Invest

Why Invest Overseas?

The highest driving factors that lead a person to choose a nation to invest abroad are – the chances of obtaining citizenship, the standard of living provided, and the overall business climate.

Permanent residency programs for investors and entrepreneurs are typically designed to offer individuals as well as businesses a wide range of benefits.

Settle Abroad with Your Family

Nations all over the world have established appealing permanent residency schemes for entrepreneurs, business individuals and HNWIs. With an immigration-friendly environment, it’s the best time for you to look into your possibilities of settling overseas together with your family and establishing business activities. EKASO-TAKA is able to guide you in determining the most suitable residency scheme depending on your interest and plans in the future.

Most nations provide an Investment or Business Visa in order to attract immigrants who possess established experience of operating a business and wish to start a business abroad or invest in a foreign country. They might be looking to launch a new business venture or acquire an established business based abroad.

Residence by investment schemes are also popularly known as the golden visa schemes. In recent times, more and more people, with the ability as well as talent, have begun to look towards international opportunities, choosing not to confine their business interests to one country only.

Invest overseas enables High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) to move abroad, gaining the privilege of working and residing in their new home country.

Some also investigate invest overseas opportunities for multiple homes towards their global planning.

Australia and Canada both have an Immigrant Investor Program that allows migrants the possibility of having an alternative residency status while still being able to maintain already established businesses in their native country.

These investor programs aim to draw in potential foreign investors possessing sufficient personal net worth and managerial capabilities.

Each nation with an investment program possesses a set of requirements and qualification standards

Benefits of Settling Abroad as an Entrepreneur

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:

• Access to a high standard of living
• Access to healthcare and education
• Settle with your dependents
• Access to international opportunities
• Favorable investment policies (varies by country)
• Travel benefits allow you to conduct business globally
• Fast track to citizenship

Eligibility for Entrepreneurs & Investors

Different countries have different criteria to assess applicant eligibility. Broadly, the assessment criteria are:

• Availability of funds to invest overseas
• Prior business profile
• Proficiency in English or local languages
• Business credentials & banking history
• Health & conduct evaluation

Top Countries for Invest Overseas

Countries across the globe offer attractive permanent residency options for HNWIs, entrepreneurs, and business persons.

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 –

• Canada
• Australia
• Ireland
• The UK
• Germany

The specific requirements vary and will depend on the country where you are looking to settle and the program you are applying under.

Citizenship by Investment

Top options for investing overseas

There are many residency-by-investment options available for business persons and entrepreneurs.

The most sought-after investment overseas options include –

Canada’s Startup Visa Program

For entrepreneurs with the talent and potential to develop businesses in Canada that are – (1) innovative, (2) will create jobs for Canadians, and will be competitive on the world stage.

Entrepreneurs with entrepreneurial business concepts may be eligible to immigrate to Canada under the Start-Up Visa Program. Subject, however, to their capacity to secure support for their business concept from one of the designated organizations (may be angel investor groups, business incubators, or venture capital funds).

The minimum investment amount – $200,000 (if from a designated venture capital fund in Canada); $75,000 (in the event of a designated angel investor group in Canada).

Individuals intending to invest in Quebec will need to proceed through Quebec immigration programs.

Once the application is approved, a Canadian permanent residence visa will be granted. This will comprise the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), in addition to an entry visa

Through Canada‘s startup visa program, applicants can enter Canada on a work permit sponsored by their Canadian-based investor and then apply for a PR visa after establishing their business in Canada.

The program invites immigrant entrepreneurs to establish their start-ups in Canada. Successful applicants can align with private sector investors in Canada to get assistance with finance and advice on operating their businesses. The three categories of private sector investors they can contact are:

1. Venture capital fund
2. Business incubator
3. Angel investor

 Eligibility requirements for visa applicants are:

• Have proof that the business has the required support from a designated entity in the form of a Commitment Certificate and Letter of Support
• Have a qualifying business
• Have the required proficiency in English or French
• Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education
• Have enough funds to settle in Canada and support dependent family members
• Must clear the medical tests and security requirements

Australia Business Innovation & Investment

Numerous opportunities exist for those who plan to either invest or start a business in Australia and reside as Australian permanent residents.

Business innovation and investment routes are for you if you – already have a business, want to begin a business, or plan to invest in Australia.

Invest overseas pathways for Australia include –

• The Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) is targeted at business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs who want to continue their activities in Australia.
• Business Owner visa (subclass 890), for individuals that can own or manage a business in Australia.
• State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892), for individuals that own and manage a business in Australia, allowing them to stay in Australia indefinitely.

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

• Have a proposal for entrepreneurial activity in Australia
• Have at least AUD200,000 funding agreement to undertake business in Australia
• Have a business plan for a startup
• Have competent skills in the English language

The provisional visa program has seven categories:

1.Business Innovation Stream- You can use this provisional visa to run a new or established business in Australia. You should be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.

2.Investor stream- You will need a minimum of AUD 1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and continue your business and investment activity within Australia.

3.Significant investor stream- Individuals who are prepared to invest a minimum of AUD 5 million in Australian investments qualify for this visa. Austrade or an Australian State or Territory government agency must nominate them.

4.Business innovation extension stream- Under this visa, holders of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa are eligible to stay in Australia for an additional 2 years. For this, the applicants must have held Business Innovation stream visa for not less than 3 years and must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.

5.Significant Investor stream extension- Under this visa holders of the Significant Investor stream are able to extend their stay in Australia for a period of up to 4 additional years. For the extension applicants should have held Significant Investor stream for a minimum of 3 years and should be nominated by a government agency of an Australian State or Territory or Austrade.

6.Premium Investor stream-It involves nomination by Austrade and investment of at least AUD 15 million in Australian businesses or in charitable giving

7.Entrepreneur stream-With this visa you are able to engage in entrepreneurial pursuits in Australia.

Steps to apply for a provisional business visa

You need to lodge an expression of interest using the Department of home affairs

Wait for your nomination by a state or territory or by Austrade by awaiting an intimation from them or you can make a direct call to them

After receiving your invitation, you can apply for a visa

The business of the visa holder must do any one of the following activities

• Build business links with international markets
• Generate employment in Australia
• Use Australian goods and services
• Produce goods or provide services that would alternatively have to be imported
• Create new and improved technology

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

• You can stay in Australia permanently
• You can promote your business and investment activity in Australia
• You can apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Australia Significant Investor Visa 

This visa came into existence in 2012. Under this visa, High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWI) are able to obtain a PR visa to Australia via investment immigration. The applicants have to be ready to invest AUD 5 million in a particular building to be eligible for this visa. Though the investment is high, it is controlled and limited.

Popularly referred to as the Australia Golden Visa, the Significant Investor Visa for Australia provides a simplified immigration route to High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWI) by way of investment.

There is no age restriction for the Golden Visa for Australia

Path to permanent residency

Residency through investment is intended for affluent foreign citizens who seek to obtain permanent residence in a nation by investing a significant amount of money or buying a property within it.

Successful individuals who obtain residency through investment will receive—along with their spouse and children—residence permits for the nation where the investment is placed. Residence permits can be renewed as many times as desired as long as the investment is properly kept.

There is usually minimal or no need to physically be in the country to be granted a golden visa. Nevertheless, the majority of nations need physical residence in that nation for some duration to qualify for permanent residence or investment by way of citizenship.

How EKASO-TAKA Can Help You

EKASO-TAKA advises entrepreneurs and investors in taking the most appropriately suited foreign investment path for them. We examine your profile and recommend the optimal solution that best serves your business and personal objectives.

Discuss your possibilities of moving abroad with your family and establishing business operations overseas. EKASO-TAKA will assist you in determining the ideal residency choice depending on your priorities and intended future.

With an unwavering financial and institutional credibility, EKASO-TAKA is in a position to advise you regarding your foreign investments.

Providing competent advice and committed support, EKASO-TAKA will enable you to get the most out of your foreign investment, settling abroad as an entrepreneur with your loved ones.