Latest / IMI Podcasts / This Week in IM - Oct 17: New CBI Program in 2025?, US's Citizenship-Based Tax Won’t End, CIES Reintroduces Real Estate Option, ++
Transcript
- 0:00SPEAKER_00: You're listening to IMI this week.
- 0:03SPEAKER_00: Investment migration processing time data for quarter three reveals that processing times have generally increased across most programs, with only one Caribbean CIP managing to reduce its processing period.
- 0:16SPEAKER_00: The average processing time for Caribbean CIPs has risen to over 10 months, with significant variance among programs, while European golden visas show an even more pronounced contrast in processing times.
- 0:29SPEAKER_00: The data highlights a growing disparity in efficiency among investment migration programs, with processing times ranging from as quick as 2.5 months to as long as 36.6 months.
- 0:41SPEAKER_00: Despite issuing only 300 since the program's inception, Indonesia has set an ambitious target of issuing 1,000 golden visas by the end of 2024.
- 0:52SPEAKER_00: The program, officially launched in July 2024, after a pilot scheme in 2023, offers long-term residency options of five or ten years to various categories of applicants.
- 1:05SPEAKER_00: While the program has attracted approximately 123 million US dollars in investments since July, the government faces challenges in meeting its target, with officials emphasizing quality over quantity in applicant selection.
- 1:21SPEAKER_00: Hopes that Trump could end citizenship-based taxation in favor of residence-based taxation are but a pipe dream, argues David Lesperence.
- 1:31SPEAKER_00: With a detailed analysis of perspectives from U.S.
- 1:34SPEAKER_00: politicians, average Americans, accidental Americans, and wealthy golden geese, Lesperence delicately concludes that CBT will persist, Americans abroad will continue to suffer under it, and more wealthy Americans may leave the U.S.
- 1:49SPEAKER_00: tax system, but the long-term impact will be ignored due to short-term political focus.
- 1:57SPEAKER_00: Boyan Bugarina, former coordinator of Montenegro's visa liberalization process with the European Union, advocates for relaunching Montenegro's citizenship by investment program, arguing it could inject over 1 billion euros into the economy and bring numerous benefits, including fiscal stability and increased investments.
- 2:19SPEAKER_00: Despite political concerns from the European Union, Bugarin suggests stringent due diligence checks and improved communication with the European Commission to mitigate these issues.
- 2:31SPEAKER_00: Bugarin also notes that with a thumbs up from the European AG, Montenegro has the sovereign right to manage their own CBI program.
- 2:40SPEAKER_00: Warning of severe consequences for those misleading the public, the Malaysian government led by tourism minister Datuk Seri Tionking Singh is cracking down on Malaysia.
- 2:54SPEAKER_00: My second home, also known as MM2H, agents spreading misinformation about the program's status.
- 3:02SPEAKER_00: The MM2H program has been relaunched with new, clearer regulations, including a three-tier system offering residency permits from 5 to 20 years, based on investment levels, ranging from 500,000 Malaysian ringgit to 5 million ringgit in fixed deposits.
- 3:23SPEAKER_00: Vincent Fong hopes for potential residence exemption for investors over 50 as well.
- 3:30SPEAKER_00: The New Democratic Party of St.
- 3:32SPEAKER_00: Vincent and the Grenadines has promised to introduce a citizenship by investment program if elected in November 2025, contrasting with the current administration's opposition to such programs.
- 3:44SPEAKER_00: Experts Kevin Hossam, Nisha McIntyre, and Richard Hallam opine on the importance of aligning regional standards and using funds to develop economic sectors.
- 3:56SPEAKER_00: Hong Kong has announced a significant update to its capital investment entrant scheme, reintroducing residential real estate valued at$50 million Hong Kong dollars as a qualifying asset for residency by investment.
- 4:10SPEAKER_00: Siren Chen notes that the policy change aims to attract high net worth individuals and stimulate the property market, addressing challenges such as an economic slowdown in China and a stagnant housing market.
- 4:24SPEAKER_00: But she cautions that Hong Kong's high property prices could still be a barrier for some investors.
- 4:31SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us today on IMI Podcasts.
- 4:35SPEAKER_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.