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Three Immigrants Come to Portugal with Each Golden Visa

25 January 2018

Each residence permit for investment in Portugal (golden visa) signifies the entry of three immigrants (the investor and two family members) into Portugal, according to information from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) released by the “Diário de Notícias” on Thursday.

The SEF’s data show that investors tend to bring two family members when acquiring real estate worth 500,000 euros or more. “People come first and then bring their family. They stay here and develop other investments and activities. They bring their wives and children first, and if things continue to go well, the parents and in-laws also want to come to Portugal,” Y Ping Chow, president of the Chinese League in Portugal, told DN.

Since 2012, the 5,553 golden visas which have been granted brought an additional 9,315 family members. Just last year, 2,678 relatives came to Portugal, corresponding to a 14% increase over 2016.

“Previously, these people asked for a residence permit because they were interested in having a Portuguese document for travel, often to the United States, a destination that also attracts many Brazilians. Now they come here to live, they want to live here,” the lawyer Vasco Esteves added, explaining that they usually acquire Portuguese nationality after six years.

Original Story: Jornal Econômico

Translation: Richard Turner