In 2018, the immigration policies and conditions of many countries were unpredictable. It was truly an extraordinary year. So, what will happen to the immigration market in 2019? Only by grasping the trend will we have a better future!

1. Moldova’s citizenship by investment project has caught up from behind and will become a mainstream and popular project in the investment immigration market

Since the Moldova Citizenship by Investment Project was officially released at the "12th Annual Global Residency and Citizenship Conference" in November 2018, it has quickly spread around the world and become popular! As the first fast-track passport project in continental Europe, it is only For a price starting from 100,000 euros, which is close to that of Caribbean island countries and South Pacific island countries, you can quickly obtain the passport of a continental European country for three generations of your family, and the approval speed is fast. At present, Moldova has signed free trade agreements with many countries and regions such as the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia, and Turkey, and will also sign a free trade agreement with China, which is very conducive to business. Coupled with many unique advantages such as the superior tax system, the ability to apply for the U.S. E-2 visa, and the country's good reputation, this project is unique and will become a mainstream and popular project in the investment immigration market in 2019.

2. The focus of citizenship by investment projects will shift from Commonwealth island countries to the European continent

In recent years, Commonwealth investment citizenship projects in the Caribbean and the South Pacific have attracted more and more investors. As more investors pay attention, these previously unknown island countries have become familiar countries. In 2018, countries around the Balkan Peninsula on the European continent began to launch or adjust their citizenship-by-investment policies. For example, Moldova launched a citizenship-by-investment project with an investment starting from only 100,000 euros; Montenegro launched an investment-based citizenship project starting from 550,000 euros/350,000 euros. ; Turkey has adjusted its investment citizenship policy, with the investment amount reduced by 75%. You can become a Turkish citizen by purchasing real estate for as little as $250,000. In 2019, there will be new continental European countries in the Balkans that will continue to launch or adjust their citizenship-by-investment policies. The citizenship-by-investment project is no longer a patent for island countries, and more investors will be more inclined to choose to spend the same money to invest and immigrate to these European countries. mainland countries.

3. Mainland China’s EB-5 investment immigration market will gradually recover in 2019

The United States will gradually implement more stringent non-immigrant visa policies, including tightening the issuance of visas for students in mainland China. In particular, it restricts the issuance of visas for students studying in sensitive and technological fields; in 2019, the United States plans to implement the largest reform of the H1B visa since 1990 (including: improving the H1B application qualifications, changing the lottery rules to increase the winning rate of master's degree or above, Cancellation of the legal opportunity for spouses of H1B visa holders to work in the United States on H4 visas, etc.). This will further stimulate the growth of rigid demand in the EB-5 investment immigration market in mainland China, and mainland Chinese investors with rigid demand have gradually accepted the reality of EB-5 visa scheduling after understanding it in recent years.

At the same time, the call for a price increase for EB-5 investment immigration has been discussed for many years, and it will become a high probability event that it will finally be implemented in 2019. At that time, the demand for investment immigration in the Vietnam and Indian markets will be significantly reduced, thus easing the EB-5 visa waiting list for future mainland Chinese investors to a certain extent.

4. Portugal’s Golden Residence Program will heat up rationally

In 2018, the Portuguese government successively launched open immigration encouragement policies. On July 6, the latest "Amendment to the Portuguese Nationality Law" was officially promulgated and came into effect, relaxing the conditions for naturalization and reducing the residence time requirement from 6 years to 5 years; on October 1, Portugal's new Decree No. 9 came into effect, and golden residence visa holders and their dependents, after holding the golden residence visa for 5 years, they can apply for permanent residence status. After obtaining the permanent residence status, the residence time requirement is cancelled; at the same time, by buying a house with a minimum of 350,000 euros, three generations of the whole family can obtain the Portuguese golden residence permit The investment method will be more mature and diversified in 2019; the investment method of purchasing funds starting from 350,000 euros that meets immigration requirements will attract widespread attention from investors and will be generally accepted. Due to the above adjustments to immigration policies, the value of the Portuguese Golden Residence Visa will be paid new attention by immigration investors, which will promote the rational heating of the Portuguese Golden Residence Program.

5. With Brexit, the EU passport project will be very popular

Official news from the UK has confirmed that it will exit the EU at midnight on March 29, 2019; November 25, 2018 , the leaders of the 27 EU countries except the UK also formally adopted the draft withdrawal agreement previously reached with the UK at the EU special summit; the EU citizen settlement plan will be fully implemented on March 30, 2019. Applicants only need to meet the deadline of 2021 Before June 30, 2020, those who obtained the right of residence in the UK as EU citizens will not be affected by Brexit and can continue to live, work, study, etc. in the UK.

As an EU member state, Cyprus can obtain an EU passport by buying a house. Cyprus passport holders can apply to settle in the UK as long as they meet the UK residence requirements; they can apply for British citizenship after meeting certain conditions. Thanks to Brexit, the Cyprus EU passport project is set to gain popularity.

6. Identity planning will become an important motivation for immigration

At present, the internationalization trend of asset allocation is becoming more and more obvious, and investors’ asset allocation has gradually evolved from pure tax planning and wealth planning considerations. Move to identity planning - asset allocation, identity first.

When identity planning becomes an important consideration for immigration and asset allocation, it is related to many aspects of life, such as birth planning, family planning, education planning, health planning, retirement planning, vacation planning, tax planning, wealth planning, business planning, etc. wait. In 2019, more investors will make immigration decisions due to the need for identity planning, and identity planning will become an important motivation and new trend for investment immigration.