In July, investment raised through the Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI) program totaled 57.2 million euros, 30% more than a year before and 27% less than the 79.8 million euros recorded in June .

For the first time since 2020, China is not included in the monthly 'top5' of investment by nationality.

In July, the USA obtained 16 'golden' visas, the Philippines 13, the United Kingdom 10, Brazil and South Africa nine each.

In the case of China, eight ARIs were awarded to Chinese citizens in July, that is, one less than the last country in the monthly 'top5'.

From the year of the pandemic, 2020, until July 2023, China represented an investment of 433.7 million euros.

In July, 61 ARI were granted under the criteria for acquiring real estate, totaling 41 million euros, of which 7.8 million euros (22 'gold' visas) corresponded to purchases for urban rehabilitation.

The capital transfer criterion amounted to 25.1 million euros, with a total of 65 ARI allocated.

In total - from October 2012 to last July - 12,497 residence permits were granted, with China leading with 5,374, followed by Brazil (1,238), USA (729), Turkey (598) and South Africa (559).

On July 6, the Government's proposal to end new residence permits for investment in housing was approved.

The rule revoking 'gold' visas was one of the proposals contained in the Mais Habitação program and, with the entry into force of the new law, no new requests for the granting of ARI will be accepted, which will not affect the possibility of renewing authorizations already granted.

Requests for the granting and renewal of residence permits for investment activities remain valid, including those that are "pending prior control procedures in the Municipal Chambers" on the date the law comes into force.

The granting or renewal of residence permits for family reunification is also excluded from the adopted limitation.