Countries across the globe have created attractive permanent residency programs for entrepreneurs, businesspersons and HNIs. With a favourable immigration climate now is a great time for you to explore your options of settling abroad with your family and setting up business operations. SwiftFord can help you identify the right residency option based on your preferences and future plans.
Many countries offer an Investment or Business Visa to encourage immigrants who have proven experience in running a business and are interested in establishing a business overseas or invest in another country. They could be interested in opening either a new business venture or buying an existing business located overseas.
Residence through investment programs are also commonly referred to as the golden visa programs. Recently, an increasing number of individuals, with the talent as well as means, have come to explore overseas options, deciding not to limit their business interests to a particular country alone.
Invest overseas allows High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) to relocate abroad, acquiring the right to work and live in their new country of residence.
Many also explore invest overseas options for multiple residences towards their international planning.
Australia and Canada have an Immigrant Investor Program which offers migrants the option of having an alternate residency status while continuing to manage already existing businesses in their home country.
These investor programs seek to attract potential overseas investors who have enough personal net worth and managerial experience.
Every country that offers an investment program has its own set of requirements and eligibility criteria.
The permanent residency programs for investors and entrepreneurs are typically designed to offer individual as well as business benefits. The best such immigration programs offer benefits like:
Countries across the globe offer attractive permanent residency options for HNIs, entrepreneurs, and businesspersons.
Many countries offer investment or business visas to encourage immigrants that have proven experience in running a business and are interested in establishing a business overseas or invest in another country. Such individuals could be interested in opening either a new business venture or buying an existing business located overseas.
The leading countries offering residence through investment are, among others –
The specific requirements vary, and will be as per the country looking to settle in as well as the program applying under.
The top motivations that make an individual select a country for invest overseas include – the likelihood of getting citizenship, the quality of life offered, as well as the overall business environment.
Permanent residency programs for investors and entrepreneurs are typically designed to offer individuals as well as businesses a wide range of benefits.
Different countries have different criteria to assess applicant eligibility. Broadly, the assessment criteria are:
SwiftFord guides entrepreneurs and investors, helping them take the most ideally-suited invest overseas path for themselves. We analyse your profile and suggest the best solution that meets your personal and business goals.
Explore your options of settling abroad with your family while setting up business operations overseas. SwiftFord can help you identify the right residency option based on your preferences and future plans.
With an impeccable financial and institutional credibility, SwiftFord can advise you on your overseas investments.
Offering qualified advice and dedicated support, SwiftFord can help you make the most of your international investment, settling overseas as an entrepreneur with your family.
Generally, you can get permanent residence by investment in a country part of the European Union (EU) after living in that country for five years.
EU countries that offer invest Golden Visas include – Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium, and Malta.
Talk to SwiftFord today for more information.
For entrepreneurs that have the skills and potential to build up businesses in Canada that are – (1) innovative, (2) can create jobs for Canadians, and can compete on an international scale.
Individuals with innovative business ideas might be able to immigrate to Canada through the Start-Up Visa Program. Provided, however, that they are able to get support for their business idea from any of the designated organizations (can be angel investor groups, business incubators, or venture capital funds).
Minimum investment required – $200,000 (if coming from a designate venture capital fund in Canada); $75,000 (in case of a designated angel investor group in Canada).
Those planning to invest in Quebec will have to go through Quebec immigration programs.
If the application is approved, a Canadian permanent residence visa will be issued. This will include the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), along with an entry visa.
Under Canada’s startup visa program, candidates can come to Canada on a work permit which is sponsored by their Canada based investor and then apply for a PR visa once their business is established in the country.
This program encourages immigrant entrepreneurs to develop their startups in Canada. Successful applicants can tie-up with private sector investors in Canada to receive help on funding and guidance on running their business. The three types of private sector investors they can approach are:
Eligibility requirements for visa applicants are:
Many options are available for individuals that intend to either start a business or invest in Australia and live as Australian permanent residents.
Business innovation and investment pathways are for you if you – already own a business, want to start a business, or are planning to invest in Australia.
Invest overseas pathways for Australia include –
The Entrepreneur stream under Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa category allows you to own and manage a business in Australia or conduct a business or investment activity entrepreneurial activity in Australia.
Eligibility requirements
The provisional visa program has seven categories:
1.Business Innovation Stream- This provisional visa allows you to operate a new or existing business in Australia. You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.
2.Investor stream- For this you will require at least AUD 1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain your business and investment activity in Australia.
3.Significant investor stream- People willing to invest at least AUD 5 million in Australian investments can apply for this visa. They must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.
4.Business innovation extension stream- With this visa holders of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa can extend their stay in Australia for 2 more years. For this extension applicants must have had Business Innovation stream visa for at least 3 years and must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.
5.Significant investor extension stream- With this visa holders of the Significant Investor stream can extend their stay in Australia for up to 4 more years. For this extension applicants must have had Significant Investor stream for at least 3 years and must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.
6.Premium Investor stream-This visa requires nomination by Austrade and an investment of at least AUD 15 million in Australian enterprises or in philanthropic contribution.
7.Entrepreneur stream-With this visa you can carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia.
Steps to apply for a provisional business visa
You must submit an expression of interest through the Department of home affairs
Wait for a nomination from a state or territory or from Austrade by waiting for an intimation from them or you can contact them directly
Once you receive an invitation you can apply for a visa
The business of the visa holder must do any one of the following activities
The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa, also known as Subclass 188, can help you gain permanent residency. If you have been on a Subclass 188 visa for at least one year and meet the financial conditions, you can apply for your PR visa. Aside from that, you’ll have to show that you have a long-term commercial interest by making frequent investments and hiring local staff.
Advantages of the visa
Australia Golden Visa
This visa was introduced in 2012. With this visa High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) can get a PR visa to Australia through investment immigration. Applicants must be willing to invest AUD 5 million in a specific structure to qualify for this visa. Although the investment is high, it is regulated and restricted.
Commonly called the Australia Golden Visa, the Significant Investor Visa for Australia offers a streamlined Australian immigration pathway to High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) through investment.
There is no age limit for the Golden Visa for Australia.
Path to permanent residency
Residency by investment is for wealth foreign nationals that want to take up permanent residence in a country on the basis of investing a substantial amount of money or through purchasing a property therein.
Those successful in acquiring residency by investment will get – along with their spouse and children – residence permits for the country in which the investment is made. These residence permits can be renewed indefinitely, provided the investment is duly maintained.
There is often little or no requirement of actually being physically present in the country to be issued a golden visa. However, most countries require actual residency in that country for a certain period of time, to be granted permanent residence or citizenship by investment.
How much money do you need for an investor visa?
The investment amount for an Investor Visa majorly depends on the country that you are investing in. Different countries have different eligibility criteria for an applicant’s eligibility. Some countries have different eligibility criteria as per the state you are investing in, like Canada.
For an Investor Visa under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, the minimum investment amount is CAD $200,000. You also need to have a personal net worth of at least CAD $600,000.
For the province of Manitoba in Canada, you need to invest at least CAD $250,000 if you wish to set up your business in the Manitoba Capital Region. To set up a business elsewhere in Manitoba, you need to make a minimum investment of at least CAD $150,000. You also need to have a personal net worth of CAD $500,000.
Minimum £50,000 in investment funds will be required to apply for a UK Innovator visa if an individual intends setting up a new business.
Thus, the investment amount differs as per the country as well as the visa category.
What is Graduate Entrepreneur Visa?
International students in the UK who have a viable business idea may apply for the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa. This visa allows the Visa holder to set up their own business in the UK. Thus, successful applicants are allowed to extend their stay in the UK to set up one or more than one business in the UK.
You can apply for the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa if:
However, the UK will not accept any new applications for the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa from 6th July 2019.
The Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa is being replaced by the Start-up Visa.
This visa category exclusively caters to entrepreneurs with high potential who are starting a business for the first time.
The application for this visa can be submitted three months before your intended date of travel to the UK. Other eligibility requirements include:
How to apply for investor visa from Nepal?
The application process for an Investor Visa differs from country to country. Every country that offers an Investor Visa has a different set of requirements that needs to be met before you apply for the Visa.
For example, if you wish to apply for the UK Innovator Visa, you can submit your application to the UKBA. You will need to include a detailed business proposal along with the other supporting documents for the UK Innovator Visa.
However, if you wish to apply for the Investor Visa in any province in Canada, you need to first submit an online profile. If your online profile is selected, you may then proceed to submit your business proposal and visa application.
Since the application process differs from country to country, it is best to seek the advice of an Immigration Expert. Also, Investor Visas are expensive and hence it is highly recommended to seek the advice of an Expert to get the right guidance.
What are the documents required for investor visa?
The requirements of an Investor Visa differ from country to country. Hence the documents needed will also depend on the country that you are applying for.
The documents required also depend on the Visa category that you apply for.
For example, the document checklist for the UK Innovator Visa is different from the Sole Representative Visa of the UK. For the newly announced Start-Up Visa of the UK, you need an “endorsement letter” from an authorized entity in the UK. Such an endorsement letter is not needed for Innovator Visa or the Sole Representative Visa.
Similarly, the document checklist for the various Investor Visas in different provinces of Canada is different.
It is highly recommended to consult an Immigration Expert while applying for an Investor Visa to get the right guidance. Not only will the Expert be able to explain to you the whole process but also guide you on all the supporting documents required.
What are the benefits of starting or expanding a business in another country?
Business owners or entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in another country are aware of the benefits.
Expanding their business overseas helps them to explore untapped markets or sell their products and services which will be unique in the new market.
They can make use of the attractive options such as tax cuts and loans offered by foreign countries to encourage businesses from outside to be set up in their country.
Some countries offer a better business environment in comparison to the home country of the business owners or entrepreneurs.
Expansion of the business to other countries promotes better brand visibility and improves recognition of the business.
What are the eligibility requirements for the investor visa?
Eligibility requirements again are based on the country and the type of investor visa you are applying for.
For instance, if you are applying for the Subclass 188 investor visa for Australia, you must qualify for either one of the three visa sub-categories:
Classification as a significant investor.
The investor must be below 55 years when submitting the application. They should have a detailed plan for the business or be willing to invest in an existing business in Australia. They should have at least 65 points which are based on various factors that include age, education, previous business activities, and investment experience.
If you are applying for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), you must be above 21 years, your net worth must be at least CAD 600,000. You must be willing to make a minimum investment of CAD 150,000 to establish your business in the province.
You must have at least three years’ experience in running a business or 5 years of experience in a senior management role. You must have an intention to settle in Nova Scotia.