International Insights, Global Perspective
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?
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.
Chinese students now account for over half of Thailand's international student population, with some Chiang Mai schools seeing 50% Chinese enrollment. Annual tuition ranges from 88,000 to 185,000 RMB — a fraction of Singapore or Hong Kong prices. But quality varies widely, and the tax implications of parent guardian visas add hidden costs.
Thailand Privilege (formerly Elite Visa) offers 5-to-20-year residence memberships from ~$18,500. The family member promotional pricing expires March 31, 2026. But with no tax exemption on foreign income — unlike the LTR visa — the total cost equation has shifted since Thailand's 2024 tax reform.
Since January 2024, Thailand taxes all foreign income remitted by tax residents regardless of when earned. A proposed two-year exemption window — allowing tax-free remittance in the year earned or the following year — is being drafted but not yet enacted. For expats and overseas Chinese in Thailand, visa selection is now a tax decision.
