Investment migration

We can help with the following international investment programmes

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship-by-investment: Qualifying criteria

Antigua and Barbuda offers the following three options to qualify for citizenship:

1. Donation

   You may choose to make a one-time contribution of a minimum of USD 100,000 to the National Development Fund (NDF) or an approved charity. The NDF is a special fund established under section 42(2) of the Finance Act 2006 for the purpose of funding government-sponsored projects.

2. Real estate

   You may choose to purchase real estate with a minimum value of USD 400,000 (or 200,000 if two parties who are related by virtue of being represented by the same licenced agent, purchase together) from an approved real estate project. Under this option you must own your property for up to five years.

3. Business

   Make a direct purchase of an eligible business for a minimum amount of USD 1.5 million. Two or more applicants may make a joint business investment with an individual threshold of at least USD 400,000 and a total investment of at least USD 5 million.

Provisional residency through investment

The subclass 188 visa has five streams available through the Department of Home Affairs' Business Innovation and Investment Programme, each requiring different levels of business experience and offering various benefits.

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188): Qualifying criteria

1. Business Innovation Stream (subclass 188A)

   This visa is for those wanting to establish a business in Australia or develop and manage an existing one. You must have already owned a successful business that had turnover of at least AUD 500,000 in two out of the four fiscal years immediately before applying. You must be under the age of 55 and also have a total net personal and business worth of at least AUD 800,000.

2. Investor Stream (subclass 188B)

   To qualify for this visa, you must be under the age of 55 and have had a successful career in business ownership or investment management. Before the visa is granted you must make a designated investment of at least AUD 1,5 million into an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

3. Significant Investor Stream (subclass 188C)

   This visa does not have an upper age limit. To qualify for this visa, you must invest at least AUD 5 million into complying significant investments in Australia and wish to maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

4. Premium Investor Stream (subclass 188D)

   To qualify for this visa, you need to invest at least AUD 15 million into complying premium investments in Australia and must maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

5. Entrepreneur Stream (subclass 188E)

   To qualify for this visa, you must be under the age of 55 and have a funding agreement from a third party for at least AUD 200,000 to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity.

Permanent residency through investment

The subclass 888 visa continues its five streams on from the subclass 188, available through the Department of Home Affairs' Business Innovation and Investment Programme, each requiring different levels of business experience and offering various benefits.

Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888): Qualifying criteria

1. Business Innovation Stream (subclass 888A)

   This permanent visa lets you continue to own and manage a business in Australia. To apply for the subclass 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Hold the 188 Provisional visa in the Investor Stream for the four years prior to making your application
• Have maintained a designated Australian investment for at least four years.
• Have lived in Australia for 2 of the past 4 years

2. Investor Stream (subclass 888B)

   This permanent visa lets you continue your investment and business activity in Australia. To apply for the 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Hold the 188 Provisional visa in the Investor Stream for the four years prior to making your application
• Have maintained a designated Australian investment for at least four years
• Have lived in Australia for 2 of the past 4 years

4. Significant Investor Stream (subclass 888C)

   This permanent visa allows you to continue maintaining your investment and business activity in Australia. To apply for the 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Hold the 188 visa in the Significant Investor Stream
• Have held a complying investment for at least four years
• Have lived in Australia for 160 days in the past 4 years

6. Premium Investor Stream (subclass 888D)

   For you to be able to apply for the Premium Investor Stream of the 888 visa, you must:

• Have held a Provisional 188 visa in the Premium Investor Stream for at least one year and be nominated by the Commonwealth government
• Have held a complying premium investment continuously for at least one year

7. Entrepreneur Stream (subclass 888E)

   To apply for the 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Have held your Provisional 188 visa in the Entrepreneur Stream for at least four years prior to making an application
• ave evidence that demonstrates a successful record of your entrepreneurial activities in Australia

Malta citizenship-by-investment: Qualifying criteria

Applicants must fulfil the following:

1. Financial contribution

   All individuals and families applying to the Malta individual Investor Programme must make a non-refundable contribution of EUR 650,000 to the National Development and Social Fund. An additional EUR 25,000 is then required for your spouse and each dependant under the age of 18 and EUR 50,000 for each dependant over the age of 18.

2. Property purchase or rental

   You are required to hold a residence in Malta for a minimum of five years. This can be done by leasing a property with a minimum annual rent of EUR 16,000, or purchasing a property in Malta for at least EUR 350,000.

3. Investment

   Before you can be admitted for Maltese citizenship-by-investment, you must invest EUR 150,000 in government approved stocks, bonds, debentures or other investment vehicles that benefit the nation. You must commit to keeping the investment for a minimum of five years.

Mauritius residency-by-investment: Qualifying criteria

Mauritius’ investment programme grants permanent resident status for an initial period of 20 years to you and the family members included in your application. Currently, the programme offers four residence permit categories. To qualify, you’ll have to meet the following requirements:

1. Property investments

   A non-citizen is eligible for a residence permit upon the purchase of a villa, if the property investment exceeds USD 375,000, under the following schemes:

   • Property Development Scheme (PDS): The PDS allows for the development of a mix of residences for sale to non-citizens, citizens and members of the Mauritian diaspora. A buyer purchasing a villa under the PDS for more than USD 375,000 will be eligible for a residence permit for as long as the property is held.
   • Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS): The IRS was introduced by the government of Mauritius to open the property market to foreign buyers on a restricted basis to encourage the construction and sale of high-end residential and resort properties in designated locations. Non-citizens of Mauritius automatically become eligible for a residence permit if they acquire a property situated in an IRS with a minimum investment of USD 375,000.
   • Residential Estate Scheme (RES): The RES is essentially a slimmed down version of the IRS, designed to enable landowners to undertake property development on a smaller scale (not exceeding 10 hectares). There is no restriction on the minimum price for acquiring a property under the RES, so an RES property will often be more affordable than IRS property. In cases where an RES property purchase price exceeds USD 375,000, the property owner and their family will be eligible to apply for a residence permit for as long as the property is held.

2. Occupational permits

   The occupation permit is a combined work and residence permit which allows foreign nationals to work and reside in Mauritius under four specific permit categories, namely investor, innovator, self-employed and professional.

   • Investor permit: A minimum investment of USD 500,000 is required into the company and should generate a minimum of MUR 2 million for the first year and cumulative turnover of at least MUR 10 million for the subsequent two years.
     • Occupation permits grant residency for 10 years.
     • This permit enables non-citizens to reside, retire or open their own business in Mauritius, although you will also need a work permit if you intend to seek employment.
     • Those who have an occupation permit can bring their parents to Mauritius as dependents and will also have to obtain an additional work permit for a spouse who wants to work.
     • Occupation permit holders can also be allowed to buy land for residential use in a “smart city” that Mauritius is developing.
   • Professional permit: This work permit is for a company wishing to employ a professional with demonstrated expertise in a particular field. The minimum salary should be MUR 60,000 per month with an exemption of MUR 30,000 in an ICT company.
   • Self-employed permit: The turnover must exceed MUR 600,000 the first two years and MUR 1,2 million the third year with an initial investment of USD 35,000.
   • Retired Permit: A non-citizen of 50 years of age or more may apply for a retired permit to immigrate to Mauritius. The conditions are as follows:
     • The non-citizen must initially transfer at least USD 1,500 to his/her local bank account in Mauritius and at least USD 1,500 monthly or by instalments amounting to at least USD 18,000 yearly.
     • The retirement permit is granted for a maximum period of three years with a renewal procedure to be implemented at least one month before the expiry of the term. Where a minimum of USD 54,000 has been transferred to Mauritius over the three years, the person on the retired permit will be entitled to apply for a 10 year residence permit.

3. Permanent residence permit

   This permit grants a right of residence for an initial period of 20 years. This permit is an initial extension to the four categories of occupational permits (investor, professional, self-employed and retired) with stricter financial conditions to be met:

   • An investor permit holder who realises an aggregate turnover of at least MUR 45 million over any three consecutive years or invests an initial amount of USD 500,000 in certain prescribed activities may be granted permanent residence.
   • A professional permit holder who earns a monthly salary of MUR 150,000 or more over three consecutive years may be granted permanent residence.
   • A self-employed permit holder who realises an annual turnover of MUR 3 million over three consecutive years may be granted permanent residence.
   • A retired person who transfers USD 40,000 or more for three consecutive years on their personal bank account in Mauritius may be granted permanent residence.