Latest / IMI Podcasts / This Week in IM - Apr 3: 🇮🇹 Restricts CBD, 🫢 EU Golden Passport, 🇳🇬 Tables CBI Bill, ++

Transcript

This Week in IM - Apr 3: 🇮🇹 Restricts CBD, 🫢 EU Golden Passport, 🇳🇬 Tables CBI Bill, ++ · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're listening to IMI This Week.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: Kyle Kierkegaard, Vice President of Programs at Empowered Startups, balances her outdoor adventures in Vancouver's mountains with ambitious investment migration objectives.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: Her current priorities include expanding Portugal's HQA visa program, supporting Canada's startup visa program, and launching entrepreneur programs in new markets.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Amid increasing scrutiny from both the U.S.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: and EU, Antigua and Barbuda refuted U.S.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Secretary of State Rubio's concerns about its citizenship by investment program, posing security threats to the United States.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Officials emphasize their rigorous vetting process, which they claim includes sharing all applications with American authorities.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Nigeria's House of Representatives has advanced a citizenship by investment bill, which now awaits the committee stage, Senate approval, and state ratification.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: With ruling party support and the deputy speaker's sponsorship, the bill could position Nigeria as an investment migration hub.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: The constitutional amendment requires investors to meet financial thresholds in strategic sectors.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: GCC countries have introduced several attractive investment migration programs for wealthy foreigners since 2019.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Five programs in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain provide long-term residency through investments starting from$136,000.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Citizenship remains largely unattainable, limiting the program's value proposition.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: An Irish lawyer won a high court injunction forcing the Department of Justice to process his firm's investor visa applications.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: The department suspended processing after receiving an unproven complaint about a dispute over a social housing investment.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: Justice Barr deemed the suspension draconian.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: Malaysia's new investor pass program offers foreign investors extended stays of up to 12 months.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: The initiative serves three investor categories with minimal documentation requirements and five-day processing through the expats gateway digital system.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: Via this temporary stay visa, Malaysia aims to enhance its investment ecosystem.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: The EU's Civil Liberties Committee has approved amendments to suspend visa-free access for CBI countries without genuine links.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: Despite Caribbean nations implementing reforms and enhanced due diligence, the EU considers CBI programs a security threat.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: The legislation will become binding EU law if passed by Parliament and the European Council.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: April 1.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: EU Commission President von der Leyen suddenly reverses her stance on citizenship by investment programs.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Questioned on the price tag, von der Leyen retorts that European values should cost at least twice as much as Trump's gold card and supports a€10 million EU passport scheme.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: Italy's decree law number 36 drastically reforms its citizenship by descent system, limiting recognition to only two generations and ending the unlimited generational qualification that allowed an estimated 80 million people worldwide potential access to citizenship.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: Foreign descendants must now demonstrate an effective bond with Italy through residence or direct ties.
• 3:22
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• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: Lucia's government plans to reform its citizenship by investment program with stricter requirements to restore its exclusive high-end character.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Deputy PM Hilaire announced quotas on citizenship granted, net worth requirements, escrow account requirements, and suspensions of certain investment options while maintaining only one approved real estate project.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us today on IMI Podcasts.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: Subscribe for free to the IMI daily newsletter for breaking news and updates from the investment migration industry, and consider upgrading your membership to IMI Pro to get access to our exclusive professional community, industry events, data, and members only content.