Two countries Bulgaria and United Kingdom have abolished golden investment schemes citing corruption, money laundering and security concerts.
UK
The UK has abolished the Golden visa scheme (tier1 investor route) amidst security concerns according to the latest announcement from the government. The Home Secretary has taken decisive action to shut down the Tier1 Investor visa route to all new applicants from all nationalities with immediate effect preventing corrupt elites to access the UK.
Bulgaria
The New Bulgarian Government has moved to scrap its citizenship by investment program granting golden passports to international investors amidst EU pressure to ban golden passports and to further pursue its schengen and US visa waiver ambitions. Bulgaria’s National Assembly has unanimously abolished at first reading the so called “golden passports” (citizenship by investment). 218 MPs voted in favor. None voted against, according to Radio News Bulgaria.
With UK out of the golden visa picture, Ireland remains another attractive choice for foreign investors seeking a golden visa. Ireland requires 1m euro invested in investment funds or 400,000 euro in donation charities.
Malta remains the only operational Golden passport program after Bulgaria and Cyprus already closed doors.
