Why is it better to plan for identity than to tighten global immigration policies in 2026? Shanghai Immigration Expo to be held in November

The Global Wealth Flow Report released by Henley&Partners predicts that approximately 142000 high net worth individuals will apply for secondary status throughout 2026, setting a historic high. At the same time, immigration policies in multiple countries are undergoing intensive adjustments: some projects have raised investment thresholds, some projects have adjusted their application scope, and some projects have been directly shut down.

The narrowing of policy windows has made 'early rather than late identity planning' a practical choice for more and more families, rather than just a suggestion. From November 20th to 22nd, 2026, the Overseas Immigrant Study and Property Expo, as well as the Enterprise Overseas Development and Financial Services Expo, will be held at the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center for three days. It is expected to receive about 8000 visitors and provide a centralized and horizontal comparison venue for families with identity planning needs.

1、 Three directions of immigration policy changes in 2026

Based on recent public policy information, there are three clear directions for global immigration policies in 2026.

Firstly, the investment threshold has been generally raised. Multiple traditional immigration programs have adjusted their investment amounts or methods, such as Greece's home purchase immigration setting different investment thresholds according to regional tiers, and Portugal's investment residency programs turning more towards diverse paths such as compliance funds. Raising the threshold means that for the same identity goal, the later the planning time, the higher the cost may be.

In terms of public policy adjustments, the changes in some European countries in the past two years are quite representative: Greek homebuyers have set investment thresholds ranging from 250000 to 800000 euros according to regional tiers; Portugal's investment residency no longer retains the path of purchasing a house, but instead turns to various methods such as compliance funds; Spain's golden visa for home purchases has stopped accepting new applications. The adjustment directions of each project are different, but the commonality is that the window period judgment of identity planning is becoming increasingly important, and the path differences suitable for different families are also increasing.

Secondly, the audit standards are stricter. Many countries have strengthened their scrutiny of funding sources and applicant backgrounds, and have significantly increased their requirements for the authenticity and compliance of materials. The relatively loose material preparation method in the past may now require more complete supporting documents.

Thirdly, comprehensive compliance supervision. With the advancement of international tax information exchange mechanisms, identity planning is no longer just about 'obtaining identity', but also involves a series of related issues such as tax residency status and asset declaration. The compliance of planning directly affects the stability of long-term asset arrangements for households.

2、 Compliance is the lifeline of identity planning

The identity planning industry often says: planning can be complex, but the path must be compliant. In the context of the gradual improvement of information exchange mechanisms, this is particularly important.

For families, identity planning is usually not a single action, but a comprehensive arrangement that is linked to education, real estate, healthcare, elderly care, and asset allocation. Where children go to study, where families live, and how assets are arranged often require comprehensive consideration. Just looking at an immigration project may not necessarily answer these questions.

That's also why more and more families tend to contact professional institutions in the early stages of planning, clarify their needs, and then match projects. Compared to making hasty decisions, doing homework first and then making choices can usually reduce the cost of subsequent adjustments.

3、 Common Misconceptions in Identity Planning

The information involved in identity planning is complex, and several common misconceptions are worth paying attention to in advance.

One of the misconceptions is' wait until the project is finalized before planning '. Policy adjustments are often quick, and when everything is confirmed before taking action, the available space may have already narrowed. A more prudent approach is to understand the information in advance, prepare materials in advance, and leave room for decision-making.

The second misconception is' only looking at the threshold without looking at the match '. The funding threshold is only one dimension of the project, and factors such as residential requirements, coverage of family members, and subsequent obligations can all affect whether the project is suitable for oneself. Projects that are suitable for others may not necessarily be suitable for oneself.

The third misconception is' ignoring compliance requirements'. Identity planning is accompanied by a series of compliance issues, including standardized handling of funding sources, tax declarations, and other related processes. Improper handling of compliance issues may bring uncertainty to subsequent arrangements.

At the exhibition, visitors can have face-to-face communication with professional organizations on these issues and obtain targeted reference opinions based on their own situations.

4、 Why is' face-to-face 'consultation still irreplaceable

There is no shortage of information about identity planning online. However, the abundance of information does not necessarily equate to its reliability. There may be differences in opinions from different sources, and policy details are often subject to dynamic changes.

The value of an exhibition lies in bringing together numerous participating organizations on the same site, allowing demand sides to have direct dialogue. At the exhibition site, families can learn about the application conditions, timeline, costs, and subsequent obligations of the project in person, and can also ask questions about their own situation on-site to obtain targeted feedback. This one-on-one communication is more intuitive than simply browsing the web, and it is also easier to discover solutions that suit oneself.

Meanwhile, centralized comparison also reduces the cost of selection. Within the same site, multiple projects from different countries can be compared simultaneously. By comparing project characteristics, funding requirements, and subsequent services horizontally, the judgment will be much clearer.

Before on-site consultation, families can sort out a few questions in advance: what are the planning goals of family members, what is the approximate budget range, what are the requirements for living and travel, and whether the financial arrangements have been sorted out. Consulting with questions in mind will increase communication efficiency and make it easier to obtain valuable reference information.

5、 Expo information and participation methods

This expo is scheduled to be held from November 20th to 22nd, 2026, for a period of three days, at the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center (No. 99 Xingyi Road, Changning District, Shanghai). The exhibition includes sections such as overseas immigration, study abroad, real estate, enterprise going global, and financial services. It is expected to receive a total of about 8000 visitors in three days.

Whether it's families considering identity planning or individuals who want to learn about the latest policy trends, they can come to the venue to directly communicate with the participating organizations. Exhibition and visit consultation hotline: 13681692751 (same as WeChat), official website: www.qs-expo.com.

Policies are changing, but demand remains unchanged. Planning ahead and making choices in the present are the key to making every step of the family's arrangements more manageable.