Short answer: 2026 brought many policy changes. The biggest include Canada’s Start-up Visa pause, Portugal’s longer naturalisation period, Japan’s new Business Manager rules, the US EB-5 timeline, and changes to CBI passports’ visa-free access.
Main changes
| Place | Change | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Start-up Visa paused; a new entrepreneur pilot planned | Accepted cases continue |
| Portugal | New nationality law generally requires ten years of legal residence | Longer path from the Golden Visa |
| Japan | Business Manager rules from October 2025: JPY 30M capital and N2 Japanese | Three-year transition for current holders |
| US | EB-5 grandfather clause (file by 30 September 2026); inflation indexing from 2027 | Timing affects cost |
| New Zealand | Active Investor Plus investors may buy one home worth NZD 5M+ from March 2026 | Your home doesn’t count toward the investment |
| Hong Kong | CIES investments can be held via an eligible holding company from March 2026 | More flexible structuring |
| CBI | St Lucia passports need a UK visa from March 2026 | Fewer UK visa-free options |
| Australia | 482 income thresholds indexed from July 2026 | Core Skills about AUD 79,000 |
What this means for applicants
- Policies change: visa-free access, thresholds and timelines can all move — weigh stability.
- Timing matters: e.g. the EB-5 grandfather clause and the 2027 adjustment.
- Existing applicants should watch transition rules: e.g. the SUV and Japan’s Business Manager visa.
We keep each programme page updated. To see how the latest changes affect you, book a consultation.