Latest / IMI Podcasts / This Week in IM - May 9: 🇺🇸 Trump Card Advancing, 🇨🇭 Tax Regime Residents Up 22%, 🇻🇺 CIIP Amounts to Rise 20%, ++

Transcript

This Week in IM - May 9: 🇺🇸 Trump Card Advancing, 🇨🇭 Tax Regime Residents Up 22%, 🇻🇺 CIIP Amounts to Rise 20%, ++ · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're listening to IMI this week.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: Demetrius Demetriades argues against scapegoating Cyprus's fast track residency program for housing issues.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: Unlike other countries eliminating real estate investment migration routes, Cyprus restricts the program to new properties, avoiding competition with local buyers.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: He urges policymakers to pursue strategic, locally tailored reforms rather than imitate foreign precedent.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Vanuatu will raise investment thresholds for its capital investment immigration plan by up to 20% and introduce strict agent reporting requirements as part of a regulatory overhaul.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Announced during a suspension of new applications, the changes reflect the government's aim to restore credibility and align investments with national priorities.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Irish citizenship is one of the most underrated yet powerful globally, James Newvine argues, offering settlement rights in 34 countries and visa-free access to 191.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: It combines high mobility with low political baggage, favorable tax conditions, and strong global consular support.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: While the UK officially abolished its non-DOM tax regime, its legacy thrives globally in jurisdictions offering remittance-based or territorial taxation models, argued Marco Messina.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Countries like Thailand, Malta, Cyprus, and Ireland attract high net worth individuals with frameworks that offer strategic wealth protection, low taxation, and lifestyle appeal.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: As of March, 496 non-EU or EEA nationals resided in Switzerland under the Lump Sum Tax Residence Program, a 22% year-on-year increase.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Russians make up the largest group at 20%, followed by Chinese, British, and Americans, with Geneva hosting the highest concentration.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Despite some cantons like Zurich and Basel abolishing the regime, lump sum taxation remains available federally.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: The Trump administration is quietly advancing a$5 million Trump card program, despite no formal announcement.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Overseen by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the initiative would grant U.S.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: residency in exchange for a direct one-time payment.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: While officials claim to have sold 1,000 cards and aim for$5 trillion in revenue, experts Mona Shaw and Matthew Galati question the program's legality and demand.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us today on IMI Podcasts.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: Subscribe for free to the IMI Daily Newsletter for breaking news and updates from the investment migration industry.
• 2:49
  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.