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What if you could make a great return in a promising economy and also get residency, maybe even a second passport? Sounds too good to be true. And in most cases it is. But there are a few such opportunities around the world. In this article we are going to give you 3 countries that offer this
Armenia
Armenia is the leading outsourcing nation worldwide. It has a very entrepreneurial culture, which has had an impact on its diaspora around the world. Partly as a result of their hard work abroad, prices in the capital, Yerevan, are higher than anywhere else in the region. The new government has even had tax cuts in mind for the capital city as well.
If you're interested in a residency permit, you can get one by investing about $20,000 in securities (company shares and corporate and government bonds). These are, of course, denominated in drams. This allows you to have a cash balance. Some have to be held to maturity, others have a secondary market and a higher interest rate. In total, you can earn between 7 and 10.5% on these bonds, depending on their maturity and marketability.
And if their currency performs as well over the next five years as it has over the last five, you will have a relatively stable return that you can convert into a residence permit. Normally, you get it for a period of one year, and if you renew it, it becomes a five-year residence permit and then a ten-year residence permit. But if you are a US citizen, you may be in luck, as it is not uncommon for them to be able to get a five-year residency from the beginning. Then, if you have an interest in a second Armenian citizenship, you can apply for it after only three years.
Of course, you have to go through an interview about the Armenian constitution. But don't worry, even though this will be done in Armenian, you can ask to be translated.
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is one of those hidden gems you don't hear much about. It is in the shadow of other tourist areas on this side of the world, such as Bangkok.
The great thing about the country is that just about anyone can get a residency permit in Malaysia through the MM2H programme without jumping through complicated hoops. (This is one of those cases where residency isn't a route to citizenship, though).
Having USD 66,000 in the bank, halved to USD 33,135 if you're over 50, and a monthly income of USD 2228 or more is the only major requirement for a 10-year permit.
The good news is that the Malaysian ringgit has been unfairly beaten up over the past few years - during which time it has fallen in value by around 20 per cent. So if you invest now, you'll be in a position to reap the rewards in the medium to long term.
In other words, the currency is undervalued and the banks are paying around 3-4% interest for the pleasure of holding a currency that is about to rebound.
Ecuador
Ecuador is becoming a haven for expatriates. It is a great hub for anyone living in the Americas, as it is relatively easy to return to the United States or Canada. It is also not as expensive as other countries in the region. All in all, it is a very interesting place for a visit or for retirement.
Indeed, many retirement publications consistently rank it among the best retirement countries. If you are retiring, you may not want your savings to be held in emerging market currencies. It may make sense in the medium to long term, but you need to put that money to work right now.
Luckily, the national currency of Ecuador is the US dollar. This means that if you are European, you can get exposed to the USD; and if you are from the US, you may already have the amount needed to open an account without having to convert.
There are many ways to obtain a residency permit through investment, such as buying property or shares. However, if you intend to do this through foreign currency deposits, you will need to deposit USD 28,000 in an account that will lock you in for a period of 730 days. With banks usually offering interest rates of between 4 and 5.5 per cent, this should not be too much of a problem.
So, if you are interested in finding out more about residency by investment program and its opportunities to develop business, contact us today! Below this article, you will find a link to set up a free fifteen-minute consultation with us to discuss your options further.
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