Several persons that work at Immigration Department, such as Director Manuel Jarmela Palos and Maria Antónia Anes and Antonio Figueiredo the Presidentof National Registry and Notarial Services and other 8 persons from their staff members have been detained by the police after Corruption charges from Public Prosecutor.

They are all suspects of corruption and from exercising influences over the process of golden visa / investor visa and approving several processes without proper conditions. The Division of Special Forces for National Corruption are already investigating this process and Justice Minister have invited all the persons who are damaging the credibility of this program to leave the public service.

Today the Vice-Prime Minister have reinstated that Portugal Investor Program ( Golden Visa ) is extremely important for the country and Portugal economy and everything has to run smooth and without problems. Only in October 2014, a total ammount of 108 million euro have been invested in Real Estate by foreign investors .

There are several Investigations going on about this cases and it is already said that several Ambassadors will be also put under surveillance for the same reasons.

All services at Immigration Department will continue to run as usual and will not be affected. Please note that none of this

Manuel Jarmela Palos – SEF Director – Charges of Corruption