Latest / IMI Podcasts / This Week in IM - Nov 20: 🇵🇹 Sends Citizenship Bill to Courts, 🌐 2025 RCBI Winners and Losers, 🇬🇷 GV Granted to Djokovic, ++

Transcript

This Week in IM - Nov 20: 🇵🇹 Sends Citizenship Bill to Courts, 🌐 2025 RCBI Winners and Losers, 🇬🇷 GV Granted to Djokovic, ++ · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're listening to IMI This Week.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has become a Greece Golden Visa holder after purchasing a property in southern Athens exceeding 800,000 euros, confirmed by IMI pro Alexander Risvas.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: The move follows five years in Marbella and 15 in Monaco, and comes as Djokovic's family settles in Athens and potentially takes advantage of the fiscal benefits, namely, Greece's 100,000 euro flat tax regime.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Portugal's Socialist Party froze the new nationality law by sending it directly to the Constitutional Court.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: The move responds to an 82-page legal opinion from constitutional co-author Jorge Miranda, who warned that the amendments violate principles of legal certainty, human dignity, and equality.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Critics say the new law creates harsh outcomes.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: The law now remains suspended until the court issues a ruling.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Armenia will overhaul its residency system in 2026, introducing an investment fast-track and immediate, no-stay permanent residence.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: While citizenship rules require three years of permanent residence with limited absences, authorities have not clarified whether fast-track investors could qualify under special rules.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Askek Pepania notes that Armenia has never operated an investment-based residency program, so investment thresholds and categories will be unknown until released.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: In this edition of 10 on the weekend, Nomad Capitalist Kataya Gilbakiani shares her global, fast-paced weekends and her focus on elevating client experience, strengthening partnerships, and refining the firm's holistic mobility offerings.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: Her biggest current concern is maintaining intentional growth as the brand expands.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: She also highlights Africa's rapid entry into the CBI space as the most surprising industry shift of the year.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Malaysia's My Second Home program approved 22,282 residency applications from 2015 to 2024, according to new figures.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: The program peaked in 2019 before collapsing during the pandemic and has since seen only a slow, cautious rebound.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Chinese nationals dominated participation with more than 10,800 approvals, but Hanama Ma of Globavisa notes that MM2H now faces stiff competition from Hong Kong and Singapore.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: The 2025 Investment Migration Executive survey reveals a shifting RCBI market.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Portugal's Golden Visa unexpectedly rebounded to become one of the year's best-selling programs.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: And Italy's Golden Visa delivered the strongest net gain in popularity, while New Zealand and Hungary also climbed sharply.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: The data show that firms now prioritize stability, reliability, and processing speed.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Trends that could shift dramatically after Portugal's constitutional court rules on the country's naturalization timeline.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: Maria Esperanza Chor Donoso argues that Chile has every prerequisite for a high-impact RCBI regime.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: Exceptional passport strength, ESTA access to the United States, stable institutions, and a liberal economy anchored by 33 trade agreements covering most of global GDP.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: Only political vision and decisive action stand in the way of unlocking its global potential.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: New Zealand has postponed its plan to allow active investor Visa Plus holders to buy or build 5 million New Zealand dollars plus homes until the first half of 2026.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: IMI Pro.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: Misha Manic's OP views the change as an important signal to global families seeking lifestyle and stability, though not a major demand driver.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: Fellow IMI Pro, James Hall sees little pull factor and expects the effect on the housing market to be minimal.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: The bill still must clear a few more parliamentary steps before taking effect in 2026.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us today on IMI Podcasts.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: Subscribe for free to the IMI daily newsletter for breaking news and updates from the investment migration industry.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: And consider upgrading your membership to IMI Pro to get access to our exclusive professional community, industry events, data, and members only content.