EP Report Proposes Radical New RCBI Rules: EU to Take 50% of Program Proceeds, Ban Lobbying, Marketing
MEPs also propose licenses for IM practitioners, undercover sting operations, and that 75% of investment must be “green and digital”.
Read more
EU
Malta Has Granted Residency to 2,273 Investors Via MRVP and MPRP Since 2016, Now Planning Entrepreneur Visa
For the first time ever, and exclusively in IMI, the Residency Malta Agency shares statistics on Malta’s PRP (and MRVP) going back to 2016.
Read more
Bulgarian RCBI: Program Reform Just as Likely an Outcome as Closure Says Legal Expert
Though the govt. wants to end the program, comprehensive reform and extension of the program is an equally likely outcome, says Ivan Petrov.
Read more
15 Changes and Trends in Portugal’s Immigration System in 2022
In this comprehensive overview, Sara Sousa Rebolo and Miguel Silva outline what to look out for in Portugal’s immigration system in 2022.
Read more
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.
Read more
At 1,035 Approvals, The Greek Golden Visa Was Officially Europe’s Biggest in 2021
The Greek Golden Visa beat its closest EU rivals by a margin of 20% to officially regain the throne as Europe’s biggest golden visa in 2021.
Read more
Bulgaria Moves to End Its Semi-Direct CBI Program, Cites EU Concerns, Limited Economic Benefit
Limited economic benefit combined with EU antipathy to CBI leads the Bulgarian government to conclude the program isn’t worth the trouble.
Read more
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.
Read more
Unsung IM Programs Part 2: France’s Talent Passport – Business Investor
France’s EUR 300,000 active investor visa offers a straightforward path to EU citizenship but only to those willing to live and pay tax there.
Read more
Greece Approved Nearly Twice as Many Golden Visas as Portugal in November
Approval volumes for the Greek Golden Visa accelerate sharply in the final quarter of 2021, soaring past its Portuguese rival.
Read more
Everything You Need to Know About Latvian Citizenship by Descent
If you have ancestors who were Latvian citizens and you can prove it, you likely qualify for Latvian – and thereby EU – citizenship.
Read more
Cyprus Approves Only 27.6% of Applications Pending Since CIP Termination
Despite the Commission’s protestations, Cyprus kept processing applications pending since the CIP’s termination – but rejected most of them.
Read more
EU Campaign Against CBI “Driven by Ideology”: Philippe May on the Mobility Standard Podcast
If appeasing the EU was Malta’s goal, says Philippe May, it was unsuccessful. “These people are driven by ideology. They will never give up.”
Read more
“We Won’t Budge” on Sovereignty Over Tax, Citizenship: Malta Responds to EU Parliament Report on IM Programs
Malta’s Citizenship “Czar”, Alex Muscat, promised to oppose efforts to tax or stop CBI programs but expressed support for tighter regulation.
Read more
Eur. Parliament Report Proposes Limiting Access to EU for CBI Investors in Third-Countries
The Eur. Parliament research report proposed taxing, regulating, and phasing out IM programs, imposing physical presence requirements, and limiting access to the EU for participants in third-country CBI programs.
Read more
How To Choose the Right Property for Your Greek Golden Visa: 9 Questions to Ask
How to make sure you buy a property with potential, whether financial or in terms of lifestyle, when investing in the Greek golden visa.
Read more
MEIN Policy Must End, Says von der Leyen – Malta Will Decide for Itself, Muscat Responds
Parliamentary Secretary Muscat once again reminds Ursula von der Leyen that deciding whom to naturalize is Malta’s sovereign prerogative.
Read more
Portugal HQA Visa: Business-Class Residency For HNWI
As the rest of the world struggles to recover, the smart money is choosing Portugal’s HQA program,” says Laura Blumes.
Read more
UK Processes 20k ECAA Turkish Businessperson Applications in 2021, Rejects 84%
Though the program closed in December, the Home Office has processed more than 20,000 Turkish Businessperson visas in 2021, rejecting nearly all.
Read more
Expansion of AML Obligations on IM Firms: Natural Evolution or Death Knell for Boutique Operators?
The European Commission aims to make IM providers “Obliged Entities”. David Lesperance asks: Can the EC do that? And would it be a problem?
Read more