In 2018, the global immigration landscape experienced significant volatility, with immigration policies and requirements in many countries shifting unpredictably. So, what trends will the immigration market follow in 2019? Recently, WorldWay Group released the "Six Major Immigration Trends of 2019," which garnered widespread attention from the industry and numerous domestic media outlets. Major platforms such as Sina, NetEase, Sohu, and Caijing have all reprinted and reported on these findings. This also marks the fourth consecutive year that WorldWay Group has forecasted immigration trends, with each release becoming a focal point for both industry insiders and the public.
Based on the development of the immigration industry in 2018 and the evolving trends of national immigration policies, the WorldWay Group expert team has conducted careful research, analysis, and assessment of policy dynamics across various countries. After consulting with immigration professionals and investors from relevant nations, they have provided the following forward-looking predictions for the investment immigration industry in 2019:
1. The Moldova Citizenship-by-Investment Program is catching up and will become a mainstream, popular choice in the investment immigration market
Since the official launch of the Moldova Citizenship-by-Investment Program at the "12th Global Residence and Citizenship Conference" in November 2018, it has spread rapidly across the globe and become a sensation! As the first fast-track passport program in continental Europe, it requires an investment starting from only 100,000 Euros. With a price point comparable to Caribbean and South Pacific island nations, families can obtain a passport from a continental European country for three generations with fast approval times. Currently, Moldova has signed free trade agreements with the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia, Turkey, and many other countries and regions, and is set to sign one with China, making it highly favorable for business. Combined with its superior tax system, eligibility to apply for the U.S. E-2 visa, and a strong national reputation, this program stands out and is poised to become a mainstream, popular choice in the 2019 investment immigration market.
2. The focus of citizenship-by-investment programs will shift from Commonwealth island nations to continental Europe
In recent years, Commonwealth citizenship-by-investment programs located in the Caribbean and South Pacific have attracted increasing attention from investors, turning these previously obscure island nations into household names. In 2018, countries around the Balkan Peninsula in continental Europe began to launch or adjust their citizenship-by-investment policies. For example, Moldova launched a program starting at 100,000 Euros; Montenegro introduced a program starting at 550,000/350,000 Euros; and Turkey adjusted its policy, reducing the investment threshold by 75%, allowing for citizenship through real estate purchases as low as 250,000 USD. In 2019, more countries in the Balkan region are expected to launch or adjust their citizenship-by-investment policies. Citizenship-by-investment programs will no longer be the exclusive domain of island nations, and more investors will be inclined to choose these continental European countries for the same investment cost.
3. The EB-5 investment immigration market in mainland China will gradually warm up in 2019
The United States is gradually implementing stricter non-immigrant visa policies, including tightening the issuance of visas for students from mainland China, particularly those studying in sensitive or high-tech fields. In 2019, the U.S. plans to implement the largest reform of the H-1B visa since 1990 (including raising H-1B eligibility requirements, changing lottery rules to increase the success rate for those with a master's degree or higher, and canceling the opportunity for H-1B visa holders' spouses to work legally in the U.S. via H-4 visas). This will further stimulate the growth of rigid demand in the mainland Chinese EB-5 investment immigration market. Having gained understanding over recent years, mainland Chinese investors have gradually accepted the reality of EB-5 visa backlogs.
At the same time, after years of discussion, a price increase for the EB-5 program is highly likely to be implemented in 2019. This will significantly reduce investment immigration demand from the Vietnamese and Indian markets, thereby somewhat alleviating the future EB-5 visa backlog for mainland Chinese investors.
4. The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program will see a rational warming
In 2018, the Portuguese government successively introduced open immigration incentive policies. On July 6, the latest "Amendment to the Portuguese Nationality Act" was officially promulgated and took effect, relaxing naturalization conditions and reducing the residency requirement from 6 years to 5 years. On October 1, the new Decree-Law No. 9 came into effect, allowing Golden Residence visa holders and their dependents to apply for permanent residency after holding the visa for 5 years, with the residency requirement being waived upon obtaining permanent status. Meanwhile, the investment route of purchasing property starting at 350,000 Euros to obtain a Portuguese Golden Residence permit for three generations will become more mature and diversified in 2019. Investment methods involving the purchase of funds starting at 350,000 Euros that meet immigration requirements will attract widespread attention and become generally accepted. Due to these policy adjustments, the value of the Portuguese Golden Residence visa will be re-evaluated by immigration investors, all of which will drive a rational warming of the Portugal Golden Residence program.
5. With Brexit, EU passport programs will become highly popular
Official news from the UK has confirmed its withdrawal from the European Union at midnight on March 29, 2019. On November 25, 2018, leaders of the 27 EU countries (excluding the UK) formally approved the draft withdrawal agreement reached with the UK at a special EU summit. The EU Settlement Scheme will be fully implemented on March 30, 2019. As long as applicants obtain UK residency as EU citizens before the deadline of June 30, 2021, they will not be affected by Brexit and can continue to reside, live, work, and study in the UK.
As a member of the EU where one can obtain an EU passport through property purchase, Cyprus allows holders of a Cypriot passport to apply for settlement in the UK as long as they meet the UK residency requirements, and they may apply for British citizenship after meeting certain conditions. Benefiting from Brexit, the Cyprus EU passport program will become highly popular.
6. Identity planning will become a major motivation for immigration
Currently, the trend of internationalizing asset allocation is becoming increasingly apparent. Investors have shifted their focus from simple tax and wealth planning to identity planning—prioritizing identity in asset allocation. When identity planning becomes a key consideration for immigration and asset allocation, it relates to many aspects of life, such as birth planning, family planning, education planning, health planning, retirement planning, vacation planning, tax planning, wealth planning, and business planning. In 2019, more investors will make immigration decisions based on the needs of identity planning, and identity planning will become a major motivation and a new trend in investment immigration.
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