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La Vida was recently featured in Bloomberg, providing expert insights on President Donald Trump’s proposed Gold Card Visa a potential new $5 million investment-based U.S. residency program. The article explores how this proposal could impact the existing EB-5 program, which remains active and authorized until 2027. While no concrete changes have been made, Trump’s announcement has sparked speculation about potential shifts in U.S. immigration policies. With discussions around raising investment thresholds and restructuring visa pathways, many investors are reassessing their options to secure long-term residency.> As a trusted leader in investment migration, La Vida continues to be a go-to source for global media, offering expert guidance on residency and citizenship by investment. Read more about the Bloomberg feature.

Golden Visas have become increasingly popular as a pathway to residency or citizenship through investment, offering benefits like global mobility, tax advantages, and access to new markets. However, several misconceptions exist about these programs, often leaving potential investors hesitant. Here, we debunk five common myths about Golden Visas. 1. Golden Visas Are Only for the Ultra-Wealthy The Reality: While Golden Visas do require an investment, they are not exclusively for billionaires. Many programs, such as Greece’s Golden Visa, offer entry points starting from as little as €250,000. Portugal’s Golden Visa begins at €500,000, making these programs accessible to a broader range of investors. Additionally, staged payment plans can make the initial costs more manageable, and in some cases, annual returns and developer buy-backs can help offset the initial outlay over time. 2. Golden Visas Are Just a “Back Door” to Citizenship The Reality: Golden Visas primarily offer residency, not instant citizenship. While some programs provide a pathway to citizenship after several years of residency and integration, the focus is on providing legal residency with associated benefits. For example, Portugal requires five years of residency before citizenship eligibility, along with passing a basic language test. Other countries, such as Malta and Spain, require investors to reside full-time for ten years before they can apply for citizenship. 3. Golden Visa Investments Are Risky The Reality: Like any investment, Golden Visa opportunities vary in risk. However, many reputable programs offer secure and transparent options, such as government-approved funds, real estate developments, or bonds. For instance, Portugal’s regulated private equity funds adhere to strict oversight, ensuring investor security. Choosing a trustworthy advisory firm, like La Vida, and consulting with independent legal professionals can significantly mitigate risks. 4. Golden Visas Are Primarily a Tax Evasion Tool The Reality: False! Golden Visas are not designed for tax evasion but rather to provide flexibility and mobility. While some countries, like Portugal, offer attractive tax incentives through programs such as the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) scheme, these incentives are entirely legal and compliant with international regulations. Investors must still adhere to tax laws in both their home and host countries 5. Golden Visa Programs Are Disappearing The Reality: False! While some programs have undergone changes or tightened their requirements, many remain active and attractive. For example, Portugal’s Golden Visa shifted its focus away from real estate investments in 2023, now requiring investment into private equity funds. Similarly, Greece amended its legislation last year, raising the investment threshold in many areas. Spain is set to close its Golden Visa program in April 2025, but new options are emerging. Nauru recently launched a Citizenship by Investment program, and the USA’s Gold Card Visa is expected to launch later this year. Golden Visa programs continue to evolve to align with economic and political goals, but they are far from disappearing. If you want to gain a better understanding of how Golden Visa programs work and how you can benefit, don’t hesitate to contact La Vida’s expert team of advisors.

It speaks volumes when you come across a Citizenship by Investment program that has been operating for over 40 years. Many programs have now been around for a decade or so, but St. Kitts & Nevis was the original pioneer in the investment migration industry, establishing the world’s very first Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program back in 1984. Now over four decades old, the program remains a gold standard, having set the trend for numerous nations that followed. Its longevity, adaptability, and commitment to due diligence have cemented its reputation as one of the most prestigious CBI options worldwide. A Legacy of Innovation and Leadership The foresight of St. Kitts & Nevis to introduce a citizenship-by-investment program decades ago has not only transformed its own economy but also inspired many countries to launch their own versions. Today, the program continues to evolve, ensuring it remains competitive and attractive to global investors while upholding the highest standards of integrity. Latest Updates in St. Kitts & Nevis CBI To further enhance its offering, from March 2025, the St. Kitts & Nevis CBI program has introduced several new updates, making it even more inclusive, efficient, and forward-thinking: Digital Application Process: A significant step towards modernization, the program is transitioning to a fully digital submission process. Soon, paper applications will be eliminated, allowing authorized agents real-time access to track applications from submission to approval. Expanded Dependent Criteria: Children up to the age of 30 can now be included as dependents in applications, offering greater flexibility for families. Parents Can Sponsor Children: Parents now have the ability to sponsor their children for citizenship, adding more avenues for family inclusion. Children Can Sponsor Parents: In a reversal of roles, children can now sponsor their parents, broadening the family-based eligibility structure. Ukrainian Applicants Accepted: The St. Kitts CBI program is now processing applications for Ukrainian citizens again. Streamlined Name Change Process: An improved mechanism for handling name changes ensures a seamless experience while maintaining strict due diligence protocols. Post-Application Family Additions: The process for adding family members after an initial CBI application has been refined, ensuring consistency and efficiency. St Kitts & Nevis Investment Options & Visa-Free Travel The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment program offers two main investment paths. Applicants can obtain citizenship and a passport through a donation route or by investing in government-approved real estate projects: From $250,000 Donation: A minimum contribution to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC). From $325,000 Real Estate Investment: Investing in an approved real estate project. Additional Fees: Government fees, due diligence, and application and processing costs are required for both routes. For a detailed breakdown, please request a full quote from La Vida’s experts. St. Kitts & Nevis holds visa-waiver or e-visa agreements with 166 countries and territories worldwide, offering exceptional global mobility. Why St. Kitts & Nevis Remains the Top Choice St. Kitts & Nevis’ CBI program stands out not just because of its legacy but also due to its unwavering commitment to maintaining a strong reputation. Investors benefit from visa-free access to over 166 countries, a stable economy, and a well-respected passport. The recent enhancements further solidify its position as a premier choice for those seeking a second citizenship. With over four decades of success, St. Kitts & Nevis continues to lead the way, setting the bar high for other CBI programs around the world. As it embraces digital transformation and family-friendly policies, the program remains as attractive as ever for global investors looking for security, mobility, and opportunity. Set up a free consultation with La Vida to discuss how you can benefit from this top tier program.

UK business owners now face one of the developed world’s highest tax burdens – a staggering 54.5% combined rate on corporate profits and dividends. La Vida’s analysis of international tax reveals only four OECD nations impose heavier charges: Canada, Ireland, South Korea and Denmark. This punishing rate, driven to its current level by the rise in Corporation Tax in 2023 from 19% to 25%, has triggered an unprecedented exodus of entrepreneurs seeking tax-friendly jurisdictions through strategic relocation. The mathematics paint a stark picture. Business owners effectively surrender £54.50 from every £100 their company earns to HMRC. Digital transformation now enables many of these wealth creators to operate from anywhere, prompting some to explore golden visa programs in countries offering dramatically lower rates. La Vida recognizes this shifting landscape. More UK entrepreneurs now understand how maintaining headquarters in high-tax regions significantly impacts their bottom line and ultimately net wealth. The choice can be difficult – adapt through relocation or watch wealth diminish under mounting tax pressure. UK Tax Burden Drives Record Business Owner Exodus At the top marginal rate for UK business owners surrender 54.5% of their corporate earnings to HMRC through combined corporation and dividend taxes. This punishing rate now stands among the highest in developed economies, driving wealth creators toward tax-friendly shores. Combined 54.5% Rate Tops Most OECD Nations UK corporation tax now sits at 25%, while dividend tax reaches 39.35% at the highest marginal rate. The result? Business owners keep just £45.50 from every £100 their company earns. OECD analysis for 2024 places this 54.5% combined rate near the summit of global tax burdens. The figure towers above the 43.0% OECD average. Even accounting for lower-tax outliers like Hungary (22.65%) and Estonia (20.00%), plus state-level charges in countries like the USA, the adjusted OECD average reaches only 46% – leaving the UK rate 8.5 percentage points higher. UK Tax Exodus Set to Accelerate The Adam Smith Institute’s figures paint a stark picture of the exodus. Last year alone, 10,800 millionaires departed British shores – double the previous year’s count. Each millionaire’s departure equals losing 49 ordinary taxpayers, translating to an effective loss of 529,200 average taxpayers. The share of millionaires in the UK is expected to fall a further 20% by 2028. Only Canada, Ireland, South Korea and Denmark Charge More Just four OECD nations exceed the UK’s combined rate: Canada at 55.20%, Ireland at 57.13%, and Denmark at 54.76%. South Korea tops the complete list at 59.12%, though under markedly different economic conditions. Maxwell Marlow at the Adam Smith Institute warns of “serious implications for our wider economy and public services.” Beyond raw numbers, business owners point to the non-dom status abolition and what they see as growing hostility toward wealth creators. Andrew Amoils from New World Wealth captures the shift perfectly. London, once a magnet for global millionaires from the 1950s through early 2000s, now watches these same wealth creators seek friendlier tax environments elsewhere. Entrepreneurs Relocate Businesses to Slash Tax Bills The UK’s 54.5% tax burden can sometimes transform business relocation from option to necessity. Digital transformation hands entrepreneurs unprecedented freedom to operate globally while residing in tax-friendly jurisdictions. La Vida’s experience shows more business owners now view geographic mobility as their most powerful tax planning tool. Digital Companies Break Geographic Barriers Tech reshapes business geography daily. Service businesses – from software developers to marketing agencies, financial consultancies to e-commerce platforms – now operate without borders. Cloud systems let entrepreneurs maintain full control from any location with reliable internet. Physical presence requirements, once the anchor keeping businesses in high-tax jurisdictions, fade into irrelevance. Legal Structures Power International Moves Smart transitions start with holding companies in low-tax jurisdictions. Malta stands out, offering 15% flat rate on remitted foreign income plus zero inheritance or wealth taxes on worldwide assets. The Cayman Islands eliminates direct taxation entirely – no income tax, no corporate tax, no capital gains tax. The UAE matches this tax-free environment for most businesses while providing excellent infrastructure. Perfect Timing for Tax Moves La Vida advises clients to examine relocation once combined tax rates cross 40%. Of the 37 OECD countries analysed, 27 have marginal tax rates above 40%.  Yet timing proves crucial. Tax residency demands physical presence – typically more days in the new jurisdiction than elsewhere. UK rules require five years’ absence for complete tax disconnection. American entrepreneurs face added complexity since US citizenship carries worldwide tax obligations regardless of residence. Although this can be overcome through obtaining an additional nationality and then renouncing US citizenship. Golden visa programs offer legitimate paths to tax-friendly jurisdictions. Yet success demands proper tax guidance throughout. La Vida’s consultants ensure clients optimize tax positions while maintaining full compliance in both origin and destination countries. Golden Visas Open Doors to Low-Tax Jurisdictions UK entrepreneurs seeking escape from the 54.5% tax burden increasingly turn to golden visa programs. La Vida’s data shows these investment-based residency schemes create legal pathways to jurisdictions where tax rates drop dramatically. Business owners gain the freedom to reduce tax obligations while securing their family’s future. UAE Attracts UK Wealth with Zero Income Tax Policy Dubai’s appeal proves magnetic for UK wealth creators. Numbers tell the story – 240,000 Britons now call Dubai home, with 40,000 making the move in 2023 alone. The mathematics could not be simpler: zero personal income tax, no corporate taxes for most businesses, complete exemption from capital gains and dividend taxes. Even cryptocurrency gains escape taxation. The emirate’s golden visa encourages economic activity in one of the most dynamic business locations worldwide. La Vida sees this attracting precisely the right profile – ambitious professionals and entrepreneurs seeking prosperity without punitive taxation. Portugal’s NHR Regime Slashes Rates for New Residents Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime offers UK entrepreneurs a different path. Combined with the Golden Visa program, NHR status delivers a flat 20% tax rate on Portuguese earnings – less than half the UK burden. Foreign income enjoys total tax freedom for ten years. Digital asset investors benefit too, with cryptocurrency gains tax-free after twelve months. The Portuguese system hands UK entrepreneurs a powerful combination – European residency