Investment Migration News January 2026 – Global Investment & Citizenship Bulletin: Highlights from the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Türkiye, and New Zealand
January 30, 2026 · Residency by investment · 17 min read
In Investment Migration News January 2026, IMM Group reviews the key developments in global residency and citizenship by investment programs. This issue covers:
1. CanAm Regional Center’s 2025 in review: IMM Group’s strategic EB-5 partner
CanAm Regional Center, IMM Group’s strategic partner in the EB-5 program, closed 2025 with a series of record milestones that underscore its standing in the EB-5 market.
According to CanAm, it became the first regional center to surpass 3,000 approved Form I-829 petitions, and the total capital it has returned to investors now exceeds US$2.5 billion across 53 successfully completed projects.
Under the framework introduced by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), CanAm reports 15 projects with Form I-956F approval and 334 Form I-526E petitions approved by USCIS. Notably, CanAm has tightened its due diligence process and accepted fewer new project launches, an approach intended to better protect investors’ green card prospects and invested capital.
Among the projects that meet these strict standards are the 360 Broadband rural internet infrastructure project and the Ainsley luxury apartment project.
2. Global Entry: faster U.S. arrivals for EB-5 investors as airport security tightens
With U.S. airports tightening security, entry wait times growing longer, and screening becoming more rigorous, holding a green card is only part of the picture; making full use of available travel privileges matters too.
Global Entry, a Trusted Traveler Program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), offers EB-5 investors a faster way to enter the United States. Built on a “vetted in advance, faster on arrival” principle, it lets members clear entry at automated kiosks in about 1–3 minutes rather than queuing for 30–90 minutes, and it includes TSA PreCheck for domestic flights, for a US$120 application fee covering a 5-year membership.
EB-5 investors who hold a valid green card are eligible to apply, provided they have a clean legal record. IMM Group provides a dedicated checklist and advises on when to apply, particularly during sensitive periods such as while Form I-829 is pending.
3. Public charge in 2026: what EB-5 investors need to know
Effective January 21, 2026, the U.S. government paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries while it reviewed its “public charge” rules, signaling a return to strict scrutiny of financial self-sufficiency under President Donald Trump. Although the pause applies only to nationals of the listed countries, the move points to increasingly rigorous vetting of all immigration cases, including EB-5. Immigration authorities will focus on assessing the likelihood of reliance on public benefits, based on the applicant’s income, assets, and health.
For investors whose cases are pending, IMM Group recommends preparing clear, well-documented financial records that demonstrate the ability to support yourself and your family. For green card holders, using certain basic benefits is not prohibited, but keeping benefit use to a minimum (particularly cash assistance) and consulting an immigration attorney before making any decision is a prudent way to protect your long-term residence.
4. The EB-5 grandfather clause: key legal protection for investors filing by September 30, 2026
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) established the grandfathering mechanism as a key legal safeguard for investors against policy shifts.
Under this provision, any Form I-526E petition properly filed on or before September 30, 2026 will continue to be processed and adjudicated under the law in effect at the time of filing, even if the Regional Center Program later lapses. This protection comes directly from federal law enacted by the U.S. Congress, not merely from an advisory firm’s promise.
As of this writing, despite advocacy for an extension, no legislation has replaced this date, leaving September 30, 2026 as the only deadline in effect. Because preparing a thorough financial documentation package takes 2.5–4 months on average, IMM Group recommends that investors avoid a last-minute rush and the risk of errors that comes with it. Starting now is the most prudent way to secure grandfathering protection.
5. Canada business immigration in 2026: what options are there for business owners and senior managers?
Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan keeps permanent resident targets steady while tightening temporary streams such as international students and foreign workers, positioning the provincial entrepreneur stream (PNP Entrepreneur) as a compelling option because of the real economic value it creates. Notably, since the Start-up Visa Program paused new applications on December 19, 2025, the PNP has become the most viable alternative for business owners.
The process requires operating a real business (a work permit first, then a pathway to permanent residence), and the family may become eligible for public healthcare and free public schooling, while children may save substantially on university tuition compared with international student fees. Investors currently have a range of provincial options, including PEI, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Columbia. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for choosing a province, nor a fixed way to “group” provinces by need. Each case calls for individual advice and analysis, based both on the investor’s specific profile and on each province’s current intake windows and criteria.
6. European residency by investment in 2026: which options suit investors?
In 2026, European residency by investment programs are entering a period of systemic tightening under growing EU scrutiny. Even so, stable pathways remain for well-prepared investors.
Specifically, the Greece Golden Visa still offers a property route from €250,000 (approximately US$280,000), with the VAT exemption on new-build property in effect through the end of 2026.
With English widely spoken, Malta is the only country that belongs to all 4 blocs (EU, Schengen, eurozone, Commonwealth) and offers permanent residence covering 4 generations of a family.
Irish residency is available through the last remaining investment places, via an endowment of €400,000 or more to a public benefit project.
In addition, Cyprus continues to grant permanent residence through property from €300,000, while Portugal has shifted to qualifying fund investments from €500,000, with a pathway to citizenship after 5 years.
7. Buying property in New Zealand: key rules investors should know
New Zealand has some of the strictest property ownership rules in the world: purchases are mainly reserved for citizens and permanent residents who meet the “ordinarily resident” test (having lived in New Zealand for at least the preceding 12 months and been present for more than 183 days in that period).
From 2026, however, Active Investor Plus Visa investors will be able to buy 1 property worth NZ$5 million or more (excluding sensitive land such as coastal or large-scale farmland) without meeting the residency test.
IMM Group currently presents two New Zealand residency pathways: the Active Investor Plus Visa for passive investment (NZ$5–10 million) with flexible stay requirements, and the Business Investor Work Visa (from NZ$1 million) for entrepreneurs who run the business directly. Residence provides access to a high standard of social welfare and the opportunity to later hold a passport with visa-free access to 187 destinations.
8. Holding a strong passport: removing visa barriers and elevating entrepreneurs’ global standing
For many entrepreneurs, a lower-ranked passport has become a real obstacle, bringing extra paperwork, visa costs, and the risk of delayed business travel. To address this, a growing number of investors are turning to citizenship by investment (CBI) for a second citizenship, which can offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 140 countries, more options to hold and preserve assets in foreign currencies, and a “Plan B” for the family.
Current options include Turkish citizenship (property from US$400,000), with Türkiye’s strategic position between Europe and Asia, and Grenada citizenship (investment from US$270,000 in the InterContinental Grenada Resort project). IMM Group is currently the first and only firm in Vietnam officially authorized by the Government of Grenada to process applications.
European Golden Visa programs (from €250,000) are also seen as a strong option, offering visa-free short stays across the 29 Schengen countries and a potential path to EU citizenship.
Global investment and citizenship: why choose an advisory firm with a proven track record?
The global investment and citizenship landscape is constantly changing and increasingly complex. Investors need an advisory partner that not only helps build a strong application but also offers peace of mind about the family’s future. That is why, across all our global investment and citizenship solutions, IMM Group sets itself apart as a strategic advisory partner, working alongside you with experience and integrity.
IMM Group is a pioneering, long-established firm with more than 21 years of hands-on experience in Vietnam. We are not salespeople, and we do more than advise: we design global investment and citizenship solutions built on:
- Rigorous due diligence and risk management: Our experience successfully handling hundreds of cases, including complex ones, enables us to conduct multi-layered project due diligence and protect investors’ interests rigorously, even during market crises.
- In-depth professional consulting and full transparency: Every IMM Group advisor and case manager is certified in investment migration advisory by the Investment Migration Council (IMC). Our team analyzes benefits and risks in full, so you can make decisions based on complete and accurate information. We put our clients’ long-term interests first.
- Integrity and commitment every step of the way: Guided by our philosophy, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group stays with you from the first step until you have settled in your new country. Integrity is our foundation, reflected in our readiness to stand up for clients’ interests and to proactively refund service fees when risks beyond the client’s control arise, as set out in the contract.
- Receiving and giving back: Since 2025, IMM Group has operated as a nonprofit enterprise, committing at least 50% of its annual profits to the Be Better Fund. By choosing IMM Group, you also help hundreds of students facing exceptional hardship gain a chance to change their lives.
For full details, read the linked articles or contact IMM Group to discuss global investment and citizenship programs.
IMM Group
- Tags:
- U.S. EB-5 immigration
- Active Investor Plus Visa
- Business Investor Visa program
- Canadian provincial entrepreneur streams
- Grenada citizenship
- Turkish citizenship
- European citizenship and permanent residence
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