Global Insights
International Insights, Global Perspective
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.
Education Migration
UK Graduate Visa Changes: Post-Study Work Period Reduced to 18 Months from 2027, 2-Year Route Still Available if You Apply Before End of 2026
UK implements new Graduate Route rules from January 1, 2027: undergraduate and master's graduates' post-study work period reduced from 2 years to 18 months, PhD remains 3 years. Applications submitted before December 31, 2026 still get 2-year period.
AIAIG Opinion
Japan Tightens Foreign Property Oversight: Non-Residents Must Report Transactions Starting April 2026, Nationality Disclosure Required
Japan's 2026 regulations require all non-resident property buyers to report transactions to the Ministry of Finance within 20 days and disclose buyer nationality for the first time. Condominium management law reforms strengthen majority voting mechanisms. The policy signal is clear: oversight is tightening and transparency is increasing.
Newest Policy
Australia NSW Foreign Buyer Stamp Duty 9% 2025
NSW raises foreign buyer stamp duty from 8% to 9%
AIAIG Opinion
Portugal Golden Visa Excludes Real Estate from 2025, Shifts to Fund Investment
Portugal officially removes real estate from Golden Visa qualifying investment options, shifting minimum investment to €500k funds
Education Migration
Canada Cuts Study Permit Cap by 10% to 437k in 2025, Exempts Grad Students from 2026
Canada reduces 2025 study permit cap by 10% to 437k, includes masters and PhD students under cap for first time, but will exempt graduate students at public institutions from 2026
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
Newest Policy
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.
AIAIG Opinion
Chinese Students Flood Thailand's International Schools: A Practical Guide for Families Weighing the Move
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.
AIAIG Opinion
Thailand Privilege Visa Explained: Family Promotion Expires March 31, But Mind the Tax Gap
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.
AIAIG Opinion
Thailand's Foreign Income Tax Overhaul: Two-Year Exemption Window in Draft as Expats Recalculate
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.