Countries hope to lure Chinese home buyers with visa policies

While much of China is feeling the pressure of soaring home prices, the relatively cheaper homes in some European countries that grant temporary or permanent residents visas seem to provide a shortcut to relief for many Chinese.

"I've been following the European immigration policies for a while because some countries' requirements have become much easier to meet than before, and I don't want my child to live under the overwhelming pressure of job hunting or mortgage paying as I used to do," said Liu Changying, a mother of a junior high school student.

Liu is among the increasing number of Chinese who began considering buying houses — that would bring permanent resident visas — in Europe after several crisis-hit countries launched property policies targeting overseas investors, especially those from China.

Cyprus, which probably was not in Chinese immigration picture before, has now emerged as the front-runner in this race.

It is currently the only European nation that offers permanent resident visas, instead of residency rights, to Chinese who buy property worth at least 300,000 euros ($390,400) there.

Under a new fast-track procedure, it takes prospective migrants only 30 to 50 days to get visa approval, Georgios Leptos, a member of the executive committee of Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said at a forum in Beijing on Friday.

Cyprus, which has a population of 870,000, has sold more than 65,000 properties to foreigners since 2000 and more than 500 properties to Chinese buyers since May, he said.

The Spanish government is considering granting residency to foreigners who buy a house in the country worth 160,000 euros or more. The plan, announced by Commerce Ministry Secretary Jaime Garcia-Legaz on Nov 19 and expected to be approved in the coming weeks, would be principally aimed at Chinese and Russian buyers.

This year, Ireland and Portugal also offered residency to foreigners who buy properties — in Ireland, for property worth more than 400,000 euros, and in Portugal, more than 500,000 euros.

Related: Cyprus targets Chinese for investment and immigration

Not an easy path

These European countries saw the number of Chinese immigrants rise this year, but not as dramatically as was expected, said Wang He, supervisor of the business immigration project department of Well Trend United Inc in Beijing.

"These countries can hardly provide as much in higher education resources — the top attraction for Chinese parents — as traditional destinations like the United States and Australia," she said.

The non-English languages, sluggish economies and long duration from upgrading residency rights to permanent residential approvals may also be obstacles for Chinese immigrants, she added.