Global Insights
International Insights, Global Perspective
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Dubai UAE Golden Visa Major Update: AED 1M Down Payment Requirement Removed, Real Estate Investment Barriers Significantly Lowered
Effective January 24, 2024, the UAE has eliminated the minimum down payment requirement for Golden Visa real estate investment applications. Investors can now qualify for a 10-year Golden Visa by owning properties valued at AED 2 million, regardless of down payment amount or property type (off-plan, mortgaged properties eligible). This policy change significantly lowers barriers for international investors, particularly beneficial for overseas Chinese high-net-worth individuals.
Newest Policy
Hong Kong 2026/27 Budget: Luxury Property Stamp Duty Raised to 6.5%, REIT Transfers Exempted
Hong Kong's 2026 budget announced on February 25 raises stamp duty on luxury properties over HKD 100 million from 4.25% to 6.5%, targeting ultra-high-end market. Budget also introduces stamp duty exemption for REIT transfers and relaxes intra-group asset transfer relief criteria.
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Australia NSW Foreign Buyer Stamp Duty 9% 2025
NSW raises foreign buyer stamp duty from 8% to 9%
Newest Policy
Australia NSW Raises Foreign Buyer Stamp Duty to 9% from 2025
New South Wales increases foreign buyer stamp duty surcharge from 8% to 9% and land tax surcharge from 4% to 5%, raising property acquisition costs for overseas investors in Sydney and surrounding areas
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2026 Study Abroad Trends: Hong Kong Overtakes US, Are UK/US Still Optimal?
Hong Kong has overtaken the US as China's second most popular study destination. With average costs reaching ¥605k and over half of students applying globally, is the traditional UK/US route still worth it?
Newest Policy
Malaysia MM2H Overhaul: Mandatory Property Purchase, 8% Stamp Duty, and New Four-Tier Visa System Explained
Malaysia's MM2H program has been restructured into four tiers with mandatory property purchases ranging from RM 600K to RM 2M and a 10-year lock-in period. From January 2026, stamp duty for foreign buyers doubled from 4% to 8%, fully applicable to MM2H holders.
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Hong Kong CIES Hits 3,200 Applications and HK$95 Billion: Holding Company Rule Relaxed
Hong Kong's New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme has attracted nearly 3,200 applications worth HK$95 billion in two years. From March 1, 2026, a key rule change removes the six-month incorporation requirement for private holding companies, creating a direct link between investment migration and family office tax planning. Here's the full breakdown.
Newest Policy
Malaysia Doubles Foreign Buyer Stamp Duty to 8%: Full Cost Breakdown for Overseas Investors
From January 1, 2026, Malaysia doubled the stamp duty on residential property transfers for foreign buyers from 4% to a flat 8%. For a RM2 million property, that alone adds RM80,000 in costs. This article breaks down the new tax rules, total acquisition costs, regional comparisons, and what it means for overseas Chinese investors.
Newest Policy
Singapore PR Alert: Fail to Apply for REP Within 180 Days Overseas and Lose Your PR for Good
From December 1, 2025, Singapore PRs overseas without a valid Re-Entry Permit have just 180 days to apply for a new one — or lose PR status permanently with no reinstatement. An upstream No-Boarding Directive from January 30, 2026 adds pre-flight screening. Here's what overseas Chinese PRs need to know.
Newest Policy
UAE Expands Green Visa to Freelancers and Remote Workers, Golden Visa Property Threshold Holds at AED 2 Million
The UAE has expanded its Green Visa to cover freelancers and remote workers, while maintaining a tiered property investment visa system starting from AED 750,000—offering overseas Chinese investors and digital nomads new residency pathways in a zero-tax jurisdiction.
Newest Policy
Hong Kong Raises Luxury Home Stamp Duty to 6.5%, Waives REIT Transfer Tax in 2026-27 Budget
Hong Kong's 2026-27 budget raises stamp duty on residential properties above HKD 100 million from 4.25% to 6.5%, while introducing a stamp duty waiver for non-residential property transfers into REITs—a dual signal of fiscal tightening and market development.
Newest Policy
Japan's 2026 Tax Reform Targets the "Tower Mansion" Loophole: Inheritance Tax Valuations Moving Closer to Market Prices
Japan's Tax Commission has proposed a major overhaul of real estate inheritance tax valuations, replacing traditional government-assessed values with purchase-price-based methods adjusted for market trends—effectively closing the infamous "tower mansion" loophole.