How the market for investment programs has changed in 2020
Revenues from citizenship and residence permit programs amount to 2 to 30% of the GDP of the countries in which they operate. At the end of 2020, global GDP fell by 6.9%, the GDP of the European Union by 6.3%. Therefore, countries are trying to attract more foreign investment in the budget to compensate for losses due to the pandemic.
The number of approved applications allows us to track the demand for programs.
Dynamics of demand for investment programs: approved applications
State governments with active investment programs note that demand has increased by the end of 2020 and continues to grow in 2021.
Visa-free travel around the world has always been the main reason to participate in investment programs. And with the onset of the pandemic, people began to value freedom of movement even more.
The first shock of closed borders and widespread lockdowns led to a decrease in the number of program participants. But since the second half of 2020, we’ve seen an increase in applications of about 40 percent. For many wealthy people, the opportunity to travel abroad has become not just a nice bonus, but a vital necessity: to develop business, receive necessary treatment and education.
Head of Sales Department Immigrant Invest
How much do countries earn from investment programs
EU states earned 9.2 billion euros on programs from 2008 to 2018. The data are cited by the European Parliament Research Service.
European Union countries earned on investment programs from 2008 to 2018
Countries' income from programs in 2020, in USD million
Citizens of what countries most often get a second passport and residence permit by investment
80% of the participants in citizenship and residence by investment programs are Chinese investors. But this is an average figure, the data on individual programs will vary. According to statistics from the residence permit program in Greece, Chinese investors will account for about 73% of applicants, and in the residence permit program in Portugal, their number will fall to 30-40%.
In 2020, demand for investment programs increased among the citizens of the United States, Hong Kong, and South Africa. The reason is the deteriorating political and economic situation in these countries.
Russians and citizens of CIS countries are also among the most active participants in citizenship and residence permit programs by investment.
6 countries whose citizens most often participate in investment programs
| Place | Country | 1 |
 China
|
|---|---|
| 2 |
 India
|
| 3 |
 Hong Kong
|
| 4 |
 Russia and other CIS countries
|
| 5 |
 Mexico
|
| 6 |
 Brasil
|
Increased due diligence is another trend for 2021
Demand for the program is formed by different factors: the cost of participation, the timing of obtaining a passport or residence permit card, the opportunities that the status opens. Experts of investment programs emphasize another parameter: transparency and legality of procedures.
Malta serves as an example of a strict attitude towards the due diligence of investors. About 25% of applications are rejected for non-compliance with the conditions of the law. However, the program department accepts applications only through licensed agents. They are responsible for ensuring that the applicant meets the requirements of Maltese citizenship law. We talked about this in the article “Why an agent’s license is important”.
Immigrant Invest has been audited by the governments of Malta, Montenegro, Vanuatu and the Caribbean and is a licensed agent for citizenship by investment programs.
Immigrant Invest is also the only company in the industry with its own compliance department. Its specialists conduct preliminary investor due diligence
The preliminary check allows us to identify in advance all possible risks that can affect the decision of the program department.
If we understand that for any reason the person does not meet the conditions of the program, we select another option for him or her or refuse to cooperate even before signing a contract for the provision of services. This way the investor does not lose money and time to prepare documents for a program for which he would most likely have been rejected.
Lawyers check helps to prepare a comprehensive package of documents for the application to the program department.
Compliance Anti Money Laundering Officer Immigrant Invest
How to get a second citizenship or residence permit by investment in 2021
От 690 000 €
From 350 000 €
Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship is chosen for the possibility of visa-free travel to more than 130 countries, including Schengen and the United Kingdom. Travel is possible even during a pandemic, but you will need a good reason.
Residence permits in European countries. Portugal offers investors at once 8 different options for investing under the residence permit program. The most popular option – the purchase of real estate for € 500,000. The investor can rent out the object, and after 5 years to sell at a profit due to the increase in property prices.
Residence permit in Greece is issued for the purchase of real estate worth from € 250,000. Another option is to open a deposit in a local bank or buy shares of Greek companies. But in these cases, the minimum investment amount will be €400,000.
The residence permit program in Malta requires the fulfillment of three investment conditions. The participant of the program:
buys or rents a housing on the island;
Pays an administrative fee and a government fee;
transfers the money to a Maltese non-governmental organization.
Cyprus offers the opportunity to obtain a residence permit by purchasing: housing, commercial real estate, shares of local companies or units in investment funds.
Austria and Switzerland offer a residence permit to financially independent persons. Austrian residence permits are issued according to quotas: in 2021 there are only 450. Switzerland issues a residence permit only to those who do not plan to work in the country. The investor enters into an agreement with one of the cantons, and pays an annual lump-sum tax.
Residence permit in the UK is possible by investment in a local business. This can be the purchase of shares in British companies or the registration and development of their own business in the country.
