An International Portfolio
Canada and Australia among the most coveted immigration destinations for Hongkongers.港人熱門移民加國澳洲 投資移民門檻大不同
Canada and Australia among the most coveted immigration destinations for Hongkongers.港人熱門移民加國澳洲投資移民門檻大不同。
According to a survey published this January by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 34% of respondents aged 18 or above and are Hong Kong citizens would be willing to migrate or move overseas if given the opportunity. It revealed that the most popular destination for respondents was Canada, followed by Australia and Taiwan. Migration is no easy task, and if you're migrating as a family, it involves a large amount of money and a complex procedure that requires careful planning.
A Draw Towards Canada
Canada has always been the number one destination for Hongkongers wishing to migrate. Mr. Leung, a manager at Tak Shing Investment Migration Consulting Limited, says that currently, Canada remains the most popular destination for Hong Kong migrants. “The Canadian society is cultured and highly inclusive—these are all major draws for Hong Kong people,” he continues. In addition, a large number of Hong Kong people have migrated to Canada in the past few decades, which has influenced some of their relatives and friends to make the same decision. The country has lifted its criteria for immigrant investors in recent years. For example, the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program requires applicants to have a personal net worth of at least CA$2 million (approximately HK$11.84 million), and an investment of CA$1.2 million (approximately HK$7.1 million) for a period of five years bearing no interest. However, this seems to be too high of a bar for the general population.
That said, there is a cheaper way to become an immigrant investor in Canada. Earlier this year, the Canadian government introduced the Entrepreneur Immigration— Regional Pilot scheme in British Columbia, which drastically lowered the threshold. Under the scheme, applicants need only a net worth of CA$300,000 (approximately HK$1.78 million) and a minimum investment of HK$100,000 (approximately HK$590,000), with investments made in designated areas and industries.
今年一月，香港中文大學亞太研究所一項調查發現，有34%的18歲以上受訪香港市民表示，若有機會的話將移民或移居外地，而當中最多人選擇的移民目的地是加拿大，其次是澳洲和台灣。移民外地並不是件簡單的事，若果是舉家移民，更往往牽涉大量金錢且條件繁多複雜，必須妥善計劃。
加拿大從來都是港人最熱門的移民國家，德成投資移民顧問有限公司負責人梁先生表示，目前加拿大依然是最多香港人選擇移民的國家。他說：「當地的文化水平、社會包容性高，都是香港人選擇加拿大的原因。」另一主要原因就是過去數十年已有大批港人移民加國，對其他親朋戚友的移民決定都有一定影響。但近年加拿大對投資移民的門檻提高不少，像魁北克省的投資移民計劃，要求申請者的淨資產至少要有200萬加元（約1184萬港元），並承諾要進行為期五年、提供120萬加元（約710萬港元）以上的免息投資，一般小市民似乎難以符合相關資格。
Immigrant Investors in Australia
Similarly, Australia sets a high criteria for investors as well. Its Business Innovation and Investment Visa has multiple streams; under the Investor Stream, applicants need to have a net worth of AU$2.25 million (approximately HK$11.96 million) and a minimum investment of AU$1.5 million (approximately HK$7.97 million). The Business Innovation Stream requires a lower net worth (AU$800,000 or approximately HK$4.25 million), but the applicant has to own a business with a turnover of AU$500,000 (approximately HK$2.66 million) and have at least three years of business experience.
Taiwan's Appeal
Within Southeast Asia, Taiwan is a favoured destination for Hong Kong immigrants with relatively low requirements. Applicants are required to invest a minimum of TW$6 million (approximately HK$1.52 million), and either continuously live in Taiwan for a year and are only allowed to be away from Taiwan for 30 day; or continuously live in Taiwan for two years and reside in Taiwan for more than 270 days a year. After that, applicants are able to apply for Taiwanese permanent residency and passport.不過，要在加拿大作投資移民仍有較便宜的方法，加拿大政府今年初推出「卑詩省企業家移民區域試點專案」，投資門檻大大降低，個人淨資產值在30萬加元（約178萬港元）以上、投資至少10萬加元（約59萬港元）便可申請，惟投資被限制於指定區域及種類。
澳洲創業移民要有營商經驗
另一熱門地澳洲的投資移民資格絕不比加拿大低，「商業創新和投資」移民簽證，申請者需擁有最少225萬澳元（約1196萬港元）資產，並要投資至少150萬澳元（約797萬港元）；另一類創業移民要求申請者個人資產值相對較低（80萬澳元、約425萬港元），但申請者必須有3年以上經營企業經驗，且營業額要達50萬澳元（約266萬港元）。
東南亞地區中，台灣是最受香港人歡迎的移民熱選，投資移民門檻也不高，申請者
只需投資600萬新台幣（約152萬港元），並於台灣連續居住一年、期間離開不超過30日，或連續兩年內每年居住滿270日，就可申請定居證入籍台灣。
馬來西亞退休移民
Retire in Malaysia
The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) immigration programme is designed to attract foreign citizens to take up residency or retire in Malaysia. Under this programme, applicants under the age of 50 are required to open a fixed deposit account in a bank in Malaysia of MYR300,000 (approximately HK$560,000); and those aged 50 or above must open a fixed deposit account of MYR150,000 (approximately HK$280,000). Another big advantage for immigrants in Malaysia is that there's no minimum stay requirement and you are allowed to leave and enter any number of times.
Technical Immigration can be an Easier Route
Although investment is a more secure way of immigration, not everyone can reach the high thresholds. For those short on assets, skilled worker immigration presents a good option. “Many countries are eagerly looking for skilled professionals,” Leung explains. “Possessing particular skills can give you a tremendous boost.”
Those working in highly-technical fields such as agriculture and hydroelectric engineering tend to score high in their applications, and having relevant professional certificates certainly helps. In addition, if you have studied or worked in your country of choice, you will have an easier time obtaining an immigrant visa.
從事需技術工作較易取得移民資格
作為移民計劃，投資移民當然比較有保障，但未必人人能達到指定資格，若資金不足的話，技術移民是另一個選擇，梁先生說：「不少國家都渴求專業人士加入，對成功移民確有極大幫助。」
若從事技術性工作例如農務業或水電工程等，申請移民一般都分數較高，如果從事高技術性工作並擁有相關專業證書，取得移民資格亦相對容易；另一個較易取得移民資格的方法就是從小在當地讀書，畢業後留在當地工作，對取得移民簽證大有幫助。