Vanuatu Reverses Russia Ban, Calls Original Memo a “Clerical Error”
Citizenship Commission chairman says March 9 memo restricting Russian and Sudanese applicants was released in error; both nationalities remain eligible.
Read More
Asia-Pacific
Vanuatu Bans Russians and Sudanese From CBI Program
Memo adds Russia and Sudan to restricted nationalities list, but a source says it may reflect internal miscommunication rather than a ban.
Read More
Hong Kong’s CIES Tops 3,000 Applications, HK$95 Billion in Anticipated Investment
One rule change in March 2025 triggered a 440% monthly surge. The numbers since make the first year look like a different program.
Read More
Singapore Reveals GIP Has Granted PR to 450 Investors Since 2015, Attracting Nearly S$1 Billion
The most detailed figures the government has ever made public on the program’s outcomes arrive via a parliamentary inquiry.
Read More
Bhutan Launches World’s First Blockchain-Backed Digital Nomad Visa
Bhutan’s digital nomad visa has no income requirement. What it does require is unlike anything in the 50-country DNV market.
Read More
“Wealthy People Want to Come Here”: New Zealand AIP Visa Pulls NZ$3.39 Billion in Ten Months
The April 2025 overhaul that slashed the minimum from NZ$15 million to NZ$5 million has produced a 48-fold increase in committed investment over the prior regime’s total.
Read More
Malaysia’s Revamped MM2H Program Approaches $1 Billion in Inflows
MM2H approved 9,511 participants in 18 months after managing just 1,900 in the three years prior; 2,637 property transactions remain pending.
Read More
Sri Lanka Unveils Digital Nomad Visa With $2,000 Minimum Monthly Income
The threshold places the program within the mid‑range of an increasingly competitive digital nomad visa market; undercuts regional peers.
Read More
New Zealand AIP Visa Registers 41 Applications in One Month, Total Reaches 532
Americans lead investor visa surge as New Zealand’s growth category draws bulk of applications since April reforms.
Read More
Malaysia’s MM2H Program Records 744 Property Purchases Since Late 2023
Chinese buyers lead with 304 transactions, 41% of the total, followed by Taiwanese nationals at 91 and Singaporeans at 63.
Read More
Nauru Slashes CBI Costs and Introduces 30% Discounted Limited Time Offer
Nauru’s citizenship overhaul: No dependent age limits, married dependents accepted, 30% discount running until June 30.
Read More
Beijing Deploys Unorthodox Methods in Expanded Tax Dragnet
Beijing’s tax crackdown uses AI surveillance and self-reporting to chase $940B in offshore assets, but can’t verify amounts.
Read More
South Korea Proposes Freezing Crypto Accounts of “Suspected” Manipulators
South Korea proposes freezing crypto accounts on suspicion alone. One critic calls it “political intent,” not real policy.
Read More
Thailand Mandates That Banks Report Non-Resident Transfers Above $200,000
Central bank to monitor large non-resident transfers as speculative gold trading peaks at 60% of forex transactions and expat population swells.
Read More
New Zealand Investor Visa Attracts 491 Applications Worth Nearly NZ$3 Billion Since April
American and Chinese investors lead the surge in New Zealand’s revamped program as “US applicants pursue multi-generational planning,” says Mischa Mannix-Opie.
Read More
New Zealand Reverses Foreign Buyer Ban for Luxury Properties
New legislation allows Active Investor Plus visa holders to purchase homes worth NZ$5 million or more, effective early 2026.
Read More
Nauru Defends Citizenship Program Following UK Visa Restriction
Nauru challenges the UK’s decision, emphasizes robust screening, and signals a diplomatic push to restore visa-free travel.
Read More
Tonga’s Likely PM Candidate Backs $190,000 CBI Proposal
As Tonga’s parliament prepares to choose a new leader Monday, a leaked CBI proposal has reopened old wounds.
Read More
UK Strips Nauru of Visa-Free Access Over New Citizenship Program
We lack confidence in the legitimacy of any vetting processes.” UK revokes Nauru’s visa-free access over CBI program.
Read More
New Zealand Delays Opening Real Estate To Foreign Buyers Until 2026
Wellington delays the NZ$5 million real estate carve-out until 2026; experts split on whether it’s “mostly noise.”
Read More