[Tail Gunner]

(12-05-2018 05:55 AM)semibaron Wrote:  

Interesting thread.

Is there any citizenship by investment in Asia? if not, are there at least residency by investment?

Cambodia has a citizenship by investment program, but it is fairly expensive for what you get (in terms of visa-free travel) and costing about $325,000. From what I have read, they are in the midst of changing the law -- and not for the better. I have read that you may need to learn Khmer. If you start a business with local employees, the investment amount could be much less. Here is an article. I am not sure how much of it is true. Reports vary widely.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50108464/bu...tizenship/


Probably the best value in Asia is Malaysia’s My Second Home program (MM2H), which was developed by the Government of Malaysia as an international residency scheme. It is designed to grant foreign investors the opportunity to obtain a long-term Permanent Residence Status visa by virtue of an investment in Malaysia. Permanent Residence Status gives an investor a ten year visa that is easily renewable at the end of each ten-year period, and allows an individual the freedom to come and go as they please.

After an extended period of residency, Malaysian citizenship can be requested. Unfortunately Malaysia does not recognize dual citizenship, so an applicant must forgo their original citizenship to obtain Malaysian citizenship and a Malaysian passport.

The requirements of the MM2H program are:
-- All applicants under age 50 must open a fixed deposit account in Malaysia of RM300,000 (US$ 67,226) and maintain a minimum balance of RM150,000 (US$ 33,613) from the second year onward, and throughout their stay in the country thereafter.
-- All applicants over age 50 must open a fixed deposit account of a minimum of RM150,000 (US$ 33,613), or provide authorized proof of a RM10,000 (US$ 2,240) monthly pension from an offshore account. From the second year and thereafter the applicant must maintain a minimum balance of RM100,000 (US$ 22,408) throughout their stay in Malaysia.

https://2ndpassports.com/malaysia-citize...nvestment/


Singapore citizenship by investment costs roughly $2 million or more (they keep raising the price) and it does not allow dual citizenship.


You can see why Asia is not discussed much regarding citizenship. It takes either much money or much time or you must learn the local language -- and you typically must give up your original citizenship.