Portugal granted residency permits to 143 Chinese investors under its so-called Golden Visa scheme in the first two months of this year, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported this week.

Citing official figures from the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service, the news report said a total of 209 residency permits were granted to foreign investors in the January-February period.

The investment gathered through the Golden Visa scheme in the first two months of this year amounted to 127.9 million euros (US$143.4 million). In February alone the investment related to the residency permits more than doubled from January to 89.3 million euros, according to the news report.

Since the scheme was launched in October 2012, Portuguese authorities have granted 2,997 residency permits under the programme. Chinese nationals accounted for the majority of those permits (2,345), followed by nationals of Brazil (123) and Russia (104), the news agency added.

The amount invested by foreign citizens in Portugal under the scheme since the programme was launched has totalled 1.8 billion euros, the report said.

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.