UAE expands Golden Visa eligibility categories

What changed

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is adjusting fees for the Employment-Based Immigrant Visa, Fifth Preference (EB-5) Immigrant Investor Program, with the changes set to take effect on 30 November 2026. This measure ensures that the programme's operational costs, including application processing, background checks, eligibility verification, and fraud detection, are fully covered by filing fees rather than taxpayer funds. The updated fee schedule also supports strengthened integrity measures, such as compliance reviews, audits, and site visits, as directed by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Consequently, individuals seeking lawful permanent residence through the EB-5 programme will face increased application costs.

What changed

Effective from 28 September 2026, Immigration New Zealand has implemented new requirements for managed funds and direct investments linked to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa. These updates compel managed funds to submit investment deployment plans, enforce a six-month waiting period for reapplication after a decline, and grant Invest New Zealand greater authority over approved investments. The changes are designed to elevate the calibre of investments, provide clarity for investors and fund managers, and ensure investments contribute effectively to New Zealand's economic development.

What changed

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has enacted the Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity—Funding Entities) Instrument 2026, which specifies new entities for the complying entrepreneur activity under the Migration Regulations 1994. This instrument repeals the earlier Specification of Entities 2016/074, impacting individuals seeking to meet entrepreneur visa requirements in Australia.

What changed

Australia has made a new migration instrument defining the activities that cannot qualify as a complying entrepreneur activity for the purposes of the Migration Regulations 1994. The Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity—Excluded Activities) Instrument 2026, identified as LIN 26/056 and registered as F2026L01259, was made by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on 18 September 2026 and registered on 24 September 2026. The instrument commences on 25 September 2026, one day after registration. The instrument operates under paragraph 5.19E(6)(a) of the Migration Regulations 1994. Regulation 5.19E establishes the meaning of a complying entrepreneur activity and requires the activity to relate to an innovative idea that is proposed to lead to the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia or the development of an enterprise or business in Australia. It also provides that the activity must not be an activity specified by the Minister as excluded.