Asia is home to 48 countries, 4.5 billion people constitute roughly 60% of the world’s population. Asian countries produce more millionaires than any other countries in the world and proximity  big economies like China, India makes it easier to travel, live, do business and invest in Asian countries.

Besides this asia has warm climate and the best food and cuisines in the world.

Asian passports dominated top 3 spots as world’s most powerful passports in 2019 Henley rankings.  These were Japan, Singapore, South Korea and these countries also offer golden visas, which provide an opportunity to apply for citizenship and passport.

• Asia has the most number HNW millionaires and billionaire population
• Asia is the largest continent in the world by natural wealth, rich in natural resources, such as petroleum, forests, fish, water, rice, copper and silver.
• As of 2018, the largest economies in Asia are China, Japan, India, Russia, South Korea, Indonesia and Turkey based on GDP in both nominal and PPP
• Asia dominated the office locations with 4 of the top 5 being in Asia: Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul. Around 68 percent of international firms have office in Hong Kong
• East Asia had by far the strongest overall Human Development Index (HDI) improvement of any region in the world, nearly doubling average HDI attainment over the past 40 years

These are the best countries in Asia offering golden visa schemes for investment listed in no particular order.

1. Thailand

• Non-Immigrant Visa Category “IB” (Investment and Business Visa)
• Thailand Elite Residence Visa  for one time payment of $15,000 (issued for 5 years) or $32,000 (issued for 20 years)
• Naturalize for citizenship after five years of living in Thailand

2. Singapore

• Entrepass scheme for foreign entrepreneurs
• Global investor program for investors and entrepreneurs (SG$ 1.5 million) with permanent residence
• Citizenship after eight years of living
• Singapore does not allow dual citizenship

3. Hong Kong

• HKSAR Entrepreneur investor program
• Startup visa for businesses
• No minimum investment specified
• Nationals of China, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Laos, Nepal cannot apply
• Permanent settlement after 7 years of living
• HKSAR citizenship after 7 years of settlement status

4. Malaysia

• MM2H Investor Residency program (My Second Home)
• Investors: Financially capable of RM500,000 ($120,000) liquid assets and offshore income of RM10,000 per month (below 50 years)
• Retirees: financial proof of RM350,000 ($85,000) in liquid assets and offshore income of RM10,000 per month.
• Investors qualify for 10 year multiple entry visa
• Foreign nationals who have lived in Malaysia continuously for 5 years, can apply for permanent residency.
• Citizenship to foreigners who have lived more than ten years.

5. Japan

• Investor/Business Manager visa (¥ 5 million or $45,000)
• Permanent residency after minimum 5 years to 10 years of living.
• Japanese citizenship after 5 years of residence.

6. Cambodia

Cambodia offers Khmer nationality under citizenship by investment scheme since 1993 under these two routes.

• Donation: USD 250,000 (1 billion riels) donation to the country.
• Investment: USD 350,000 (1.25 billion riel) investment to the country

The investments under Qualified Investment Project (QIP), an investor has to register the investment project with the CDC or PMIS and receive a Final Registration Certificate (FRC) under the Law on Investment (Article 2 and 6, “Amended Law on Investment”).

Cambodia currently also offers e-visa for 30 days for several countries to visit the Kingdom for business or tourism. Cambodia also permits dual citizenship.

7. South Korea

• mmigrant investor scheme  with F-2 resident status (KRW 500 million ($450,000) in public deposit fund or development projects)
• Immigrant Investor Scheme for Real Estate (IISRE) with minimum KRW 500 million
• F-5 permanent resident status after five years of maintaining the investment.
• Naturalize for citizenship after five years.

8. Macau (China)

• Macau Investment residency scheme (MOP 1 million capital or $125,000)
• Temporary residency for investors (hotels, manufacturing, services etc..)
• Permanent resident status in Macau after continuously living for 7 years.

9. Mauritius

• Investor Residence permit ($100,000)
• Real estate  investment permit ($500,000)
• Permanent residence after three years
• Citizenship after five continuous years of living
• Mauritius passport has visa free travel to 58 countries

Mauritius in 2018 Budget speech proposed a economic citizenship by investment program for $500,000 to sovereign fund but scheme never started. Financial services is one of the growing sectors of the economy.

10. Philippines

• Special investor residence visa (SIRV) for Business investment (US$ 75000 or more)
• Visa validity for unlimited or investment expiry
• Live, work and also retire in Philippines
• Live outside the country and reenter anytime
• Citizenship after 10 years of living.

11. Turkey

• Turkey operats citizenship by investment program in 2018 to boost investment in the country
• Real estate property investment ($250,000) or Government bonds or business or bank deposit ($500,000) qualifies for citizenship

12. Vietnam

• DT Foreign investor visa in business
• Permanent residence after three years (renewed thereafter)
• Apply for citizenship after five years with PR card
• Vietnam passport has visa free travel to 51 countries

13. Seychelles

• Residence permit for business or economic activity
• Permanent residence after one year for $1 million investment in business or real estate
• Citizenship after legal resident for five years.

14. Laos

• Business visa for foreign investors (NI – B2) including Startups
• Business in Laos with an investment value of at least US$500,000 can also apply for permanent residency after five years.
• Lao citizenship after 10 years of living.
• Lao passport has visa free access to 52 destinations

15. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• UAE opened new residence investor visa scheme in 2018
• Property Investment: AED 5 million  ($1.36 million) will receive five year residence visa
• Business Partnerships: AED 10 million ($2.7 million) will receive ten year residence visa renewed every ten years
• Entrepreneurs: AED 500,000 ($136,000) will receive five year visa
• UAE citizenship or passport not possible for foreigners.
• Permanent residence possible for retirees over 55 years from 2019

16. Qatar

• Investor residence visa (property owners)
• Business or property investment
• Exempted from income tax for ten years

17. Bahrain

• Self Sponsorship Residence Permit issued to foreign retirees,  foreign property owners and the foreign investor.
• Property investment BHD 50,000 ($130,000) or more
• Foreign investors must invest BHD 100,000 ($265,000) or more
• Ten year investor visas with 100% foreign ownership.
• Foreigners ineligible for citizenship

18. Taiwan

• Entrepreneur visa – NT 2 million ($65,000)
• Resident visa for investment – USD 200,000
• NT$15 million ($500,000) in a business or commercial enterprises in Taiwan (permanent status)
• NT$30 million ($1 million) in government bonds issued by Taiwan (permanent status)
• Taiwan passport/citizenship after 5 years

19. Kazakhstan

Foreign investors and entrepreneurs can apply “A5” category Investor visa (single entry until 90 days / multiple entry until 3 years ) by investing atleast USD 100,000 or more.

20. Azerbaijan

• Investor permit for 500,000 manats ($294,120)
• Permanent residence after 2 years

21. Jordan

Jordan offers both golden visa + citizenship by investment scheme to foreign investors

Golden visa – Jordan permanent residence – USD 280,000 for property

Citizenship by Investment

• Bank deposit: Invest in a zero-interest, five-year $1.5 million deposit at the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ)
• Treasury bonds: buying treasury bonds valued $1.5 million  at an interest rate to be decided by CBJ for a period of 10 years.
•  Securities: Buy securities, valued at $1.5 million from an active investment portfolio.
• Small and Medium Enterprises: Invest $1 million in SMEs for five years
• Investment project: Make $2 million investment in any location in the country, or $1.5 million if the project is registered in any Governorate other than Amman, provided such a project creates at least 20 job opportunities and remains operational for at least three years.

22. Israel

• Israel offers B/5 “investor visa” – issued to an investor for significant investment who wants to reside in Israel in order to develop the business initiative only.
• Israel also offers startup visas for tech companies and entrepreneurs

23. Vietnam

• Dau Tu (DT) Foreign investor visa in business
• Permanent residence after three years (renewed thereafter)
• Apply for citizenship after five years with PR card
• Vietnam passport has visa free travel to 51 countries

24. Maldives

• Maldives investor visa for investors valid for five years
• Investment Investors with USD 50 million or more invested in Maldives
• Bank deposit: Investors maintain a bank deposit of USD 1 million at Maldivian bank for a period of not less than 2 years or who has invested in a financial security
• Real estate: investors who have invested at least USD 1 million in a real estate, approved by the government authorities.
• Maldives citizenship after five years of living.

25. Mongolia

• T1 Investor permit
• Citizenship after living five years (with knowledge of mongolian language)

26. Oman

• Investor residence visa
• No minimum investment specified
• Permanent residency or citizenship not possible for foreigners

27. Turkmenistan

• Investor residence permit – Investment in economy of Turkmenistan above 500,000 US dollars;

28. Tajikistan

•  Investment visa (C) issued to economic investors

29. China

• Foreigner Residence Permit for Investors issued for one year with extensions
• Chinese green card for investing $500,000 to $2 million after 3 years

30. Sri Lanka

• The Resident Guest Scheme (RGS) is open to all foreign nationals is a part of a package of incentives for prospective foreign investors and professionals who would contribute to the economic and socio-cultural development of the country.
• Under the scheme foreigners must deposit US$ 250,000 in a  RGFCA Bank Account (Resident Guest Foreign Currency Account) in Sri Lanka, plus US$ 35,000 per dependent

31. Georgia

• Investment residence permit (GEL 300,000 or USD 112,000) immediate permanent residency issued for indefinite term
• Property investor permit in real estate (GEL 350,000)  issued for short term
• Georgian citizenship after five years of living