Sri Lanka Cabinet Approves Plans for $75,000 Golden Visa
Sri Lanka is sorely in need of foreign currency to pay for food and energy imports. Now, the government hopes a golden visa can bring cash.
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Asia-Pacific
New Zealand Investor Visa Sees Strong Rebound in 2022: NZ$ Half Billion Raised in First Three Quarters of FY
After two years of falling approvals and investments, all arrows finally point in the right direction for New Zealand’s investor visas.
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Vanuatu Establishes Task Force in Hopes of Overturning EU Decision on Visa-Waiver Suspension
In a “Hail Mary” effort to ward off the suspension, Vanuatu is establishing a national task force to review and improve its CBI procedures.
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Vanuatu Citizenship Program Without Schengen-Access: What Happens Next?
“I do not see any way to please the EU other than stopping the whole program,” says St-Hilaire, while Harris thinks it’s not over yet.
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European Council Suspends Vanuatu’s Visa-Free Travel to Schengen for Post-2015 Passport Holders
Vanuatu’s worst-case scenario becomes a reality as the European Council decides to revoke visa-free travel to the EU.
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How Losing Schengen-Access Would Affect Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment
Philippe May and Martin St-Hilaire ask: Would it be the end of CBI in Vanuatu? Would a price cut be in order? Where would demand come from?
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Vanuatu Officials Split Over CS Global’s $10,000-per-Application CBI Contract
The Attorney General and the FIU objected to the contract. Lack of unified messaging undermines the program, indicates Micha-Rose Emmett.
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4 Ways in Which Brussels Is Unfairly Harming Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program
Martin St-Hilaire points to red herrings, straw man arguments, and other deliberate fallacies the European Commission uses against Vanuatu.
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Vanuatu Appoints CS Global, FACT as International Partners, Plans Retroactive DD on All Applicants Since 2015
Vanuatu appoints international partners and promises retroactive due diligence. Industry observers offer reactions to the EU’s announcement.
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European Commission Proposes “Partial Suspension” of Vanuatu Visa-Waiver Over CBI Concerns
The European Commission has formally proposed that the Council partially suspend visa-free Schengen access for Vanuatu passport holders.
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Australia Approves Record BIIP Applications in FY2021: 10x Increase in Hong Kong Applicants
Vietnamese, Iranian, South African, Indian, and British applicants all saw approvals far above historical norms, even adjusting for the higher quota.
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More Information on Vanuatu’s New Real Estate Option, Including a Retraction
The REO will be a separate program from the other two and will have a minimum (joint) investment of US$100,000. Additional fees will apply.
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Independence Likely for Bougainville in 5 Years: Citizenship by Investment Could Fund The New Country
Leading the race to become the world’s newest independent state, Bougainville sorely needs capital. Could a CIP be the answer?
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Malaysia To Exempt Existing MM2H Participants From Most New Rules
Following fervent feedback from stakeholders, Malaysia decides to grandfather in existing MM2Hers under the old rules, with two exceptions.
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New Zealand’s Investor Visa Practically Closed: Only 5 Approvals in FY2022, Rejections Reach 69%
New Zealand’s Investor Visa, which but a few years ago raised more than a billion NZ dollars a year, remains virtually dead 19 months after the onset of the pandemic.
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MM2H Updates: Thailand Could Absorb Tens of Billions at Malaysia’s Expense
MM2H: Former minister warns rejections could soar; Malaysia could lose out on US$12 billion to competing programs; Dependents went unvetted.
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Vanuatu CBI Revenue Drop in 2021 Likely Related to Correspondent Bank Relationship Troubles
Vanuatu’s banks are having relationship problems.
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Malaysian Govt. Promises to Take Another Look at New MM2H Rules Following Royal Rebuke
Following sharp criticism from MM2H stakeholders and the Sultan of Johor, the Home Minister promises to “take another look” at the new rules, at least as they apply to long-term residents.
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Vanuatu Arranging for Evacuation of Citizens from Afghanistan But Unable to Contact Family
Vanuatu has called in favors from bigger partner countries to help get its citizens out of Afghanistan. But the family hasn’t been heard from in days.
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Why Vanuatu Decided to Allow Payment for Citizenship in Multiple Currencies
Vanuatu already lets agents accept crypto and the government itself will now accept multiple fiat currencies from agents. Laszlo Kiss explains why.
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