Malaysia roundup: MM2H fraud case, Sabah opens streamlined processing center, and government highlights billions from foreign residents.
While some experts see the policy correcting a “fundamental flaw,” others argue it’s “no game changer” that won’t significantly boost demand.
The new Business Investor Visa has two investment options, one of which provides a fast track to permanent residency within 12 months.
Korea introduces residency rules for foreign buyers, reflecting a wider trend of nations tightening property access.
Hong Kong’s CIES hits HK$52B pipeline, but Stephen Barnes calls it “optics, not economics” for the city’s real economy.
New Zealand may relax its foreign buyer ban, in place since 2018, but experts doubt it will significantly boost demand for investor visas.
Japan plans to hike the visa’s financial requirement to 30 million yen following the recent arrest of a visa holder accused of facilitating fraudulent applications.
Following its 2024 overhaul, MM2H posted an 84% boost in inflows, including RM237 million in property and RM597 million in deposits.
Nauru CIU CEO Edward Clark confirmed that 20 applications are already in the pipeline, while agents have 20 more approaching submission.
The exemption card, akin to a digital nomad visa, will allow holders to stay up to 90 days and multiple re-entries, and appears to open a direct pathway to residency.
Under the new rules, 75% of investor visa funds must be in liquid and market assets, rather than “sitting idle in deposit accounts,” says James Hall.
Applicants receive five-year renewable residencies with no physical presence requirements, but the program appears to offer no path to citizenship for non-Muslims as per existing laws.
Thailand’s influential ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra claims a $1 million golden visa could attract $600 billion in investments, but modest uptake of existing pathways tells a different story.
Easy requirements made the Destination Thailand visa popular, but administrative roadblocks may limit its appeal.
Recent policy changes boost Hong Kong’s NCIES applications and approvals as officials project HK$30 billion in inflows by year’s end.
Existing and new Elita Visa holders can save between US$15,500 and US$46,000 per dependent under the limited-time promotion.
Siren Chen said the current six-month DNV attracted an ‘unsatisfactory number of applications,’ prompting the expansion.
Thailand expects crypto tax cuts to drive over $30M in mid-term revenue by stimulating investment and market activity.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford describes the transformation as moving from “an absolute nightmare” to a streamlined process that has wealthy investors “lining up.”
Gov’t: “We should have not allowed him in the first place” but “can’t just go back and revoke based on information that is discovered later.”