For discerning investors or those seeking a reliable backup plan, the allure of a “golden visa” is hard to ignore. Various East Asian nations are rolling out long-term residency programs designed to offer a second home for expatriates. These initiatives are often accessible through substantial investments or specialized skill sets, aiming to draw in capital, talent, and innovation. The landscape is evolving rapidly, making it essential to stay informed about each country's offerings.

Rising Competition for Global Talent

As countries vie for international investors, the competition intensifies. Vietnam, for instance, has introduced a five-year “talent visa” with a streamlined renewal process, while Malaysia boasts a golden visa that can last up to 20 years for qualified applicants. Below, we delve into the specific programs offered by each country, based on insights from consultancy firms like Henley & Partners and Harvey Law Group.

1. Hong Kong: Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)

Hong Kong's CIES has been revitalized to attract high-net-worth individuals, reflecting the city’s continued appeal as a financial hub.

• Investment Requirement: A minimum of HK$30 million (approximately $3.86 million) in approved assets, which can include real estate, stocks, or business investments.
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a clean immigration record, and demonstrate full ownership of the invested assets. Proof of financial stability and a viable business plan may also be required.
• Residency Pathway: Successful applicants receive temporary residency, with the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after seven years. Benefits include access to Hong Kong's robust healthcare system and educational institutions.

2. Malaysia: Two Residency Programs

Malaysia offers two primary pathways for residency through investment, each catering to different demographics and investment capacities.

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)

• Financial Requirements: Applicants under 50 must deposit MYR 300,000 (about $68,000) in a fixed deposit account, while those over 50 must deposit MYR 150,000 (approximately $34,000).
• Eligibility Age: Minimum age of 35.
• Residency Duration: A 10-year multiple-entry visa, requiring at least 90 days of stay each year. This program also allows for family members to join, making it an attractive option for families.
• Additional Benefits: The program offers tax incentives, such as exemption from income tax on overseas income.

Premium Visa Programme (PVIP)

• Investment Requirement: A minimum investment of RM 1 million (around $240,000) in approved sectors.
• Age Restrictions: None, making it accessible to younger investors.
• Residency Duration: A 20-year multiple-entry visa issued in five-year increments, with no minimum stay requirement, offering flexibility for frequent travelers.
• Benefits: Investors can also enjoy Malaysia's rich culture, diverse cuisine, and beautiful landscapes.

3. Singapore: Global Investor Programme (GIP)

Singapore’s GIP provides a pathway to permanent residency for qualified global investors, reinforcing its position as a global business center.

• Investment Options:
  • Option A: Invest S$10 million (about $7.78 million) in a new or existing business in Singapore, contributing to the local economy.
  • Option B: Invest S$25 million in a fund approved by the Singapore Economic Development Board, supporting innovative startups.
• Eligibility: Applicants must possess a robust business track record, with prior entrepreneurial experience being highly advantageous.
• Residency Pathway: Permanent residency is granted upon approval, with eligibility for citizenship after two years. Note that Singapore prohibits dual citizenship, which may be a consideration for potential applicants.

4. Thailand: Elite Visa Program

Thailand’s Elite Visa offers attractive long-term residency options, appealing not only to investors but also to retirees and expatriates.

• Membership Fee: Starting from THB 650,000 ($19,300) for a five-year visa, with options for longer durations available.
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must hold a foreign passport, have no criminal record, and meet standard immigration requirements.
• Benefits: Membership includes VIP airport services, government concierge assistance, and exclusive access to events, making it a premium choice for those seeking a luxurious lifestyle in Thailand. The program also promotes cultural integration and networking opportunities.

5. Vietnam: New Visa Schemes

Vietnam is enhancing its appeal to investors and skilled professionals with new visa offerings aimed at driving economic growth.

• Investor Visa: Valid for 10 years, offering a pathway to permanent residency after five years. This visa is designed for individuals willing to invest in sectors prioritized by the Vietnamese government.
• Talent Visa: Targeting high-skilled professionals in technology, finance, and healthcare, valid for five years, with an easy renewal process to encourage talent retention.
• Application Process: Expected to be entirely online, streamlining the experience and eliminating the need for embassy appointments. This modernization reflects Vietnam's commitment to attracting global talent.

6. Philippines: Diverse Golden Visa Options

The Philippines offers several residency options catering to foreign investors and retirees, making it an attractive destination in Southeast Asia.

Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV)

• Investment Requirement: A minimum investment of $75,000 in Philippine corporations, ideally in sectors that support national development.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be 21 or older, healthy, and free of criminal records. Family members can also be included in the application.
• Residency Benefits: Offers indefinite residency for the investor and their family, with no minimum stay required. Investors benefit from tax incentives on Philippine income only and enjoy duty-free import of goods.

Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV)

• Eligibility: Available for retirees aged 50 and above, with entry starting from a deposit of $10,000, which may vary based on pension income.
• Benefits: Lifetime stay, work and study rights, access to health insurance, and the ability to live anywhere in the Philippines. This visa provides a straightforward pathway for retirees seeking a serene lifestyle.

Each of these golden visa programs is designed with distinct features to appeal to various profiles, from investors to retirees. They provide flexible paths to residency, allowing individuals to experience the rich cultures, economic opportunities, and stunning landscapes of East Asia. However, applicants should be prepared to spend a certain amount of time in the host country to maintain their status. With the right investment and commitment, your dream of global living in East Asia could become a reality, offering not just a home, but a vibrant new lifestyle.

Southeast Asia is edging closer to a tourism revolution that could make cross-border travel as effortless as in Europe’s Schengen Area. Thailand is at the forefront of a plan to introduce a single visa—“Six Countries, One Destination”—that would allow tourists to seamlessly visit Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos with just one application.

The initiative, expected to launch as early as late 2025 or early 2026, is part of a broader ASEAN strategy to boost tourism, foster economic integration, and recover from the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Would the Single Visa Work?

Currently, travelers face a patchwork of visa requirements, with some countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access and others requiring advance applications. The new system would unify entry procedures, allowing tourists to apply once for a visa granting access to all participating countries. This would reduce costs, paperwork, and waiting times, making the region far more attractive to visitors from key markets like the US, Europe, India, and China.

Why Now?

Tourism is vital to Southeast Asia’s economies, contributing over $90 billion annually and supporting millions of jobs. In 2023, the six countries together welcomed about 70 million foreign tourists, with Thailand and Malaysia accounting for more than half of arrivals and $48 billion in revenue. The unified visa aims to help the region surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels, encourage longer multi-country trips, and distribute tourism benefits more evenly—including to lesser-known destinations in Laos and Cambodia.

Who Is Involved?

While the core group includes Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, discussions are ongoing to possibly include Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia in the future. Thailand has been actively coordinating with its neighbors, and Singapore’s participation is seen as crucial due to its role as a major air transit hub.

What Are the Benefits?

Tourists can move freely across borders, saving time and money.

Travel companies can offer integrated packages—such as Mekong River cruises and multi-country tours—spurring new business opportunities.

The region can market itself as a single, diverse destination, potentially increasing annual arrivals from 50 million to as many as 80 million by 2027.

Economic gains would be significant, with tourism already accounting for up to 12% of Thailand’s GDP and about 20% of its jobs.

What Challenges Remain?

Implementing the single visa is complex. Each country must align its immigration policies, security protocols, and border control procedures. There are also technical hurdles, such as developing a shared digital visa platform and upgrading border infrastructure. Revenue-sharing mechanisms and agreements on permitted stay durations are still under negotiation. Thailand, for example, is introducing a Digital Arrival Card to streamline processing and enhance security, while Vietnam is considering a “Golden Visa” for long-term stays.

What’s Next?

A joint working group of tourism and immigration officials from all participating countries is being formed to finalize the details. The rollout will likely begin with countries that are ready and expand as others join. If successful, the “Six Countries, One Destination” visa could serve as a model for other regions and solidify Southeast Asia’s status as a global tourism powerhouse.

In Summary:

The unified visa represents a bold step toward regional integration, promising to make Southeast Asia one of the world’s most accessible and attractive destinations. While significant policy and technical challenges remain, the economic and tourism potential is driving strong political will to turn this vision into reality.

Paraphrase as a news in Paragraph style with more details:Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) returned triumphantly to Paris after their UEFA Champions League victory, flying on a Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER adorned with a striking, specially commissioned livery celebrating their achievement.

The aircraft, registered A7-BED, featured an eye-catching navy blue and white design with the Champions League logo prominently displayed, symbolizing both the club’s historic win and Qatar Airways’ deep involvement in the football world. The livery was meticulously applied in Haikou, China, where the plane underwent a complete strip-down and respray before being ferried back to Doha and then positioned in Munich to collect the champions.

On June 1, 2025, following PSG’s record-breaking 5-0 victory over Inter Milan at Munich’s Allianz Arena, the team, their management, and the Champions League trophy boarded this unique aircraft for their return to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, where celebrations and a victory parade awaited them. The flight, operating under the callsign ‘5PSG’, underscored the magnitude of PSG’s win and the airline’s commitment to marking the occasion in grand style.

Qatar Airways’ involvement in this year’s Champions League final was unprecedented, as the airline was not only the official sponsor of both finalists—PSG and Inter Milan—but also of the competition itself, achieving a “sponsorship treble” that highlighted its global vision and passion for football. The airline’s CEO, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, described this partnership as a landmark moment, emphasizing how it united values of ambition, precision, and global connectivity.

Beyond the livery and sponsorship, Qatar Airways enhanced the fan and player experience through exclusive travel packages, special events such as a live podcast with football legends, and community initiatives that included inviting children from PSG and Inter’s social programs to enjoy a “Dream Night” at the final. The airline’s cabin crew also participated in the matchday spectacle, lining the players’ tunnel for the world to see.

The special livery is expected to remain on the aircraft for some time, making appearances at airports worldwide and serving as a flying tribute to PSG’s Champions League triumph and Qatar Airways’ prominent role in international sports partnerships.

Emirates and Air Mauritius have further strengthened their longstanding strategic partnership by signing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2025, building on a collaboration that began in 2003 and was previously expanded in 2013. This enhanced agreement encompasses a reciprocal codeshare arrangement, cooperation on frequent flyer programs, and joint cargo handling services, all aimed at providing travelers with greater flexibility, connectivity, and benefits.

Under the new terms, Air Mauritius will codeshare on Emirates-operated flights to key destinations such as Cairo, Colombo, Karachi, and six cities in Saudi Arabia—including Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh—while Emirates will continue to codeshare on Air Mauritius’s service between Mauritius and Antananarivo.

This means passengers can book a single ticket that combines flights from both airlines, ensuring seamless connections and simplified travel logistics. Additionally, Air Mauritius can sell seats to destinations across Emirates’ entire global network on an interline basis, further expanding travel options for its customers.

The partnership also allows members of both airlines’ frequent flyer programs—Emirates Skywards and Air Mauritius’s Kestrelflyer—to earn and redeem miles on each other’s flights, delivering enhanced loyalty rewards and travel perks. Cargo operations are another area of collaboration, supporting trade between the regions and contributing to the economic development of Mauritius.

Since the inception of Emirates’ services to Mauritius, the partnership has had a substantial impact on the island nation’s economy and tourism sector. Emirates has carried over 8.8 million passengers and uplifted more than 126,000 tonnes of cargo to and from Mauritius, contributing an estimated $900 million annually to the economy.

This includes $119 million from Emirates’ 14 weekly passenger flights, $264 million in tourism receipts, and $530 million in tourism-related spending, while also supporting the creation of approximately 3,600 jobs.

Emirates currently operates 14 weekly flights between Dubai and Mauritius using its flagship A380 aircraft, offering the only First Class service on this route. The renewed partnership is expected to further promote Mauritius as a premier tourism destination, enhance global connectivity, and deepen economic and cultural ties between the United Arab Emirates and Mauritius.

Emirates has launched its first-ever Travel Store in Switzerland, choosing the prestigious Rue du Rhône in the heart of Geneva as its flagship location. This 134-square-metre store, officially inaugurated on May 20, 2025, represents a major milestone in the airline’s investment in the Swiss market and is designed to bring Emirates’ renowned hospitality and services directly to Swiss travelers.

The opening ceremony was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, the UAE Ambassador to Switzerland, and senior representatives from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Geneva Airport, highlighting the store’s significance for the region.

Inside, the Travel Store blends modern luxury with functionality. The lounge-inspired interior features soft beige seating and sleek, contemporary décor, creating a welcoming atmosphere where customers can relax while consulting with Emirates’ travel experts. Three dedicated service counters provide personalized assistance for flight bookings, itinerary planning, and information on the latest offers and destinations. Customers can also browse exclusive Emirates merchandise and travel accessories.

The store is equipped with immersive technology, including a large LED screen displaying updates on Emirates’ destinations and promotions, a self-service kiosk for quick access to flight details, and a voice-activated selfie wall. This interactive wall allows visitors to take photos against digital backdrops of popular Emirates destinations, which can be accessed via QR codes for easy sharing and sustainability. A full-scale Emirates Business Class seat is also on display, giving visitors a tangible preview of the airline’s premium onboard experience.

Strategically, this new retail presence complements Emirates’ robust operations in Switzerland, where the airline operates two daily flights from both Zurich and Geneva to Dubai, connecting Swiss travelers to over 140 destinations worldwide. Geneva was recently the first city in Emirates’ network to receive the modernized Boeing 777 with a four-class configuration, including the new Premium Economy cabin—a testament to the airline’s ongoing commitment to the Swiss market.

The Emirates Travel Store in Geneva is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:30, and Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00, offering Swiss travelers a unique blend of personalized service, innovative technology, and brand immersion—all in a convenient city-center location.

Emirates Airlines will resume its flights to Damascus starting July 16, 2025, marking the end of a 13-year suspension that began in 2012 due to the Syrian conflict. This decision follows a comprehensive operational evaluation conducted in partnership with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), ensuring that all safety and regulatory standards are met before relaunching services.

Initially, Emirates will operate three weekly flights between Dubai and Damascus on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, using a Boeing 777-200LR with 302 seats. The schedule will expand to four weekly flights from August 2, 2025, with the addition of a Saturday service. Daily flights are set to commence from October 26, 2025, further enhancing connectivity between the two cities.

The outbound flight EK 913 will depart Dubai at 12:00 PM and arrive in Damascus at 2:10 PM local time, while the return flight EK 914 will leave Damascus at 4:30 PM and arrive in Dubai at 8:30 PM.

The resumption of this route is expected to provide essential connectivity for the large Syrian diaspora, particularly those residing in the Americas, Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Over 350,000 Syrians live in the UAE alone, and the restored air link will make it easier for them to visit family, support reconstruction efforts, and contribute their skills and resources to Syria’s ongoing development.

Emirates’ extensive network of nearly 150 destinations will also open up new travel and trade opportunities for Syrian businesses and investors, supporting key sectors such as energy, construction, and agriculture.

The reintroduction of flights is expected to further stimulate economic and trade relations between the UAE and Syria. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $680 million, a 23% increase over the previous year, and the new flights are anticipated to boost these figures by facilitating easier movement of people and goods.

Emirates customers will also benefit from the airline’s codeshare partnership with flydubai, which recently resumed its own daily flights to Damascus, providing even more options and flexibility for travelers.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, emphasized the importance of this move, stating that it will provide better choice and connectivity, essential economic links for inward investment, and open new trade lanes and market access for Syria.

He also expressed gratitude to Syrian authorities for their support in restoring air links and looked forward to further strengthening ties through regular operations.

Emirates originally launched flights to Damascus in 1988 and had carried over 2.1 million passengers on the route before suspending services in 2012. The airline currently serves 13 cities across the Middle East and GCC, operating 191 weekly flights in the region, and the return to Damascus is seen as a significant step in reconnecting Syria with the global aviation network.