Search

Portugal’s abolishment of residency through investment gives boost to Greece Golden Visa, stats confirm

10:06 PM | 19 May, 2023
Portugal’s abolishment of residency through investment gives boost to Greece Golden Visa, stats confirm

ATHENS - The Golden Visa Programme offered by Greece seems to be attracting international billionaires as €1.57 billion was invested in the country through the Programme in the last 12 months.

The recent data from the Department of Immigration Policy confirms that in the last 12 months, 6,064 applications for new permits have been submitted. Out of these applications, 2,072 residence permits have already been issued while another 3,976 are pending.

Some media reports even estimate the figures of investment to be about €2 billion in the backdrop of the fact that the current minimum investment threshold is €250,000.

The investment figures (€1.57 billion) reported by leading publication Ekathimerini show that in the first quarter of this year, a total of 1,052 new licenses were issued, thus accounting for a surge of 141 per cent compared to the same period in last year’s statistics. 

In addition, for a period from January until March this year, requests for granting of a permanent investor residence permit surged by 156 per cent, thus reaching 2,367.

Greece’s Golden Visa investment immigration scheme permits wealthy foreigners the opportunity to acquire residency in the country if applicants make a significant financial contribution to this country, or over €250,000.

The program is also gaining traction owing to the fact that Portugal has now abolished its Golden Visa program due to multiple reasons including the housing crisis. 

The research conducted by the London investment immigration firm Astons implies that Americans are now attracted to Greece’s Residency by Investment scheme. It said that in March alone, online searches for the Golden Visa Programme of Greece increased by 75 per cent.

 It bears mentioning that Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, had unfolded plans that the country would increase the minimum amount of investment for this scheme, in some parts of the country.

It was reported that the minimum investment would have to be €500,000 instead of €250,000; however, the decision has been postponed until July 31.

At present, several European countries offer a Golden Visa scheme for wealthy citizens from other countries but the European Union has been advocating against this program, saying it allows criminals to find refuge in countries under the garb of investment. 

Advertisement

Pakistani rupee exchange rate to US dollar, Euro, Pound, Dirham, and Riyal - 9 Dec 2023

Pakistani rupee remains largely stable against the US dollar, and other currencies in the open market on Saturday.

Dollar Rate in Pakistan Today

On Saturday, the US dollar was being quoted at 283.4 for buying and 285.95 for selling.

Euro comes down to 307 for buying and 310 for selling. British Pound rate remains unchanged at 358.5 for buying, and 362 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED witnessed slight drop and new rate stands at 77.2 whereas the Saudi Riyal remained stable at 76.

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar USD 283.4 285.95
Euro EUR 307 307
UK Pound Sterling GBP 358.5 362
U.A.E Dirham AED 77.2 78
Saudi Riyal SAR 76 76.8
Australian Dollar AUD 187.2 189
Bahrain Dinar BHD 755.82 763.82
Canadian Dollar CAD 209 211
China Yuan CNY 39.82 40.22
Danish Krone DKK 41.14 41.54
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.37 36.72
Japanese Yen JPY 3.41 3.52
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 922.14 931.14
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 60.82 61.42
New Zealand Dollar NZD 175.33 177.33
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.12 26.42
Omani Riyal OMR 738.71 746.71
Qatari Riyal QAR 78.07 78.77
Singapore Dollar SGD 211 213
Swedish Korona SEK 27.32 27.62
Swiss Franc CHF 324.5 327
Thai Bhat THB 8.08 8.23

Gold remains under pressure in Pakistan; Check today gold rates here

Gold prices witnessed negative trend in local markets in line with the trend in the international market.

Gold Rates in Pakistan Today - 9 December 2023

On Saturday, the price of a single tola of 24-karat gold stands at Rs217,600, and 10 grams of 24k gold costs Rs186,560.

Single tola of 22 Karat Gold price costs Rs199,465, 21 karat rate per tola costs Rs190, 400 and 18k gold rate is Rs163,200.00 for each tola.

In the global market, gold prices hovers around $2,004 per ounce, after drop of $23.35 on Saturday.

Today Gold Rate in Pakistan

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Karachi PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Islamabad PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Peshawar PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Quetta PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Sialkot PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Attock PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Gujranwala PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Jehlum PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Multan PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Bahawalpur PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Gujrat PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Nawabshah PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Chakwal PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Hyderabad PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Nowshehra PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Sargodha PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Faisalabad PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Mirpur PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530

Advertisement

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Sign up for Newsletter