respectively.

In aggregate, however, China’s lead appears unassailable; at 4,331 investors, Chinese investors still outnumber applicants from all other countries combined. But Chinese dominance has waned since the early years; as recently as 2015, eight out of ten participants were Chinese.

Total investment in the program so far in 2019 now stands at EUR 470.5 million – an average of EUR 67 million a month, the implication of which is that the program is poised to raise about EUR 806 million by Dec 31st. Overall investment since the program opened in November 2012 now stands at EUR 4.7 billion (US$ 5.3 billion), nine-tenths of which took the form of immovable property.

One notable departure from the norm was observable; whereas the capital transfer option generally accounts for 10% or less of total investment, that share doubled in July.

So far in 2019, 776 main applicants with 1,293 family members have obtained residence permits through the program.

Want to know more about the Portuguese Golden Visa? To see recent articles, statistics, official links, and more, visit the Portugal Golden Visa Program Page.

Hundreds of companies can assist with applications to Portugal’s Golden Visa program. To see which ones, visit the Residence and Citizenship by Investment Company Directory.