Saint Lucia’s CIP Intake Nearly Halved in 2024/25 as Decisions More Than Doubled
Ahmad Abbas
August 13, 2026
A record denial rate is one of several findings, alongside a considerable fall in bond applications.
Category: Intel & Data
Paraguay Granted 29,765 Residencies in the First Half of 2026, Up 81%
Ahmad Abbas
August 1, 2026
Brazilians accounted for 76% of the total. Permanent approvals fell in the second quarter; applications for the status did not.
Vanuatu CBI Revenue Higher Than Ever Despite Loss of Visa-Free Europe
Ahmad Abbas
July 28, 2026
The country’s experience hints at a lucrative “life after Schengen” that Caribbean leaders will observe closely.
Dominica Accelerates, Italy Takes Lead as Half of Programs Get Faster in Q1
Ahmad Abbas
June 21, 2026
An even split: Portugal slipped below its record as Italy overtook Vanuatu for fastest program. IMI’s Q1 Survey is out now.
Indonesia Golden Visa Nears US$3 Billion in Investment Ahead of Two-Year Mark
Ahmad Abbas
May 22, 2026
Corporate investors account for 97.7% of the program’s Rp 52.1 trillion total; Americans are the largest holder group.
Where in Greece Do Golden Visa Properties Deliver the Best Rental Yield?
Ahmad Abbas
May 7, 2026
Athens leads on gross returns at 5.43%, but the math shifts once thresholds, the short-term rental ban, and tax reforms are factored in.
Malta’s MEIN Inflows Surged 73% in 2024 as Applications Hit Third-Highest Rate Ever
Ahmad Abbas
April 27, 2026
The now-defunct program’s final full-year report shows record capital generation even as the ECJ ruling that would kill Malta’s CBI loomed.
Saint Lucia CIP Applications Surge 424% to 5642, Revenue Nearly Quadruples
Ahmad Abbas
April 12, 2026
Audited FY24 financials show EC$90 million surplus on EC$240 million revenue; category-level application data withheld for a third year.
Portugal Hits Unwanted Record as Five Programs Register Shorter Processing Times in Q4 2025
Ahmad Abbas
April 6, 2026
Half the programs IMI tracks slowed in Q4 while one halved its processing time in 18 months. IMI’s Q4 Survey is out now.
EB-5 Filings Surged in 2025, but the Fine Print Tells a Murkier Story
Varvara Latyntseva
April 2, 2026
Regional Center filings surged 38% year-on-year; direct petitions remain marginal with a 58% denial rate.
Malaysia MM2H Posts 3,172 Approvals in 2025, Generating Nearly US$1 Billion
Ahmad Abbas
March 26, 2026
3,172 approvals and nearly US$1B in deposits and property; MM2H’s rebound from its disastrous 2021 overhaul is now quantifiable.
Hong Kong’s CIES Tops 3,000 Applications, HK$95 Billion in Anticipated Investment
Ahmad Abbas
March 4, 2026
One rule change in March 2025 triggered a 440% monthly surge. The numbers since make the first year look like a different program.
New Zealand AIP Visa Registers 41 Applications in One Month, Total Reaches 532
Ahmad Abbas
February 5, 2026
Americans lead investor visa surge as New Zealand’s growth category draws bulk of applications since April reforms.
São Tomé Citizenship Program Garners 98 Applications in First 4.5 Months
Ahmad Abbas
January 20, 2026
São Tomé citizenship applicants span 27 countries from Russia to Venezuela. The program averaged 20 submissions monthly since launch.
Grenada CBI Applications More Than Double in Q3
Ahmad Abbas
January 18, 2026
Grenada’s CIP is on track for its third best year ever, continues to cut the backlog, and has set a new historical record in Q3 of 2025.
Paraguay Recorded a 50% Surge in Residency Applications in 2025
Marco Mesina
January 8, 2026
Nearly 43,000 people applied for Paraguayan residency in 2025. That’s 50% more than the year before.
Greek Golden Visa Wait Time Hits 14-Month Low as Officials Chip Away at Backlog
Ahmad Abbas
January 6, 2026
Backlog fell over 4% between October and November as Greece completes 88% of 2023 applications and half of 2024’s submissions.
Italy Golden Visa Applications Double in Two Years
Ahmad Abbas
December 22, 2025
Italy’s investor visa applications doubled in the past two years, and one CEO believes that 1,000 applications annually is a real possibility.
ETIAS Could Become the EU’s New Pressure Valve on Caribbean CIPs, Say One-Third of Executives
Ahmad Abbas
December 2, 2025
50% of industry executives doubt Caribbean CBI states will enforce 30 day stays and 75% expect new CBI programs in 2026.
The Investment Migration Program Winners and Losers of 2025
Ahmad Abbas
November 18, 2025
2025 brought unexpected twists in the RCBI world, with once-dominant programs slipping and new contenders rising fast.