2026 Overseas Immigration Policy Observation: UK Restarting Investment Visa, Multi Country Project Threshold and Path Sorting

1、 Global immigration policies enter adjustment cycle

In 2026, the policy frameworks of major immigration receiving countries around the world are undergoing a significant adjustment. On the one hand, some countries are tightening the threshold and review standards for traditional investment immigration programs; On the other hand, some countries have reopened or launched new investment residency programs to attract global capital and talent inflows. This trend of differentiation means that families with overseas identity planning needs need to pay more attention to changes in the policy window period.

After closing Tier 1 investor visas in 2022, the UK is planning to launch a new "invitation based" investor visa in 2026. According to public reports, the new visa requires applicants to invest at least £ 5 million in priority areas in the UK. Successful applicants can obtain a three-year residency qualification and a path to apply for permanent residency after three years. This policy is seen as a signal for the UK to re compete for the global high net worth population, but the threshold has been significantly raised compared to before.

On the US side, in May 2026, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a new policy memorandum requiring foreign nationals who adjust their immigration status in the US to return to their place of origin for application unless under special circumstances. This adjustment immediately drew attention from the immigrant community and also meant that the traditional path of domestic identity transfer faced uncertainty.

2、 Comparison of thresholds for mainstream investment immigration projects

From the analysis of public information, there are significant differences in the threshold and path of current mainstream investment immigration projects. The minimum investment threshold for EB-5 investment immigration in rural employment areas or high unemployment areas in the United States is $800000, with an approval period of about 3 to 5 years. After obtaining a temporary green card, it is necessary to meet the recommended residency requirement of living for at least six months per year to maintain green card status. Holding a green card for at least 5 years can apply for citizenship.

In Europe, the Italian investor visa offers four investment paths: investing approximately 250000 euros in innovative startups, investing 500000 euros in mature enterprises, purchasing 2 million euros in government bonds, or making a charitable donation of 1 million euros. The administrative processing cycle is usually 3 to 4 months, and there is no clear calendar residency requirement. After the update in July 2025, the Malta Permanent Residency Program will provide permanent residency status in EU member states through a combination of property purchases (starting at 375000 euros), government donations, donations, and asset thresholds.

In addition, Türkiye continues to attract the attention of global investors by virtue of the policy that it can apply for citizenship when buying a house with US $400000 and has no residence and language requirements. Maldives has also announced the launch of a new investment residency program in the second half of 2026.

3、 The logic behind policy changes

There are different driving factors behind the adjustment of immigration policies in various countries. Some countries raise investment thresholds to screen for higher quality investors and more substantial economic contributions; In other countries, it is due to considerations of security checks and allocation of public resources. For applicants, understanding the direction of policy adjustments is more important than simply comparing investment amounts.

A clear trend in 2026 is that the traditional 'golden visa' program is facing policy tightening in some European countries. Spain has terminated the residency pathway for purchasing property in April 2025, which means that the channel for obtaining residency status through purchasing property in Spain has been closed. This change reminds families with relevant plans that the policy window period may be shorter than expected, and it is crucial to understand and plan ahead.

4、 Identity planning requires comprehensive consideration

Overseas immigration is not an isolated decision, but closely related to family education planning, asset allocation, tax arrangements, and life planning. The residence requirements, tax residency status recognition, passport visa exemption scope, and children's education connection of different countries need to be taken into consideration before making decisions.

Many families tend to focus only on the investment amount and processing period when choosing immigration programs, while neglecting the cost and requirements of maintaining their status in the future. For example, in some countries, although the application threshold is lower, maintaining identity requires meeting the annual residency requirement; Some countries have relatively high investment amounts but almost no residency requirements. These differences have a significant impact on the actual living arrangements of families.

5、 How to obtain timely and accurate policy information

The timeliness of immigration policies is strong, and there are often lagging or one-sided issues with online information. For families with planning needs, face-to-face communication with professional institutions and obtaining personalized analysis is more efficient than searching for fragmented information on their own.

From November 20th to 22nd, 2026, the Overseas Immigrant Study Abroad Property and Enterprise Overseas Development and Financial Services Expo will be held for three days at the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center, with an expected attendance of about 8000 people. The Expo has set up an overseas immigration service area, inviting immigration law firms, licensed intermediaries, and official investment institutions from multiple countries to participate. On site, visitors can learn about the latest immigration policies, project thresholds, and processing procedures in different countries.

If you need to inquire about exhibition or visit information, you can call the exhibition hotline 13681692751 (same as WeChat), or log in to the official website www.qs-expo.com for details.