Comparing Immigration Policies: Which Country Has the Lowest Immigration Threshold

In recent years, many people have started to pay attention to immigration policies, hoping to live in a country they like through immigration. However, the various immigration policies around the world are diverse and frequently updated, causing a lot of confusion.

This article uses “investment immigration” as an example to introduce nine popular immigration countries, helping you evaluate the immigration conditions of different countries and find the ideal immigration country that best suits your needs.

If you need to remit funds overseas, you can consider using biyapay for large remittances. BiyaPay supports online real-time exchange of more than 20 mainstream fiat currencies and over 200 mainstream digital currencies, enabling local transfers in most countries or regions worldwide, with same-day remittance and same-day receipt.

Before the introduction, please note that immigration policies are frequently updated, so please refer to the latest official announcements.

United States Investment Immigration

For those looking to settle in the United States through investment immigration, the EB-5 program is a viable option. Once the application is successful, the applicant, their spouse, and unmarried children under 21 will be eligible for legal permanent residency, known as a green card.

The application requirements stipulate that the applicant must invest in a newly established enterprise with a minimum investment of $1.8 million. If the investment is in a targeted employment area, the minimum investment amount can be reduced to $900,000. Moreover, the enterprise must create at least ten job opportunities and employ U.S. workers as stipulated by law.

Canada Investment Immigration

Canada’s investment immigration program, the Start-up Visa, is more suitable for those with entrepreneurial ideas. This program is designed for entrepreneurs planning to engage in business activities in Canada, but it does not apply to the province of Quebec.

Applicants must propose an innovative and internationally competitive business idea that can contribute to the Canadian job market. They must also have at least a basic level of English (CLB level) and receive support and funding from designated organizations such as venture capital funds.

Immigrants must demonstrate financial capability, which varies based on family size. For example, a single applicant (one-person household) needs to have at least CAD 13,757.

For those without entrepreneurial intentions, Quebec’s Investor Immigration Program (QIIP) offers another route. It requires applicants to have a certain level of French proficiency and to own at least CAD 2 million in net assets jointly with their spouse. Once approved, applicants can apply for a work visa and must reside in Quebec for at least 12 months within two years.

Japan Investment Immigration

Japan does not have a specific program for investment immigration, but those interested in immigrating to Japan through investment can apply for the “Business Manager” visa. Applicants must meet the requirements of investing over JPY 5 million to establish a company in Japan or employ at least two full-time employees.

Upon successfully obtaining the visa, applicants will be granted a residency period of up to five years. They must apply for renewal before the visa expires to maintain their legal residency status in Japan.

Taiwan Investment Immigration

Hong Kong residents can apply for a residence visa with their spouse and minor children by investing over TWD 6 million in Taiwan and passing the review. After residing for a certain period, applicants can apply for permanent residency but must provide the following documents:

• Bankbook copy of the investment business for the past year
• Investment business establishment (change) registration form
• Profit and tax calculation statement or sales and tax declaration form for the past year
• Approval letter from the Ministry of Economic Affairs Investment Review Committee, and if there is a commitment to employ Taiwanese employees, provide proof of labor insurance for two Taiwanese employees
• Financial statements audited by an accountant
• Proof of continued investment and business operation

In addition to certain requirements for the invested business, applicants must not leave Taiwan for more than 30 days within a year to be eligible for permanent residency.

Hong Kong Investment Immigration

Those intending to immigrate to Hong Kong through investment can apply for the “Capital Investment Entrant Scheme.” Applicants must prove that they have at least HKD 30 million in net assets for two years before applying and must invest a minimum of HKD 30 million, including at least HKD 27 million in permitted financial assets and non-residential real estate, and HKD 3 million in a new “Capital Investment Entrant Scheme Investment Portfolio.”

Approved applicants can bring their spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 to Hong Kong. They are generally allowed to stay in Hong Kong for up to two years. Upon expiration, they can apply to extend the stay for up to three years and continue to apply for an extension for up to three years. If the applicant and dependents have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for at least seven years, they can apply to become permanent residents of Hong Kong. If the applicant does not meet the continuous residence requirement but has continuously met the financial requirements of the new scheme for at least seven years, they can apply for unconditional stay in Hong Kong. Once approved, applicants can freely dispose of their invested assets.

United Kingdom Investment Immigration

Currently, the United Kingdom’s Investor Visa (Tier 1) and Entrepreneur Visa (Tier 1) are not open for applications. Those interested in immigrating to the UK can apply for the Innovator Founder Visa.

Visa conditions include not joining an existing business; the entrepreneurial idea must differ from existing business models in the market and have growth potential. The entrepreneurial idea must also be endorsed by an endorsing body.

The Innovator Founder Visa has relatively low asset requirements compared to other countries. Applicants must prove that their bank account has held at least £1,270 continuously for the past 28 days.

Hong Kong applicants must provide proof of English proficiency, achieving the required level in English tests such as CEFR or SELT.

Upon successful application, applicants can bring their partner and children to stay in the UK for three years, with the option to apply for an extension of three more years.

Portugal Investment Immigration

Portugal’s “Golden Visa” used to allow obtaining a residence visa through property investment, but this pathway has recently been canceled. Now, applicants can immigrate to Portugal by applying for a Residence Permit for Investment Activities. Successful applicants and their family members can obtain a five-year residency, after which they can apply for permanent residency. Applicants must meet one of the following investment criteria:

• Create at least 10 job opportunities
• Transfer €500,000 to scientific research activities
• Transfer €250,000 to public services
• Transfer €500,000 to business activities
• Transfer €500,000 to establish a company and create 5 permanent jobs for at least three years

South Korea Investment Immigration

South Korea’s investment immigration plan is relatively straightforward, allowing applicants to apply for an F2 residence visa along with their spouse and unmarried children by investing a specified amount. Applicants can choose one of the investment options under the Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business (IISPB):

• Risk-free, non-interest-bearing investment: Invest a specified amount in a public fund, with the principal returned after five years
• Risk-bearing investment: Invest a specified amount in development projects in underdeveloped areas, with the potential for profit or loss

The minimum investment amount is KRW 500 million, with a lower threshold of KRW 300 million for retirees over 55. After five years of investment, applicants can apply for F5 permanent residency (PR).

Singapore Investment Immigration

Singapore offers the Global Investor Programme (GIP), which allows individuals to apply for permanent resident status (PR) through investment. The program has different application conditions and investment requirements, tailored to existing business owners, next-generation business owners, startup founders, and family office principals.

Existing Business Owners Application Conditions:

• At least three years of experience
• Annual business turnover of at least SGD 2 million
• If the business is privately held, ownership of more than 30% equity
• The business must be in a specified industry

Investment Requirements:

Depending on the applicant’s identity, they must meet one of the following three conditions:

• Invest SGD 10 million to establish a new company or expand an existing business in Singapore; or
• Invest SGD 25 million in a GIP fund; or
• Establish a single-family office with an Assets Under Management (AUM) of SGD 200 million, with SGD 50 million invested in specified sectors

Each of these options comes with specific time frames and industry requirements, such as a minimum investment period of five years and different conditions for various sectors.

While the threshold for immigration is certainly an important consideration, it is also essential to recognize that each country has its unique cultural, economic, and social systems. Therefore, beyond the immigration threshold, immigrants need to consider several factors such as personal career development, educational resources in the immigration country, quality of life, cultural adaptability, and especially the economic system. Many investment immigration programs have certain requirements for economic assets, so it’s necessary to consider issues related to large remittance limits, fees, currency exchange, and platforms.

Whether you have already immigrated or are planning to do so, if you frequently travel overseas or engage in overseas investments, you will need to exchange and transfer money across different currencies frequently. However, you may encounter various challenges with fund transfers, such as exchange and purchase limits, wire transfer limits, lack of Hong Kong cards/accounts or offshore accounts, difficulties in cross-border transfers, returning to the home country, slow or missed brokerage transactions that can lead to missing out on market opportunities or even severe losses. To address these challenges, you can use BiyaPay as a professional tool for fund transfers.

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Summary

The above overview of investment immigration policies in several popular regions helps you understand the differences in “investment immigration” policies of different countries, making it easier for you to choose the most suitable immigration country based on personal or family circumstances.