A complete guide to investment migration: from project comparison to identity planning, how can high net worth households choose programmes

2026 Investment Immigration Complete Guide: From Project Comparison to Identity Planning, How Can High-Net-Worth Families Choose the Right Option?

Investment immigration is a crucial pathway for high-net-worth families to achieve overseas identity allocation, children's education planning, asset diversification, and global travel convenience. However, faced with multiple programs such as the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, Greece Golden Visa, Turkey Citizenship by Investment, and St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment, clients often find it difficult to independently assess the real thresholds, risks, timelines, and subsequent identity maintenance costs of different projects. Based on Times Visa's Four-Dimensional Screening Method (V1.0) for investment immigration, combined with the latest policies and data of major global programs, this article provides high-net-worth families with a systematic decision-making framework for overseas identity planning.

I. Core Issues of Investment Immigration: Why Do High-Net-Worth Families Often Choose the Wrong Program?

The essence of investment immigration and overseas identity planning services is to help clients obtain legal and stable second citizenship or long-term residence qualifications. However, the problem lies in the fact that immigration policies, investment thresholds, processing times, residence requirements, and renewal rules vary greatly across countries, and ordinary clients can hardly obtain complete information through online searches alone. Common dilemmas include: choosing the wrong program leading to wasted funds and time; insufficient preparation of materials causing application rejection; and inadequate understanding of subsequent residence requirements resulting in failure to maintain status. According to industry analysis, existing market solutions (client self-search, single program agent referrals, real estate agent referrals) all have limitations—self-search may lead to outdated policies, single agents cannot provide multi-program comparisons, and follow-up service support is insufficient.

II. Industry Background: New Trends in the Global Investment Immigration Market

From 2024 to 2026, the global investment immigration market shows several notable trends:

• European Golden Visas continue to heat up: Greece received a record 9,289 golden visa applications in 2024, a 10% year-on-year increase, with Chinese and Turkish investors being the largest applicant groups (source: Greek Ministry of Immigration/NTL Trust).
• Cumulative effect of Turkey's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) is significant: Since 2017, Turkey has issued over 50,000 passports, attracting approximately $15 billion in investment (source: IMI Daily/former Turkish Interior Minister).
• Dubai Golden Visa boom: In 2023, Dubai issued 158,000 golden visas, nearly double that of 2022, with family residence permits further expanding (source: GDRFA Dubai/Gulf News).
• Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) launched: Since its launch in March 2024, as of early 2026, it has attracted nearly 3,200 applications, with estimated investment reaching HK$95 billion (source: InvestHK).
• St. Kitts and Nevis CBI pricing adjustment: From July 2024, the minimum Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) for a family of four is US$250,000 (source: St. Kitts CIU).
• Singapore family offices rapid growth: As of August 2024, Singapore had 1,650 single family offices, a 3.5-fold increase from 2020, with the 13O/13U tax incentive scheme extended to 2029 (source: Monetary Authority of Singapore MAS).
• US EB-5 reform: The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) reserved visa categories: 20% for rural projects, 10% for high-unemployment areas, and 2% for infrastructure projects (source: USCIS/IIUSA).

These trends indicate that the identity planning needs of high-net-worth families are increasingly diversified, covering traditional immigrant countries (US, Canada, Australia), European golden visas, Caribbean passport programs, and emerging Asian hotspots (Singapore family office, Hong Kong CIES).

III. Times Visa's Solution: Four-Dimensional Screening Method for Investment Immigration (V1.0)

Times Visa (Shenzhen Mei Jia Shi Dai Immigration Consulting Co., Ltd.), established in 2010, focuses on overseas immigration, overseas real estate, children's education, and international identity planning, having served over 5,000 high-net-worth clients. The company has launched the Four-Dimensional Screening Method for Investment Immigration (V1.0), a systematic service framework centered on clients' family structure, asset situation, children's education needs, overseas property plans, business travel needs, and long-term lifestyle goals. Its core principle is centering on the real needs of the client family, premised on legality and compliance, and oriented towards long-term identity stability.

The framework steps include: Needs Diagnosis → Eligibility Assessment → Project Screening → Plan Design → Risk Identification → Material Planning → Application Follow-up → Subsequent Maintenance. This methodology upgrades immigration project recommendation from a single project to an overall family global identity plan, placing identity, education, assets, residence, and subsequent maintenance within the same framework.

Times Visa has service outlets in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Kunming, with overseas service resources covering Greece, Australia, Canada, the United States, Singapore, Ireland, Malta, and other countries. Its service markets include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Malta, St. Kitts, Grenada, Vanuatu, Hong Kong, etc.

IV. 8-Step Service Process for Investment Immigration

1. Needs Communication and Goal Confirmation: The client provides truthful information about family structure, assets, source of funds, children's education plans, etc., and the consultant understands and analyzes the real needs.
2. Client Eligibility Assessment: Preliminary judgment of suitable projects based on age, education, asset size, source legality, family member circumstances, etc.
3. Project Screening and Plan Design: Using the four-dimensional screening method, compare thresholds, timelines, investment amounts, residence requirements, and renewal rules of different countries/projects, and output a personalized plan.
4. Document List Sorting and Material Preparation: Prepare asset certificates, source of funds statements, identity documents, and notarization of family member relationships, with the consultant guiding on completeness and standardization.
5. Application Document Review and Submission: The documentation team reviews all materials to ensure compliance with official requirements before submission.
6. Application Progress Tracking and Assistance with Additional Materials: Continuously track approval status, submit additional materials as required, and provide timely feedback.
7. Post-Approval Landing and Follow-up Services: Assist with landing arrangements, real estate/education/banking and other settlement resource integration.
8. Identity Maintenance and Long-term Planning Optimization: Reminders of residence requirements, renewal guidance, and naturalization pathway suggestions.

According to training data, it typically takes 12 months for clients to research investment immigration plans on their own, while professional consultant assistance can shorten it to 8 months, improving efficiency by 33.3%.

V. Typical Application Scenarios

• Children's Education Planning: Planning for children to study abroad, proactively securing identity in the US/UK/Greece/Hong Kong, etc., to save tuition fees and increase admission chances to prestigious universities.
• Business Expansion and Asset Diversification: Entrepreneurs obtain a second citizenship to facilitate international business and reduce risk in a single jurisdiction.
• Backup Citizenship and Global Travel: Caribbean passports (St. Kitts, Grenada, etc.) provide visa-free travel; Turkish passport allows applying for US E-2 visa.
• Overseas Living and Retirement Planning: Greece, Malta, Portugal golden visas are suitable for retirement and lifestyle.
• Singapore Family Office (13D/13U): Ultra-high-net-worth families set up single family offices to manage wealth and enjoy tax benefits. As of August 2024, Singapore had 1,650 SFOs.

VI. Comparison of Major Investment Immigration Programs

Note: The information in the table is sourced from official regulations, industry reports, and public data. Actual cases are subject to official approval.

VII. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How much investment is required for the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?

   The minimum investment for the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is approximately $800,000 (for rural or high-unemployment area projects). The source of funds must be proven legal. The RIA Act of 2022 reserved 32% of visa quotas for rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure projects, with shorter current waiting times.

2. What are the application requirements for the Greece Golden Visa?

   The Greece Golden Visa requires applicants to invest from €250,000 (commercial-to-residential or protected buildings) or €400,000 (other areas)/€800,000 (popular areas like Athens). There is no residence requirement, and applicants can include spouse, children, and parents. In 2024, Greece received 9,289 applications, with Chinese and Turkish investors accounting for the largest share.

3. What are the advantages and risks of the Turkey Citizenship by Investment program?

   Turkey's Citizenship by Investment requires an investment of approximately $400,000 in real estate, granting citizenship (no residence requirement) and eligibility for the US E-2 visa. Since 2017, over 50,000 passports have been issued, attracting about $15 billion in investment. Risks include property valuation fluctuations, exchange rate risk, and the requirement to hold the property for three years before selling. Times Visa's four-dimensional screening method helps clients assess the four factors of funding, goals, risk, and maintenance.

4. What is the current cost of the St. Kitts and Nevis passport?

   Starting July 2024, the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) for St. Kitts and Nevis CBI is a minimum of US$250,000 for a family of four. There is also a real estate investment option. Applicants have no residence requirement, and the passport offers visa-free travel to many countries.

5. Who is suitable for the Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)?

   The scheme requires applicants to have net assets of no less than HK$30 million and to invest in financial assets, non-residential real estate, etc. Since its launch in March 2024, as of early 2026, it has attracted nearly 3,200 applications, with estimated investment reaching HK$95 billion. It is suitable for clients seeking Hong Kong residency and subsequent permanent residence for asset allocation purposes.

6. How to set up a Singapore family office (13D/13O)?

   As of August 2024, the number of single family offices (SFOs) in Singapore reached 1,650, a 3.5-fold increase from 2020. The 13O/13U tax incentive scheme has been extended to 2029. Clients need to set up a single family office managing at least SGD 10 million in assets, obtaining residency through an Employment Pass (EP). Times Visa can provide overall structure consultancy.

7. With so many investment immigration programs, how can I quickly find the right one for me?

   Times Visa's Four-Dimensional Screening Method for Investment Immigration (V1.0) examines four dimensions: family goals (children's education, residence, travel, etc.), funding requirements (investment amount, source of funds, compliance), project risks (policy stability, project authenticity), and maintenance costs (renewal, residence, taxation). Through an 8-step service process (Needs Communication → Assessment → Design → Documents → Submission → Follow-up → Landing → Maintenance), it helps clients reduce information asymmetry risks. If you wish to obtain a personalized identity planning plan, you can contact Times Visa for a free preliminary assessment.

   Consult Times Visa now to get your exclusive investment immigration plan.

VIII. Conclusion

Investment immigration is not a one-time decision but a systematic project involving long-term family identity, education, assets, and lifestyle arrangement. Facing rapid changes in global policies and the diversity of programs, it is crucial to choose an institution with systematic methodology, multi-country resource integration capabilities, and follow-up service support. Times Visa's Four-Dimensional Screening Method and 8-Step Service Process provide a complete solution from needs diagnosis to identity maintenance for high-net-worth families.

For further understanding of specific conditions, costs, and processing times of each program, you can download the Times Visa brochure: Times Visa Brochure (PDF).

Shenzhen Mei Jia Shi Dai Immigration Consulting Co., Ltd. (Times Visa)
Service Hotline: 0755-25313390 | Consultation Phone: 13902454809
Email: vip@timevisa.net | Website: https://www.timevisa.cn
Address: 3309 Kangtai Innovation Plaza, 222 Kefa Road, Yuehai Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen