“I Received Ten Times More Queries Last Year”: 10 on the Weekend with Ahsan Khaliq

10 On The Weekend is a weekly (-ish) feature in IMI, the concept of which is simple: Each time, we ask the same ten questions of a different IMI Pro, letting readers get to know the interviewee on a more personal and informal level than they might during the ordinary course of business.

Our guest this week is Ahsan Khaliq, CEO at Saad Ahsan Residency & Citizenship

How do you spend your weekends?

I’m an avid traveler and love to travel with family on weekends. I choose travel places relevant to my business, such as Portugal, Hungary, Latvia, and the Caribbean.

This way, I travel to my favorite places, and it helps me understand the market. My recent visit was to Avenida de Liberdade market, the site of our Lisbon office.

What are your top three business goals this year?

Portugal is a big focus of mine, where millionaires from the USA, UK, China, Brazil, and others are relocating.

My top priority is to expand operations in Portugal for residency and Golden Visa programs.

Second, European countries like Latvia and Hungary are attracting investors with lucrative investment options, and I want to tap into this growing market.

Third, I plan to diversify beyond real estate by offering immigration solutions for digital nomads and people with passive income streams. This expansion will help create multiple revenue streams and serve as a backup plan.

What’s your biggest business concern right now?

My biggest concern is how affluent people from different countries seek relocation options to protect their assets but face growing risks of investing in unsuitable sectors due to misinformation and poor advice.

Given the rapid geopolitical and economic changes worldwide, I aim to identify which locations and investment sectors will best secure their wealth.

I want to combat misinformation online and help clients understand each destination’s pros and cons and how to choose the right one.

Which book is on your nightstand right now?

The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas Stanley & William Danko, which they published in 1996.

How and when did you first get into the investment migration industry?

My journey began in 2004 as I facilitated study visas, but my real turning point came in 2010 when I attended an international conference in Dubai about investment migration.

The conference revealed something fascinating: The possibility of obtaining a second passport through investment in just three weeks.

This concept captivated me and led me to explore Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residence by Investment (RBI) programs in depth.

To verify their legitimacy, I traveled extensively, meeting with ambassadors and citizenship ministers from countries like Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Turkey, and Portugal.

Once I confirmed that investment migration offered credible, reliable, and functional opportunities, I fully committed to the field.

I then pioneered the introduction of citizenship by investment programs in Pakistan.

What was your proudest moment as a service provider?

As a pioneer in launching citizenship and residency programs in Pakistan, there are many moments I’m proud of.

One of my proudest accomplishments was arranging the first-ever visit of Dominica’s Prime Minister to Pakistan, which came at my personal invitation.

In the industry, I’ve earned a reputation as a second passport expert.

This was particularly evident when one of our Pakistani clients shared a telling experience: During her visit to Dubai to explore second citizenship options, she met with four prominent citizenship companies.

Each one asked her if she had consulted with Saad Ahsan Residency and Citizenship first.

This led her to return to Pakistan and start her citizenship application through our firm. Such recognition from competitors demonstrates our standing as trusted experts in citizenship by investment.

Which investment migration market development has surprised you the most in the last year?

Portugal and Greece have emerged as leading tourist destinations, a fact validated by their numerous World Travel Awards, and the growth in demand for residency in these countries was surprising.

I received ten times more queries last year from people worldwide, particularly from individuals settled in the UAE seeking permanent solutions for themselves and their families.

Despite the UAE offering one of the easiest residency processes, I don’t believe it is a viable long-term option, which makes Portugal and Greece more suitable alternatives for most people.

What also truly surprised me was the overwhelming response from American and British citizens choosing Portugal as their second home.

Search trends showed Americans flooding Google as queries about second citizenship and residency after recent elections grew.

This strong connection between tourism appeal and major investments in the sector has been genuinely remarkable.

If you could go ten years back in time, what business decision would you change?

I would have launched my own real estate development fund in the Caribbean, similar to what I had later accomplished in Portugal.

Having direct control allows us to create tailored and customized investment packages for our clients.

This advantage became evident through the overwhelming response we’ve received for our Portugal residency by investment programs in recent years.

What investment migration industry personality do you most admire?

I admire the charismatic personality of Anthony Heiden.

If all goes according to plan, what will you be doing five years from now?

Five years from now, I aim to expand my role to become an advisor to governments, helping them design and implement investment programs that attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

I’m inspired by the growing economic activities and business opportunities I’ve witnessed in Caribbean countries, Portugal, and Greece.

As a pioneer and leading immigration expert, I aspire to further advance in the dynamic world of investment migration.

Our reputation for honesty, reliability, and experience positions us well to help governments attract foreign investment through strategic migration programs.