Investment Migration

Various European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, USA and the Caribbean countries offer Investment Immigration programs.

These Investment Immigration Programs are designed to attract “Foreign Capital” and “Business People” by providing the “Right of Residency” and “Citizenship” in return.

These are also known as citizenship-by-investment options from single investment in either property or donation to government to the need to have multiple criteria that must be fulfilled for the investment. Such requirements vary from country to country.

Immigrant Investor programs usually range from investment options of a single investment in property or donation to the governments need to have multiple criteria that must be fulfilled for the investment. Such requirements vary from country to country. The U.S. EB-5 visa program for example requires overseas applicants to invest a minimum of anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million, depending on the location of the project and it requires at least 10 jobs to be either created or preserved. When these criteria are met, the applicant and their family become eligible for a green card. There is an annual cap of 10,000 applications under the EB-5 program.

The countries with the top ranked Immigrant investor programs in the world are

– Malta
– Cyprus
– Portugal
– Austria
– UK
– USA
– Canada
– Antigua and Barbuda
– Saint Kitts and Nevis
– Spain
– Latvia
– Monaco
– Bulgaria
– Ukraine
– Grenada
– Abkhazia
– Saint Lucia
– Australia
– Hong Kong
– Singapore
– Dominica

The key benefits of Investment based Migration are:

– No age restriction*

– No specific language requirement*

– No business history requirement*

– Children upto 22 years of age (in some case 26 years) can be included*

– Tax benefits*

– Eligible for residents benefits including children education, social security etc*

– Eligibility to become citizens*

– Visa free access to many countries on becoming citizen*

[* – These are general features of Investment Immigration, but vary from country to country and not all features will be available for all countries. Each country will have their own immigration regulations and must refer appropriate country sources for specific benefits offered by the country in picture]

Products from EOA:

1. EB-5 visa also known as “Green Card” by investment - USA:

- Invest U$ 500,000 to $1 Million (Likely to increase to $0.9 million to $1.8 million)
- First client Signs the Agreement with such regional centre,
- Children upto 21 can be included
- MUST appoint an attorney ($20,000 apx)
- Transfer to Escrow account
- File I-526
- In about 16 months (usually less for India) get approval. During this period a very nominal $2500 may be paid to the investor.
- Enters USA on temp Green Card
- File I-829 for Permanent Green Card in 21 to 24 months

2. Ireland “PR” program

3. Cyprus – “PR” and direct “Citizenship” program

4. Portugal

5. Malta

6. Other European Countries

7. Caribbean islands – Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica Antigua & Barbuda

8. Canada

For Caribbean islands:

The key aspect of Caribbean islands is that most of the countries offer Citizenship for the entire family on donation of (Arpox) Indian Rs. 1 core. Alternatively some countries also offer citizenship for investing Indian Rs. 2 to 3 cores in Real Estate, which can be disposed of after 3 years and during that time pays 2% rental income as well. Assured rental income is a key benefit. Further, citizens of certain countries like Grenada can enter and live in the USA on E2 visa as long as they do some business in the USA, which is not available to many countries.