Immigrant Invest at the Investment Migration Forum 2024

Vladlena Baranova

Head of Legal & AML Compliance Department, CAMS, IMCM

Polina Ruda

Junior Lawyer

The main topics of Investment Migration Council 2024 were the following:

1. IMC News: Innovations and trends from around the world.

2. The most current trends that will change the investment migration industry: unified services for processing CBI applications and creating a Due Diligence Agency.

3. The European Union and citizenship by investment: challenges and necessary measures for coexistence.

4. Why did St Lucia not join the Memorandum of Agreement?

5. Exploring AI’s transformative power in Due Diligence processes.

6. The future of Golden Visas: investments in Portuguese funds and Spain’s decision to revise the rules for issuing residence permits by real estate investment.

7. New era for migration in the GCC region.

8. Pivot to Canada: business and entrepreneur permanent residency path.

The forum’s focal point revolved around the escalating tensions between countries offering government citizenship by investment programs and the European Union, which sets the criteria for Caribbean nations to uphold visa-free access to Schengen countries.

Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew of St Kitts and Nevis emphasised the Caribbean’s commitment to adhering to EU directives. Caribbean nations are collaborating to establish a unified Due Diligence agency to preserve visa-free privileges for investors.

A significant stride towards alignment with the European Union was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement by representatives from St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda.

The pact involves raising the minimum investment to $200,000 and initiating the exchange of information on citizenship applicants among participating countries.

St Lucia is the sole nation that has yet to endorse the agreement—because they need more time to regulate internal processes. The Deputy Prime Minister of St Lucia, Ernest Hilaire, remains confident that this decision won’t impede investors' access to Schengen countries without visas.

McClaude N. Emmanuel, head of St Lucia’s CBI Unit, underscored at the forum that St Lucia disavows unethical agents. These agents promote citizenship acquisition for investments below the official program thresholds.

Vladlena Baranova,

Head of Legal & AML Compliance Department, CAMS, IMCM

Caribbean nations are steadfast in their dedication to revamping and enhancing citizenship by investment programs. These alterations will not only entail raised investment requirements but also streamlined procedures. 

The forum is held under the auspices of the Investment Migration Council, IMC.

IMC is a global association that brings together industry professionals, representatives of countries with investment programs, licensed program agents, lawyers and scientists in the field of citizenship, international migration and the global labour market.

IMC is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, and Dubai.

Traditionally, the forum takes place in major capital cities, which are also financial centres of the world economy. In 2024, it was held in Dubai. Last year, it took place in London and, in 2022, in Brussels.