On Saturday (the 19th), at a Cyprus information session held by Starry World Immigration, a guest candidly admitted that they had originally planned to immigrate to Canada. However, due to the difficulty of balancing the 'residency requirement' with their business interests in China, they had to turn to European countries with relatively lower residency requirements for immigrants.
For immigration applicants, the most troublesome aspect after a successful application is the 'residency requirement.' The residency requirement refers to the amount of time an immigrant must reside in the host country to meet the investment immigration policy requirements; failure to do so may result in the loss of immigration status or the inability to apply for citizenship.
For some domestic investors planning to immigrate, the philosophy of 'immigrating without relocating' or 'moving the family without moving the business' means they do not intend to live abroad for long periods. However, most immigrant-receiving countries have 'residency requirements.' According to data from Starry World, currently, apart from the United States, Cyprus, and Portugal, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia all have relatively long residency requirements. For example, in New Zealand, after applying for immigration, one must reside in New Zealand for at least 184 days per year for two years to obtain a permanent resident visa. Another popular choice, Canada, stipulates a five-year cycle during which all Canadian permanent residents must accumulate at least 730 days of residence within the country.
For entrepreneurs whose business focus remains in China, these conditions are too stringent. Therefore, the United States, Cyprus, and Portugal, which have the most lenient residency requirements, have naturally become the top choices. According to U.S. immigration regulations, one only needs to enter the United States once every 183 days to retain a Green Card. Cyprus stipulates that as long as one enters the country once every two years, permanent residency status will not be revoked. Portugal is one of the Schengen countries with lower residency requirements; one must accumulate 30 days of residence in the first year, and thereafter accumulate 60 days every two years, which can be easily met by taking a vacation in Europe. In addition, Hong Kong does not have strict residency requirements for immigration applicants. Among the clients interviewed by Starry World, the number of clients inquiring about the U.S., Cyprus, and Portugal is significantly higher than those inquiring about other countries.
Investment immigration, as a new way to go abroad, is gradually being recognized by the public, with many applicants choosing it for their children's education or career development. However, obtaining an immigration visa through investment is not a one-time solution; most require card renewal after a few years, or applying for permanent residency or citizenship after meeting other conditions such as residency. 'New immigrants' whose business centers remain in China will inevitably find it difficult to frequently travel between the two countries. Therefore, the near-zero residency requirements of countries like the United States, Cyprus, and Portugal are undoubtedly highly attractive to investors doing business in mainland China.
