The number of Portuguese residency permits issued to foreign investors tripled in October compared to the previous month, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Citing official figures from Portugal’s Immigration and Borders Service (SEF), the news report said 119 residency permits were issued in October under the so-called Golden Visa scheme. There were 37 issued in September.

The amount invested by foreign citizens under the Golden Visa scheme totalled 41.6 million euros (US$45.16 million) in October, nearly twice as much as September’s 21.1 million euros.

Only 559 residency permits were issued in the first 10 months of this year, compared with 1,526 visas issued in 2014. Xinhua noted the scheme was suspended for five months earlier this year, pending a review of the legislation, but it has since been reinstated.

The scheme enables non-European Union passport holders that are willing to spend a minimum of 500,000 euros on real estate in Portugal to be granted a Golden Visa and thereafter apply for permanent residency. Other types of investment that give access to a Golden Visa include a capital transfer to Portugal of at least 1 million euros or the creation of 10 jobs in the country.

Chinese nationals accounted for 80 percent of the 2,621 residency permits issued since the beginning of the scheme, Xinhua added.