Latest / IMI Podcasts / This Week in IM - Oct 30: 🇵🇹 to Extend Citizenship Path to 7-10 Years, 🇶🇦 Unveils $200K RBI Program, 🇲🇹 Revokes 1st CBI Citizenship, ++

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This Week in IM - Oct 30: 🇵🇹 to Extend Citizenship Path to 7-10 Years, 🇶🇦 Unveils $200K RBI Program, 🇲🇹 Revokes 1st CBI Citizenship, ++ · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're listening to IMI This Week.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: The Portuguese government announced it will resolve all pending golden visa applications by 2026, just one day after Parliament extended citizenship eligibility to seven to ten years.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Andre Miranda condemned the statement as shameless, while IMI pro Madalena Montero criticized the government for prioritizing other immigration cases first, leaving investors waiting years with no protection under the new law.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Samoa's business community has proposed reducing the country's CBI threshold from 4 million Samoan tala to 2 million Samoan tala, or 725,000 US dollars.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: The initiative prioritizes active business investment and job creation.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: Implementation would require legal amendments, parliamentary review, and assent from the head of state.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Additionally, any applicant with foreign government affiliations would be automatically disqualified.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: Passport Legacy Chairman and IMI Person of the Year, Jeffrey Hensler, has revealed how Sao Tomei and Principe launched the world's most affordable citizenship by investment program in just 18 months.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: In partnership with IOPN, the program runs on a custom blockchain, combining transparency, AI-driven compliance, and digital identity through NeoID and the STPUSD digital currency.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Qatar has unveiled a new$200,000 property-linked residency program, a major reduction from its previous$1 million minimum.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: The initiative is designed to open the door for mid-tier investors and boost the Qatari real estate sector.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: The new route grants renewable one-year residency in designated ownership zones, while the$1 million track to permanent residency remains capped and includes Arabic fluency requirements.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Malta revoked the citizenship of Russian national Seaman Kuksoff, who was convicted in the UK for money laundering.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: Kuksoff and his father obtained Maltese citizenship under the country's former MEINCIP, but only Siemens was rescinded.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: Authorities justified the move on the basis of his criminal conviction within seven years of naturalization.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: James Musket, Azapardi, noted that Malta's rigorous due diligence processes were designed to address cases like this.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: Portugal's parliament approved legislation extending the citizenship timeline to seven years for citizens of EU and CPLP states and ten years for all others.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Additionally, the law changes when eligibility begins to the issuance of a residence permit, which IMI Pro Madalena Montero says can add two to three years to the process.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Pending citizenship applications remain protected, but current residents who have not yet applied lose any safeguard.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: The bill could still face court review before passage.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: The U.S.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: government is proposing major fee cuts across the EB5 immigrant investor program, reducing costs for both investors and regional centers.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: The rule adds Form Y527 to assist legacy applicants and fix a procedural gap for dependence of deceased investors.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Arguing it admits DHS overcharged EB5 applicants, IMI Pro Matthew Galotti praised the proposal as an overdue correction.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us today on IMI Podcasts.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: Subscribe for free to the IMI Daily Newsletter for breaking news and updates from the investment migration industry.
• 3:44
  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.