Portugal’s real estate market was ranked the eighth most attractive for Chinese investors in 2014, according to a ranking compiled by magazine China Newsweek.

The European country rose from the 11th position in 2013, reported the magazine, which is controlled by Chinese state-run news agency China News Service.

China Newsweek did not provide any reason for Portugal’s revised ranking, but the report noted that the majority of home sales under Portugal’s ‘golden visa scheme’ in 2014 involved Chinese buyers.

Portugal introduced the scheme in 2012, allowing non-European investors that spend a minimum of 500,000 euros (US$532,550) on real estate to apply for temporary residency. The Portuguese Government said last month it planned to tighten control over the scheme, after an alleged case of corruption linked to the scheme.

Among European countries, Portugal came third in popularity for Chinese property investors, trailing behind the United Kingdom and Spain, said the magazine.

The United States, Australia and Canada topped the overall 2014 ranking.