One of South Africa’s most popular routes to an EU passport may be coming to an end

Business Tech | 16 Nov 2022

The days of citizenship-by-investment schemes in Europe may be coming to an end, warns immigration specialist, Sable International.

Citing statements from Portugal’s Prime minister, António Costa, earlier in November, the group warned that these types of investment plans’ days may be numbered after he revealed that his administration is re-evaluating its Golden Visa Programme.

Costa said that the programme has likely served its purpose and is no longer justified at this time. Evaluations on the programme are ongoing.

“When you are making an evaluation, you consider all the possibilities. And after the evaluation is completed, decisions are made, and possibilities become decisions. We are currently evaluating whether the golden visas make sense,” he said.

According to Sable, the reason for the introduction of the Golden Visa in 2012 was to support the recovery of the Portuguese economy, especially the real estate sector, following the financial and debt crisis that started in 2007.

“Under this Golden Visa Portugal programme, investors from non-EU countries can obtain Portuguese residency in exchange for a capital investment. Over the last ten years, Portugal has granted 11,180 residence permits to wealthy foreign citizens in exchange for investments totalling approximately EUR 6.5 billion,” it said.

The majority of the funds – primarily from South Africa, Brazil, and China – were invested in real estate.

“Part of the programme’s success lies in the fact that foreigners can invest the entire amount – there is no government contribution – and can obtain residency in an EU country by absence, with only 35 days spent in Portugal over five years. It is also one of the more affordable EU programmes, with qualifying property investment starting at only EUR 280,000,” Sable said.

While the prime minister’s comments have sparked concern among investors, Sable said that even if the Portuguese government cancels the programme, no new legislation can be applied retroactively, and all investors and applicants already registered for the programme and in the middle of the process are therefore protected from the termination of the programme.

“If you are still in the process of finalising your investment, you can be confident that no official end date has been announced and that you can still submit your Golden Visa application to the Portuguese authorities.

“However, we advise you to start the process sooner rather than later, before the programme terminates,” it said.

The group also warned that the move by Portugal may be part of a wider move away from Golden Visas in the European Union.

“The news comes after the EU Commission and Parliament voted in favour of proposed changes imposing restrictions on Golden visas in March 2022,” it said.

These changes include:

• A gradual phase-out of citizenship-by-investment programs for the entire Union by 2025
• Regulatory framework for all EU residency-by-investment schemes
• A new category of the Union’s resources, consisting of a residency- and citizenship-by-investment adjustment mechanism
• Revision of anti-money laundering laws to combat money laundering and terrorism financing
• A targeted revision of the Long-Term Residence Directive
• Preventing harmful residency- and citizenship-by-investment schemes administered by third countries

Sable said the proposed changes are important because they are focused on preventing people that are involved in money laundering, tax evasion, and other crimes, from benefiting from such visas.

“Since its launch in 2012, the Portuguese Golden Visa has been one of the world’s most successful residence-by-investment initiatives, largely due to its minimal residency requirements and flexible pathway to citizenship.

“This is one of the main reasons why the EU Parliament has long criticised the Golden Visa and passport schemes, claiming that they are a shortcut to EU citizenship based solely on financial considerations,” the group said.

While the Prime Minister’s comments may be taken as an indication that the Golden Visa’s days are numbered, no legislative decree to this effect has been issued, nor has the formal termination of the programme been announced.

“If you were considering investing in the programme, there is still time to ensure you don’t miss out,” said Sable.

47 visa-free countries with Nigerian passport

TDPel Media | 16 Nov 2022

Visa-Free Countries for Holders of a Nigerian Passport:

Visa-free refers to the capacity to travel to foreign nations without requiring a visa. The sole document necessary for admission and exit is a valid passport.

Or, we can say that “Visa Free for Nigerians” is a program that allows Nigerian people to travel to nations where a visa is not required for Nigerian passport holders. In other words, Nigerians do not require a visa to access visa-free countries or territories.

Countries that offer visa-upon-arrival or e-visas for Nigerians require the visa to be obtained before to arriving at the port of entry. The nations listed below are visa-free for Nigerian passport holders.

There are 47 nations that do not require a visa as an essential travel document, including the following:

List of Visa-Free Destinations — Travel from Nigeria without a visa

Visa-Free, eVisa, and Visa-On-Arrival Countries for Nigerians in Africa
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroun
Cabo Verde
Chad
Comoros
Côte d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Ethiopia
This is the Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius Mozambique * Niger
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Visa-Free, eVisa, and Visa-On-Arrival Countries for Nigerians in Asia
Iran
Kyrgyzstan
Maldives
Timor-Leste eVisa, Visa on Arrival and Visa Free Countries in North and South America for Nigerian Citizens
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Dominica
Fiji\sHaiti
Christopher and Nevis
Suriname
Oceania eVisa and Visa-Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens
Fiji
Micronesia
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

In addition to paperwork and locations, there are a number of other things that should not be overlooked during departure preparation, including:

What are the advantages of visa-upon-arrival?

When traveling abroad, it takes a great deal of time to apply for visas, obtain permits, repeatedly visit the embassy, and take care of everything. Thus, visa on arrival has numerous advantages. For instance, you are not need to apply for a visa in advance at your home country’s embassy or consulate. All the work will be completed at the airport upon arrival in the nation. On the other hand, little documents are required. Consequently, the danger associated with visas upon arrival is relatively low.

Reservations for Transportation and Lodging

After deciding on a location, the next step is to acquire transportation and lodging tickets. Depending on the option made, the date and cost can be modified to accommodate the travel budget.

Travel insurance

When traveling with travel insurance, some individuals will feel more at ease. Before leaving, a travel insurance policy can be purchased online or offline. Here, you may view the selection of available insurance options.

Country of Destination Knowledge and Travel Planning

It is no longer difficult to collect accurate data. Before the day of travel, it is advisable to gather all pertinent information on the target nation. Basic information about travel places, cuisine, and other forms of amusement. Don’t forget to check for a contact number that can be used in case of an emergency.

Convert to the Currency of the Destination Country.

In addition, the difference in currencies must be addressed in preparation for bringing the currency of the target country upon arrival. Although this form of card may now be used for payment in a variety of nations, there is no harm in earning cash in the local currency.

Discover the Transportation Model of the Destination Nation

Each country’s unique transportation systems must be mastered. Understanding existing transportation will facilitate the desire to circumnavigate the country of goal. Learn how to pay for transportation, routes, and schedules, among other things.

Collection of Objects

Carrying an excessive amount of goods can undoubtedly hinder travel. It is preferable to select products to be transported based on the environment, weather, and other requirements. Focus on minimizing your valuables.

Prepare English or the Destination Language (Basic Conversation)

Language barriers will also factor into the dynamics of international travel. It will be easier for visitors to communicate with locals if they learn a bit of the destination’s native language. If the local language is deemed too challenging, at least become conversant in basic English, which is an international language.

www.samigration.com

Kenyans to enter South Africa visa-free from January

The presidents of South Africa and Kenya say they have resolved a long-standing visa dispute.

ABC News | 16 November 2022

NAIROBI, Kenya -- The presidents of South Africa and Kenya said Wednesday they have resolved a long-standing visa dispute and Kenyans will be able to visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days in a calendar year.

South Africans already get free visas on arrival in Kenya, while Kenyans were charged and required to provide proof of sufficient funds and return flight tickets.

The new agreement is set to take effect on Jan. 1.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was in Kenya on his first official trip to the country.

He and Kenyan President William Ruto praised the Ethiopia peace agreement signed last week in South Africa and brokered by the African Union.

They appealed to the parties to “ensure full implementation of the agreement to reach a lasting political settlement."

The Kenyan and South African leaders also directed their trade ministers to address barriers that limit trade between the two countries.

The two nations are among the strongest economies on the African continent.

Home Affairs dragging its feet with adoption registrations – Angel Khanhyile

As the world celebrates Adoption Day, the Democratic Alliance calls on the department of Home Affairs to urgently register all pending adoptions in South Africa.

On the 1st of November 2022, the Department of Home Affairs and Minister Aaron Motsoaledi appeared before the Portfolio Committee of Home Affairs, presenting the first and second quarter’s reports that were mum on adoption registrations.

In response to the questions on these registration statuses, the department assured the committee that all adoptions with court orders had been registered.

The minister and the department however mislead the Portfolio Committee.

The information in our possession indicates that adoptions with court orders, dated as far back as 2019 have not been registered. As a result, parents who reside outside the country are left with no option but to leave their children behind because they do not have the new birth certificates, which display the particulars of the new parents. It also prevents them from applying for passports.

In desperation, some parents have approached the courts to force the department to register the adopted children, but the department is adamant about ignoring the court orders.

The DA submitted 121 adoption orders to the department today, and we expect the department to do the right thing and register these children to give them a chance at a new life with their new families.

www.samigration.com

Australia: Home affairs prepare to revamp Australia's immigration system

Roam Migration Law  15 November 2022

“The way that you end up with something on the skilled migration list is not based really on whether there’s a skills shortage or not.’