Investor and Long-Stay Visas in Asia, Compared
Thailand LTR, Malaysia MM2H, Philippines SIRV, Hong Kong New CIES and Singapore GIP by capital, validity, family, work, path to permanent residence and presence rules, with official sources. Plus the UK, the USA and Dubai for comparison.
Last updated: 10/2026
Which investor or long-stay visa in Asia fits me?
It depends on three things: where you really want to live, whether you need to work there, and how much capital you can lock up. For retiring in Southeast Asia, the Thailand LTR (Wealthy Pensioner), Malaysia MM2H and the Philippines SRRV are the usual routes; the Philippines SIRV gives an indefinite stay from a USD 75,000 investment. Permanent residence in the region comes mainly through Singapore (GIP, very high entry profiles) and Hong Kong (New CIES from HKD 30 million, PR only after 7 years of ordinary residence). A visa does not move your tax residence; what counts is where you actually live.
Asia check · 1 minute
Which long-stay visa in Asia fits you?
Five questions on goal, capital, stay, work and region. The result appears straight away, honestly also when a programme does not fit.
What is your main goal?
How much capital can you lock up?
How much time will you spend there?
Do you want to work there?
Which region do you prefer?
Your result appears here once all five questions are answered. Nothing is sent.
Retiring in Southeast Asia
Thailand LTR (Wealthy Pensioner), Malaysia MM2H or Philippines SRRV, depending on passive income and capital.
Lowest entry amount
Philippines SIRV from a USD 75,000 investment, indefinite as long as it is held.
Path to permanent residence
Singapore GIP (PR at once, very high entry profiles) and Hong Kong New CIES (PR after 7 years of ordinary residence).
Work allowed
Hong Kong New CIES and Singapore GIP; MM2H only in Platinum; the LTR depending on the category.
For company owners
Living in Thailand, company in Hong Kong or Singapore: what counts is where the company is actually managed.
Few presence rules
Thailand LTR and Philippines SIRV without a minimum stay; MM2H requires 90 days a year.
| Criterion | Thailand LTR | Malaysia MM2H | Philippines SIRV | Hong Kong New CIES | Singapore GIP | UK Innovator Founder | USA EB-5 | Dubai Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial requirement | Depends on the category, e.g. USD 1M in assets + USD 500,000 invested, or USD 80,000 income | Fixed deposit USD 150,000 / 500,000 / 1M + property from RM 600,000 | USD 75,000 investment | HKD 30M in net assets and investment | S$10M (A), S$25M (B) or family office (C); entry profile required | No minimum investment; endorsement required | USD 800,000 (TEA) / 1.05M; new amounts from 2027 | AED 2M in property, a company or a deposit |
| Validity | 5 + 5 years | 5 / 15 / 20 years | Indefinite while invested | 2 years, then up to 3 each | PR at once; re-entry permit 5 years | 3 years | Green card, first 2 years conditional | 10 years, renewable |
| Family | Spouse + children < 20 (max. 4) | Spouse, children, parents | Spouse + children < 21 | Spouse + children < 18 | Spouse + children < 21 | Spouse + children | Spouse + children < 21 | Spouse + children |
| Work | Depends on the category | Platinum only | Not expressly regulated | Yes | Yes (as PR) | Own company + skilled jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Path to PR / citizenship | No | No | No, tied to the investment | PR after 7 yrs of ordinary residence | PR at once; naturalisation possible | Settlement after 3 years | Green card; citizenship after 5 yrs | No, renewable |
| Presence rules | None | 90 days a year | None | None for the status; PR needs ordinary residence | For REP renewal > half the time | Max. 180 days abroad per 12 months | Residence in the US | None |
| Investment type | Government bonds, direct investment, property | Fixed deposit + property | Shares, priority-sector firms, government bonds | Shares, bonds, funds, commercial property + CIES portfolio | Business, GIP fund or family office | Own innovative business | Business / regional center | Property, company, deposit |
| Support by Strasia | Yes, with partner offices | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, comparison only | No, comparison only | On request |
Data as of 22.10.2026. All information subject to change.
UK Innovator Founder and USA EB-5 are in the table for comparison only; we do not support these visas. As of · Official sources: BOI Thailand LTR · MOTAC MM2H · BOI Philippines SIRV · ImmD Hong Kong New CIES · EDB Singapore GIP · GOV.UK Innovator Founder · USCIS EB-5 · GDRFA Dubai Golden Residence
More than a visa: company, account, residence?
Use the Strasia Pathfinder to get a guided first direction based on your goals, country preferences and business or residence plans.
Pathfinder StartWhich programme fits which goal?
Goal first, programme second: where you live, whether you work and how much capital you lock up decide more than the minimum amount.
Thailand LTR if…
…you fit one of the four categories and want to live in Thailand: wealthy, retiree from 50, remote employee of a large employer, or skilled professional.
Malaysia MM2H if…
…you want to live in Malaysia long term, can put in a fixed deposit and property, and will be there 90 days a year.
Philippines SIRV if…
…you invest USD 75,000 in eligible assets and want an indefinite stay without a minimum presence.
Hong Kong New CIES if…
…you invest HKD 30 million, want to be allowed to work in Hong Kong and plan to live there long term, because PR requires 7 years of ordinary residence.
Singapore GIP if…
…you bring a very large business or family office and want PR from day one.
A company instead of an investor visa if…
…you run a genuine business and want to work in Hong Kong or Singapore without reaching the investor thresholds.
UK Innovator Founder or USA EB-5
Both are here for comparison only; we do not support these visas. We do form companies in the UK and the US.
Dubai Golden Visa if…
…you put AED 2 million into property, a company or a deposit and want a renewable residence permit without presence rules; it is not PR.
Common mistakes when choosing
Looking only at the minimum amount
Presence rules, work rights, family and whether there is a path to PR matter more.
Believing a visa lowers your tax
Tax follows residence. A visa changes nothing as long as you do not actually move.
Confusing residence with work rights
MM2H allows work only in Platinum, the LTR depending on the category. Without work rights, no local work.
Overlooking presence rules
MM2H requires 90 days a year, Singapore’s re-entry permit residence for renewal, Hong Kong PR 7 years of ordinary residence.
Assuming the family gets everything
With the Thailand LTR, the family gets the visa but not the main applicant’s tax exemption.
Missing rule changes
Hong Kong changes the New CIES evidence from 1 November 2026, the US the EB-5 amounts from 2027. The update alert reports such changes.
The Key Options
Thailand LTR Visa
Four categories, 5 + 5 years; exemption for foreign income brought in only for three categories and under conditions.
Malaysia MM2H
Silver, Gold, Platinum with deposit and property; 90 days a year; work only in Platinum.
Philippines SIRV
Indefinite from a USD 75,000 investment, as long as it is held; no path to naturalisation.
Hong Kong New CIES
HKD 30M including HKD 3M in the CIES portfolio; work allowed; PR after 7 years of ordinary residence.
Singapore GIP
PR from day one; entry only with a very large business, a fast-growing start-up or a family office.
Dubai Golden Visa
AED 2M in property, a company or a deposit; 10 years, renewable; not PR.
An investor visa does not automatically allow you to work. How the work permit in Thailand works is explained on our page about the Thai work permit.
Tax, seen from your home country
- A visa does not move your tax residence. As long as you live in your home country, for example Germany, or have your habitual abode there, you remain taxable there on your worldwide income.
- If you move away, check exit taxation on company shareholdings beforehand (in Germany section 6 of the Foreign Tax Act) and the tax treaty with your new country.
- In the new country its own law decides: Thailand taxes residents (180+ days) on foreign income brought in, and the LTR exempts only three categories, under conditions. US green card holders are taxed by the US on their worldwide income.
- A company abroad does not change your personal tax. If it is in fact managed from where you live, it can become taxable there. Clarify your own case with your tax adviser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which long-stay visa in Asia has the lowest entry amount?
Does an investor visa lower my tax?
Which programme leads to permanent residence?
Can I work on an investor visa?
Is my family included?
What changed for MM2H in 2024?
What changes for Hong Kong’s New CIES on 1 November 2026?
What is the difference between a golden visa and an investor visa?
Which programmes does Strasia support?
Should I take the Asia check first?
Which long-stay visa fits?
Free first consultation: 60 minutes, no obligation.
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