Thailand has launched a new digital system for issuing Long-Term Resident (LTR) visas, which allow foreign investors, affluent retirees, and highly skilled professionals to reside in the country for up to ten years. Since the program’s launch in September 2022, authorities have approved more than 12,000 applications, estimating the total economic impact at $1.28 billion.
The system integrates the Department of Consular Affairs, the Immigration Bureau, the Department of Employment, and the Thai Revenue Department.
Previously, applicants had to interact with several government agencies, which complicated the process of obtaining visas and work permits.
The new platform, launched in September 2026, enables centralized document processing and information sharing among agencies.
Additionally, foreign investors and professionals can contact the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC), located in the One Bangkok business complex in Bangkok.
According to the BOI, 12,010 foreign nationals have been approved for an LTR over the four years the program has been in effect.
U.S. citizens rank first in terms of the number of approved applications—more than 2,400 people.
Japan ranks second with more than 1,300 approvals, and the United Kingdom ranks third with over 1,000.
A significant portion of Japanese participants are highly qualified specialists working in Thailand’s automotive, electronics, and other technology sectors.
The largest category of LTR recipients is wealthy retirees. According to published statistics, the breakdown of program participants is as follows:
Wealthy Pensioners—4,561 people.
Dependents of primary recipients—3,891.
Highly-Skilled Professionals—1,779.
Professionals working remotely for foreign companies (Work-from-Thailand Professionals) – 1,043.
Wealthy global citizens – 737.
Among visa recipients in the two professional categories, 54% hold executive positions, while another 36% are specialists in various fields.
However, the BOI’s published report does not provide specific data on the number of Ukrainian citizens participating in the program.
According to the Board of Investment’s estimates, over four years the LTR program has contributed approximately 43 billion baht, or $1.28 billion, to Thailand’s economy.
On average, each visa recipient accounts for more than 3.6 million baht, which is equivalent to approximately $107,000 in economic impact.
This calculation includes direct foreign investment, domestic living and consumption expenses, visa fees, and tax revenues from highly skilled professionals.
Thus, the figure of $1.28 billion does not mean that the entire amount entered Thailand exclusively in the form of foreign direct investment.
BOI Secretary-General Narit Therdsterasukdi noted that the program helps attract international specialists and corporate executives needed for the development of high-tech industries.
In particular, Thailand is interested in expanding semiconductor production and developing artificial intelligence, robotics, the aviation industry, biotechnology, and modern electronics.
The Long-Term Resident Program covers four main categories of foreign nationals: high-net-worth investors, affluent retirees, specialists working remotely for foreign companies, and highly skilled professionals.
Each category has specific requirements regarding income, net worth, investments, professional activities, and health insurance.
In January 2025, the Thai government had already relaxed a number of eligibility requirements for the program.
In particular, the mandatory requirement of at least five years of professional experience was eliminated for highly qualified professionals and remote workers.
For remote workers, the minimum revenue requirement for the foreign employer was lowered from $150 million to $50 million.
For high-net-worth investors, the focus shifted from a mandatory annual income of $80,000 to holding assets and making long-term investments in Thailand totaling at least $500,000.
These changes have expanded the pool of potential program participants; however, the new 2026 digital portal does not, in and of itself, waive the existing financial requirements.
The LTR visa grants the right to reside for up to ten years: the permit is initially granted for five years and may then be extended for another five years, provided the established conditions are met.
Among the program’s benefits are simplified immigration reporting procedures, the ability to obtain a digital work permit for eligible categories, and certain tax benefits.
The cost of processing an LTR in Thailand after approval is 50,000 baht. Submitting the application and its preliminary review are free of charge.
However, the LTR is a long-term visa and does not automatically grant permanent residency or Thai citizenship. In addition to the LTR, the country continues to use special visa programs for foreign company executives and technology entrepreneurs, including the BOI Visa and the Smart Visa.
The Thailand Board of Investment views these mechanisms as part of the government’s policy to attract foreign capital and skilled workers and to develop the country’s technology sectors.
The British government has unveiled a sweeping reform of the immigration system, which calls for increasing the standard period of residence required to obtain permanent residency from five to ten years. The changes could affect hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals working and living in the country.
As reported by the UK Home Office on November 2, 2026, the new model has been named “Earned Settlement.” It stipulates that the right to indefinite residence will depend not only on the number of years spent in the country, but also on income level, professional activity, tax payments, and compliance with the law.
According to the proposed rules, the standard period for obtaining permanent residency for most foreign workers will increase to ten years.
However, the government has provided for several exceptions.
Highly paid professionals will be eligible for permanent residency after just three years. For foreigners with an annual income of more than 50,271 pounds, the five-year requirement will remain in place. The same period applies to certain healthcare and education workers, including doctors, nurses, and teachers.
Special conditions have been established for certain foreign workers in the social care sector. Provided they meet the established visa requirements and have an annual income of at least 25,000 pounds, they will also be able to obtain permanent residency after five years.
At the same time, the government is tightening the requirements for applicants seeking permanent residence. Applicants will be required to demonstrate a high level of English proficiency, have no criminal convictions or outstanding debts to the government that would prevent them from obtaining permanent residence, and have made the necessary National Insurance contributions.
For those who violate immigration laws, the waiting period may be extended to at least 20 years. For certain categories of foreign nationals who crossed the border illegally, it may reach 30 years.
However, foreign nationals who have already been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will not lose it once the reform takes effect. Current procedures will remain in place for family members of British citizens and certain other categories.
According to estimates by the British Home Office, the new requirements will lead to an increase in the waiting period for permanent residency for more than 500,000 people.
How Many Ukrainians Are in the UK
According to data from the UK Home Office published on August 27, 2026, approximately 240,000 people have arrived in the country under special visa programs for Ukrainians since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.
However, as of June 30, 2026, approximately 105,600 people—or 44% of those who arrived—had left the UK. Thus, an estimated 134,000 participants in Ukrainian humanitarian programs remained in the country.
This estimate does not include Ukrainians who obtained other categories of British visas—such as work, student, or family visas—nor those who were residing in the UK before the start of the full-scale war.
Separate immigration mechanisms are in place for Ukrainian refugees. In particular, the Ukraine Permission Extension program allows them to extend their legal stay in the country. The British government has already provided for an additional 24-month extension of permits following the initial 18-month period.
However, the special humanitarian visa programs for Ukrainians do not, in and of themselves, provide for an automatic transition to permanent residence. To obtain permanent residence, one must meet the requirements of one of the immigration categories provided for by law.
Thus, the tightening of the general rules for obtaining permanent residency may be particularly significant for Ukrainians who intend to transition from temporary humanitarian status to work-based or other immigration pathways that would subsequently allow them to obtain permanent residency.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud stated that the new system should take into account the actual contribution of foreign nationals to the country’s economy and public life.
The reform is expected to be implemented in phases. As of November 5, 2026, the final rules and their implementation timeline still require clarification.
Sources: UK Home Office, November 2, 2026; official immigration statistics, August 27, 2026; government briefing on support for Ukraine.
displaced person, IMMIGRATION, MIGRATION, UKRAINE, UNITED KINGDOM
According to Relocation, Argentina has officially announced the launch of a citizenship-by-investment program that will allow foreigners to obtain an Argentine passport without going through the standard, multi-year naturalization process. The government plans to begin accepting applications as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.
The program was announced on October 2 during Argentina Week in Paris by Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Prime Minister Diego Santilli.
The government is offering foreigners two main options for participation.
The first is a non-refundable contribution of $350,000 to the Argentine treasury.
The second is the purchase of a special government bond worth $800,000, which will be issued specifically for program participants. The government has not yet published the detailed terms of this security.
The program allows for the inclusion of family members.
The spouse of the primary applicant, as well as unmarried and childless children between the ages of 18 and 25, will be eligible for citizenship subject to an additional contribution of $100,000 per person.
For a child under the age of 18, the additional contribution will be $25,000.
Thus, a family consisting of two adults and two minor children will be eligible for Argentine citizenship upon making a total non-refundable contribution of $500,000
. One of the program’s key features is that it grants citizenship itself, rather than a residence permit or permanent residency in exchange for investment.
The legal framework for the new program was established back in May 2025, when the government amended Argentina’s citizenship law and created a special Agency for Citizenship-by-Investment Programs. Its mission is to manage such programs and attract foreign capital.
However, it will not be possible to obtain a passport simply by transferring money. The government promises to conduct extensive background checks on applicants.
The origin of funds, the applicant’s financial transparency, and potential risks related to money laundering and terrorist financing will be scrutinized. The authorities state that due diligence procedures will comply with OECD and FATF recommendations. All investments must go through the official financial system.
Another important point for potential participants: the acceptance of applications had not yet begun at the time the program was announced.
The government has announced that the program is scheduled to launch during the fourth quarter of 2026. Therefore, until the final procedures, application forms, review deadlines, and investment bond parameters are published, it is premature to transfer funds or pay for the services of intermediaries who are already promising a guaranteed Argentine passport.
Argentine citizenship is of interest primarily as a tool for international mobility. The country’s passport provides extensive visa-free access, particularly to Schengen Zone countries, and Argentine citizenship opens up additional opportunities for residence and economic activity within South America thanks to the country’s integration into Mercosur.
Before the investment program was introduced, foreigners could obtain Argentine citizenship through the standard naturalization process. The new model creates a separate pathway for wealthy applicants willing to invest significant capital.
Argentina spent over a year preparing the program. In May 2025, a decree by President Javier Milei established the legal framework for obtaining citizenship through investment, and in April 2026, the leadership of a special government agency was appointed. The authorities first announced the official financial terms on October 2.
According to Experts.news, foreign professionals who have completed a university degree or vocational training in Germany can obtain a permanent residence permit after two years of skilled work in the country.
The current version of §18c of the Aufenthaltsgesetz provides for a special shortened period for those who have successfully completed vocational training or studies at a higher education institution directly in Germany. For such professionals, the required period of residence with a permit for skilled work is two years, and the required period of pension insurance contributions is 24 months.
At the same time, the official German portal for foreign professionals, Make it in Germany, clarifies that this preferential provision is not entirely new: it was already in effect as part of a special regime for graduates of German universities and vocational training institutions and was retained following the reform of immigration legislation. For other skilled workers, the standard period for obtaining permanent residency is three years, not five.
To take advantage of the two-year path to permanent residency, a foreign national must have held a residence permit for at least two years as a skilled worker, researcher, or EU Blue Card holder under the relevant provisions of the law. They must also work in a position that meets the conditions of the residence permit, have paid contributions to the state pension insurance system for at least 24 months, have German language proficiency at the B1 level, possess basic knowledge of Germany’s legal and social systems, and have sufficient living space.
Separate, even faster rules apply to EU Blue Card holders. A permanent residence permit can be obtained after 27 months of skilled work, or after 21 months if the applicant has a B1 level of German.
In recent years, Germany has been gradually simplifying the process of attracting and retaining foreign specialists amid a labor shortage. In particular, the Skilled Immigration Act reform expanded entry opportunities for skilled workers, introduced the Opportunity Card for job seekers, and streamlined a number of procedures for Blue Card holders and their family members.
According to data from Destatis, Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, as of the end of 2025, 14.07 million foreign nationals residing in Germany were registered in the Central Register of Foreigners. Approximately 5 million of them were EU citizens, and another 4.6 million held citizenship of other European countries.
Turkish citizens remained the largest single group of foreign nationals, numbering 1.520 million. In second place were Ukrainian citizens—1.410 million—followed by Syrian citizens—936,000—Romanian citizens—904,000—Polish citizens—840,000—and Italian citizens—629,000. Germany was also home to approximately 450,000 citizens of Afghanistan, 422,000 citizens of Bulgaria, 413,000 citizens of Croatia, and over 311,000 citizens of India.
At the same time, the number of Ukrainian citizens increased by approximately 76,000 in 2025, marking one of the largest increases among individual nationalities. The number of Indian citizens rose by 34,000. At the same time, the number of Syrian citizens decreased by 39,000, while the number of Polish and Turkish citizens decreased by approximately 25,000 each, and the number of Russian citizens decreased by 18,000
If we look at the data by country of birth rather than citizenship, the picture is somewhat different. In 2025, there were 16.4 million people living in Germany who had immigrated to the country themselves. The largest groups were born in Poland and Turkey—approximately 1.5 million people each—in Ukraine—1.3 million—and in Russia and Syria—approximately 1 million each.
These five countries accounted for about 39% of all immigrants living in Germany. In total, about 21.8 million residents of the country had personal experience with migration or were direct descendants of immigrants.
Thus, Ukrainians are currently the second-largest group of foreign nationals in Germany after Turkish citizens and one of the three largest immigrant groups by country of birth.
Indonesia is expanding the use of digital technologies to monitor foreign nationals, including artificial intelligence, facial recognition systems, specialized databases, and drones for border surveillance.
Hendarsam Marantoko, Director General of Indonesia’s Immigration Service, stated that in the future, technology should account for about 70% of the immigration system’s operational infrastructure. The statement was made during the opening of the Immigration Lounge in Bali.
Part of the new system is already operational. Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali uses automated border gates and facial recognition to verify passengers against their travel documents and immigration databases. In April 2026, this technology helped identify a foreign national arriving in Bali who was wanted by U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Another key component is the Subject of Interest (SOI) system. It is integrated with the central immigration information system SIMKIM and enables officials to check, in near real time, on foreigners of heightened interest to law enforcement agencies, analyze their data, and decide on further actions.
At the same time, Indonesia is developing the “Digital Fence” project. The Immigration Service, in collaboration with the Bandung Institute of Technology, is working on using drones to patrol hard-to-reach border areas and detect people crossing the border outside of official checkpoints.
The digitization of border control also affects ordinary foreigners legally residing in or vacationing in the country. Hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and other lodging facilities use the APOA app—Aplikasi Pelaporan Orang Asing—to submit information about foreign residents to immigration authorities. In 2026, the authorities continue to expand the use of this system.
At the same time, on-the-ground monitoring is being strengthened. The country operates the PIMPASA program—Petugas Imigrasi Pembina Desa—under which immigration officers are assigned to specific communities and collaborate with local authorities and residents. Their tasks include gathering information on the whereabouts and activities of foreign nationals and the early detection of potential violations.
This new model is being applied particularly actively in Bali, where authorities intensified checks on foreign nationals in 2026. During the first phase of Operation Dharma Dewata, the immigration service identified 62 foreign nationals with various violations. In the next phase, another 66 people were detained or summoned for inspection. Among the most common violations cited were failure to comply with registration and public order rules, misuse of a residence permit, and overstaying the permitted period of stay.
However, tighter controls do not mean the introduction of new restrictions directly on the purchase of real estate or the acquisition of residence permits by foreigners. The focus is primarily on deeper digital integration of existing immigration controls: the authorities want to know when and through which port of entry a person entered the country, on what basis they are in Indonesia, where they reside, and whether their actual activities correspond to the type of visa or residence permit they hold.
For foreign property owners, investors, and long-term residents of Bali, the practical implication of these changes is that discrepancies between visa status and actual activities will become easier to detect. This applies, for example, to working on a tourist visa, overstaying one’s visa, or engaging in commercial activities without the appropriate authorization.
Indonesian authorities view these tighter controls as part of a broader immigration strategy. In June 2026, the head of the immigration service identified its three main elements: strengthening border controls, monitoring foreigners within the country, and integrating digital services.
Starting September 15, 2026, Latvia will cease issuing new temporary residence permits based on real estate purchases. These changes are provided for in the new Immigration Law, which the Saeima re-adopted on August 20 and which takes effect on September 15.
Until now, a foreign investor could apply for a temporary residence permit valid for up to five years upon purchasing real estate worth at least EUR 250,000.
The new law no longer provides for this basis for initially obtaining a residence permit. At the same time, the option to obtain a residence permit by depositing funds in a Latvian bank—which previously required an investment of at least EUR280,000—is being discontinued, according to the Prian.ru portal.
That said, investors effectively have a short transition period. Applications for temporary residence permits submitted before the new law takes effect will be processed under the old legislation.
These changes do not mean that residence permits already issued will be automatically revoked. Permits issued before September 15 remain valid until the end of their specified term. Furthermore, a special transitional mechanism is in place for holders of residence permits previously obtained through real estate purchases or bank investments: provided they maintain their investments and meet the established requirements, they will be able to apply for a renewed temporary residence permit valid for up to five years.
After the real estate option is phased out in Latvia, other investment grounds will remain available. A foreign national may obtain a temporary residence permit valid for up to two years by investing at least EUR50,000 in the capital of a small Latvian enterprise or EUR100,000 in a larger company. Additionally, a payment of EUR10,000 must be made to the state budget, and the company must meet the established requirements regarding employment, turnover, and tax payments.
Furthermore, the new law provides for an investment mechanism through a state-established alternative investment fund manager. To obtain a residence permit, applicants must invest a minimum of EUR 150,000 for a period of at least five years and additionally pay EUR 10,000 to the state budget. Such a residence permit may be granted for a term of up to five years.
Citizens of Russia and Belarus will not be able to use these investment-based options. The relevant restrictions are explicitly stipulated in the new legislation.
Latvia’s investment-based residence permit program has been in place since 2010 and, for many years, was one of the best-known European options for obtaining a residence permit through real estate.
IMMIGRATION, INVESTMENT, LATVIA, REAL ESTATE, RESIDENCE PERMIT
