Source-cited · dated · free
What changed in relocation rules in 2026
Visa thresholds move, tax regimes change, citizenship windows close, and investment routes end. This changelog records only the reviewed inventory, with the effective date, verification date, primary or official publication, and the WhereNext surfaces affected. Month- or year-only dates are deliberate where the evidence did not establish a day.
Showing 37 of 37 verified changes.
- VisaUpcoming · 2027-02-28
🇹🇭 Thailand joins the Apostille Convention #
Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the 1961 Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026. The Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, replacing consular legalisation with a single apostille for foreign public documents.
What it means: From 28 February 2027, foreign documents supporting Thai applications across visa classes need an apostille instead of embassy legalisation — a materially cheaper and faster authentication chain for document-heavy filings.
- TaxUpcoming · 2027-01-01
🇳🇱 The Dutch expat ruling falls to 27% from 2027 #
The expat ruling stays at a maximum 30% through 2026 and becomes 27% from 1 January 2027. Partial non-resident status also ends then, except for the documented pre-2024 grandfathered cohort; newer cohorts face the 27% rate and applicable salary norm.
What it means: A five-year projection for a newer arrival must step down to 27% in 2027.
Stale wording found in the audit: The Netherlands grants 30% tax-free for five years without a 2027 step-down.
- VisaIn effect · 2026-06-30Verify locally
🇰🇷 South Korea makes the F-1-D Workation Visa permanent #
South Korea made the F-1-D Workation Visa permanent on 30 June 2026 and eased the pilot thresholds. The current row models one times per-capita GNI for employed applicants and two times per-capita GNI for self-employed applicants.
What it means: Assess the permanent F-1-D route against its current applicant-category threshold rather than the pilot criteria.
Verification limit: The route is documented by the official visa portal, but applicants should confirm the live application fee and exact GNI calculation before applying.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2026-05-19Verify locally
🇵🇹 Portugal changes the Golden Visa citizenship timeline #
Portugal's nationality reform entered into force on 19 May 2026. The Golden Visa row states a seven-year citizenship clock for Portuguese-speaking/CPLP and EU nationals, and ten years for other applicants; pending applications keep the earlier regime.
What it means: A Portugal Golden Visa timeline should not assume the earlier uniform citizenship clock.
Verification limit: The Golden Visa row records this reform but labels its ARI source secondary; verify the current citizenship path against the named authority before committing.
- CitizenshipIn effect · 2026-04-30
🇮🇹 Italy's Constitutional Court upholds the new descent cap #
Sentenza 63/2026 upheld the generational cap introduced by Law 74/2025. It did not settle every pending edge, including some 1948 maternal-line arguments, which still require case-specific counsel.
What it means: The cap remains operative; do not treat the judgment as resolving every 1948-line court claim.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2026-04-14
🇰🇳 St. Kitts and Nevis makes CBI biometric collection mandatory #
St. Kitts and Nevis made biometric data collection mandatory for citizenship-by-investment applications from 14 April 2026.
What it means: Allow for the mandatory biometric step when planning a St. Kitts and Nevis CBI application.
- InvestmentIn effect · Mar 2026Verify locally
🇬🇷 Greece reshapes its 2026 Golden Visa property context #
The Golden Visa row says Law 5275/2026 reshaped the tiers, while a separate short-term-rental registration freeze began in Thessaloniki in March 2026 and applies in central Athens through the end of 2026. The row explicitly says this is not a Golden-Visa threshold change.
What it means: Do not treat a Golden Visa property purchase as automatically eligible for short-term-rental registration in the affected areas.
Verification limit: The row records that the ministry page predates the tier reform; verify the current tier and local rental-registration rule before committing.
- InvestmentIn effect · Mar 2026
🇻🇺 Vanuatu revises its CBI programme through 2026 amendment orders #
Vanuatu's Amendment Orders No. 39 and 40 of 2026 revised its citizenship-by-investment programme in March 2026 on financial-viability and foreign-exchange grounds.
What it means: Check the amended programme terms and processing conditions before relying on older Vanuatu CBI guidance.
- VisaIn effect · Feb 2026
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka launches its Digital Nomad Visa #
Sri Lanka launched its Digital Nomad Visa in February 2026. The current immigration-policy PDF sets a USD2,000 monthly minimum remittance; it does not carry the retired USD1,500 hedge.
What it means: Use the USD2,000 monthly remittance requirement when assessing this route, rather than the superseded lower figure.
- TaxIn effect · 2026-01-01
🇮🇹 Italy's new-resident foreign-income flat tax rises to €300,000 #
For residence transfers on or after 1 January 2026, Italy's annual foreign-income substitute tax is €300,000, plus €50,000 per qualifying family member. Earlier cohorts retain their entry rate: €100,000 before 10 August 2024 and €200,000 from that date through 31 December 2025.
What it means: Price the regime by the date residence transfers; do not apply the €300,000 tier retroactively to earlier cohorts.
Stale wording found in the audit: Italy's current flat-tax tier is €200,000 for new 2026 arrivals.
- VisaIn effect · Jan 2026Verify locally
🇭🇷 Croatia raises its digital-nomad financial requirement #
The January 2026 benchmark is about €3,622.50 per month (€43,470 per year), with a €43,470 lump-sum funds route for twelve months. The benchmark and proof route should be checked against the live application guidance.
What it means: The earlier $28,215 annual figure materially understates the 2026 requirement.
Stale wording found in the audit: Croatia's digital-nomad requirement is about $28,215 per year.
Verification limit: The amount comes from the January 2026 gazette-linked formula; confirm whether recurring income or the twelve-month funds route applies to the applicant's evidence.
- VisaIn effect · 2026Verify locally
🇦🇪 Dubai's Virtual Working threshold rises to $60,000 a year #
Dubai's Virtual Working income threshold rose to USD5,000 per month, or USD60,000 per year, in early 2026. Insurance evidence also changed, but applicants should confirm the current evidentiary detail on the live government route.
What it means: Do not test eligibility against the former USD3,500 monthly threshold.
Stale wording found in the audit: Dubai's Virtual Working threshold is USD3,500 per month.
Verification limit: The government route supports the programme, while the exact insurance evidence was fetch-blocked during the binding audit and remains a verify-before-applying item.
- VisaIn effect · 2026Verify locally
🇪🇸 Spain's 2026 DNV test uses the conservative SMI upper bound #
Under RD 126/2026, WhereNext uses €2,850 per month, derived from the €34,200 annual amount divided by 12: the upper end of the 200% SMI range; verify locally because consular treatment of 12 versus 14 payments can vary.
What it means: Income below €2,850 per month should not be treated as a definite pass without consular confirmation.
Verification limit: The statutory formula is official, but consular interpretation of the 12- versus 14-payment basis can vary; verify the live consular requirement before applying.
- VisaIn effect · 2026
🇵🇹 Portugal's D8 income threshold reaches €44,160 a year #
The 2026 D8 threshold is four times Portugal's €920 minimum wage: €3,680 per month gross, or €44,160 per year. The amount is formula-driven and will move when the minimum wage changes.
What it means: Budget against the native euro formula rather than a stale dollar conversion.
Stale wording found in the audit: Portugal's D8 threshold is €3,280 per month or about $39,420 per year.
- CitizenshipIn effect · 2025-12-31
🇱🇺 Luxembourg's Article 89 reclamation deadline passes #
Article 89's 2018 certificate deadline and 31 December 2025 declaration deadline have both passed. The procedure cannot be reopened, while ordinary Luxembourg descent routes remain available.
What it means: Do not start a new Article 89 claim; assess only the ordinary nationality routes that remain open.
- VisaIn effect · 2025-12-20Verify locally
🇧🇬 Bulgaria implements a digital-nomad residence route #
Applications for Bulgaria's Type-D digital-nomad route opened on 20 December 2025. The statute requires average annual income of at least 50 prior-year minimum monthly wages, currently modeled at about €31,000 per year.
What it means: Treat the euro figure as a refloating model, not a permanently fixed threshold.
Verification limit: The official State Gazette confirms the 50-wage formula; the approximate euro amount is salary-indexed and must be recalculated for the application year.
- CitizenshipIn effect · 2025-12-15
🇨🇦 Canada removes the old first-generation limit under Bill C-3 #
Bill C-3 came into force on 15 December 2025, automatically restoring citizenship to most people born abroad in the second generation or later before that date. For later births or adoptions beyond the first generation, the Canadian parent generally needs a 1,095-day substantial connection.
What it means: Someone refused under the old first-generation rule may already be a citizen and should re-check their status.
Stale wording found in the audit: Canada's first-generation limit blocks every second-generation claim born abroad.
- VisaIn effect · 2025-11-21
🇸🇮 Slovenia launches its Digital Nomad Permit #
Slovenia's Digital Nomad Permit opened on 21 November 2025. Its income requirement is twice the average net salary, currently about €3,222 per month (€38,664 per year), and refloats with salary data. The permit runs 12 months and cannot be extended; a new permit is only available six months after expiry.
What it means: Use the salary-indexed formula and recheck the current average rather than freezing today's modeled amount.
Stale wording found in the audit: Slovenia uses a fixed €2,100 monthly threshold.
- CitizenshipIn effect · 2025-10-22
🇪🇸 Spain's Democratic Memory Law filing window closes #
The Democratic Memory Law filing window closed at 23:59 on 22 October 2025 with no extension. Timely in-window files continue processing, but new LMD applications are no longer accepted.
What it means: Treat LMD as a historical route unless an application was filed within the deadline.
Stale wording found in the audit: The LMD window is open through October 2025 or may be extended.
- InvestmentIn effect · Jul 2025
🇲🇹 Malta reforms MPRP fees under Legal Notice 146 of 2025 #
Malta's Legal Notice 146 of 2025 reformed the MPRP fee structure in July 2025: the government contribution is €37,000, spouse and minor children are free, and adult dependants cost €7,500.
What it means: Use the post-reform fees when calculating Malta MPRP entry costs, alongside the separate required property commitment.
- CitizenshipIn effect · 2025-05-24
🇮🇹 Italy limits new citizenship-by-descent claims under Law 74/2025 #
Law 74/2025 generally limits new claims to an exclusively Italian parent or grandparent, with a separate exception where an Italian parent or adopter lived legally and continuously in Italy for at least two years after acquiring citizenship and before the child's birth or adoption. Applications filed or appointments confirmed by 23:59 Rome time on 27 Mar 2025 retain the earlier rules; 1948 maternal-line cases remain fact-specific.
What it means: A great-grandparent chain is no longer enough for a new administrative claim under the current rule.
Stale wording found in the audit: Italian citizenship by descent has no generational limit.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2025-04-03
🇪🇸 Spain terminates its Golden Visa programme #
Spain ended its residence-by-investment programme on 3 April 2025, so no new Golden Visa applications are accepted. Timely pending applications continue processing and existing permit holders retain the rights attached to their permits.
What it means: Remove Spain from a new investor-residence shortlist and compare programmes that still accept applications.
Stale wording found in the audit: Spain's programme was terminated in 2024.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2025-01-15
🇭🇺 Hungary removes the direct €500K Guest Investor real-estate option #
Hungary removed the direct €500,000 real-estate option from its Guest Investor Visa on 15 January 2025. The Golden Visa row records that two routes remain.
What it means: Do not plan on a direct €500,000 property route when comparing Hungary's current investor options.
- VisaIn effect · 2025-01-01
🇲🇾 Sarawak S-MM2H adopts one RM500,000 fixed deposit #
From 1 January 2025, S-MM2H requires one RM500,000 fixed deposit covering the applicant, spouse, and dependants. Applicants must be at least 30, spend 30 days per year in Sarawak, and receive a five-year pass renewable for five more years.
What it means: Use Sarawak's current RM500,000 rule and 30-day presence requirement, not the superseded deposit.
Stale wording found in the audit: The S-MM2H fixed deposit is RM150,000.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2025
🇳🇿 New Zealand relaxes the Active Investor Plus Growth category #
New Zealand relaxed the Active Investor Plus rules in 2025. The Growth category requires NZD5 million and has a 21-day physical-presence requirement over 36 months.
What it means: Assess the Growth category's lower physical-presence requirement rather than applying the older investment conditions.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2024-12-07
🇦🇺 Australia launches the National Innovation Visa #
Australia launched the National Innovation Visa on 7 December 2024, replacing the Global Talent Visa and the Business Innovation and Investment Program.
What it means: Compare Australia's current National Innovation Visa instead of treating the retired programmes as available routes.
- InvestmentIn effect · Nov 2024
🇳🇷 Nauru launches its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship programme #
Nauru launched its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship programme at COP29 in November 2024 to fund climate-resilience adaptation.
What it means: Nauru is a newer direct-citizenship programme and should be assessed on its current official contribution terms.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2024-10-15
🇵🇦 Panama sets the Qualified Investor real-estate minimum at B/.300,000 #
Panama last amended its Qualified Investor programme through Decreto Ejecutivo 193 on 15 October 2024. The Golden Visa row records B/.300,000 as the standing real-estate minimum, with no expiry date.
What it means: Do not plan around an unannounced expiry or a return to a higher real-estate minimum.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2024-07-01
🇩🇲 Dominica adopts the OECS CBI minimum #
Dominica's OECS Memorandum of Agreement standardised its citizenship-by-investment minimum at USD200,000 from 1 July 2024.
What it means: Use the USD200,000 minimum when comparing Dominica's current CBI contribution route.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2024-07-01Verify locally
🇬🇩 Grenada sets its National Transformation Fund amount at USD235,000 #
Grenada set the National Transformation Fund amount at USD235,000 from 1 July 2024, covering a single applicant or a family of up to four, with USD25,000 for each additional dependant.
What it means: Do not use the stale USD150,000 figure when estimating Grenada CBI eligibility.
Verification limit: The Golden Visa row labels the available amount as secondary-source information and says the official page is stale; verify the live figure before applying.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2024-07-01
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia adopts the OECS CBI minimum and sets its donation at USD240,000 #
Saint Lucia's OECS Memorandum of Agreement standardised the regional USD200,000 minimum on 1 July 2024, while Saint Lucia set its National Economic Fund donation at USD240,000.
What it means: Use Saint Lucia's USD240,000 donation figure rather than treating the regional USD200,000 minimum as its final programme amount.
- CitizenshipIn effect · 2024-04-01
🇵🇹 Portugal adds residence and approval gates to the Sephardic route #
Organic Law 1/2024 added at least three years of Portuguese residence, community certification, and final ministry approval to the Sephardic naturalisation route. The ordinary parent and grandparent descent routes remain open.
What it means: An ancestry certificate alone no longer establishes eligibility for the Sephardic route.
- VisaIn effect · Apr 2024Verify locally
🇹🇷 Türkiye opens a formal Digital Nomad Visa #
Türkiye has operated a formal Digital Nomad Visa since April 2024, with a USD3,000 monthly (USD36,000 annual) income requirement. Eligible applicants first obtain the official pre-application certificate and then apply through a Turkish mission.
What it means: Model Türkiye as a formal route with an income test, not as a zero-threshold workaround.
Stale wording found in the audit: Türkiye has no formal DNV or has a zero-dollar requirement.
Verification limit: The programme portal is operated by Türkiye's Tourism Promotion and Development Agency rather than the issuing ministry; confirm current mission-level evidence requirements before applying.
- TaxIn effect · 2024-01-01
🇹🇭 Thailand expands taxation of remitted foreign income #
Since 1 January 2024, Thai tax residents are taxed on assessable foreign-source income when remitted, regardless of the year it was earned. A proposed relaxation for income remitted within roughly two tax years remains a draft royal decree, not current law, and its retroactivity is unresolved.
What it means: Do not rely on delaying a remittance into the next year as an automatic exemption.
Stale wording found in the audit: Earn foreign income in year one and remit it in year two to keep it exempt.
- TaxIn effect · 2024
🇮🇹 Italy replaces the old Impatriati incentives for new arrivals #
For residence transfers from the 2024 tax period, qualifying Italian employment and self-employment income is 50% exempt, or 60% exempt with a minor child, up to €600,000 for five years. The regime generally requires three prior years of non-residence and a four-year Italian-residence commitment, with clawback for early departure.
What it means: New arrivals should not model the former 70% or southern-Italy 90% exemption as their default regime.
Stale wording found in the audit: New arrivals receive a 70% exemption, 90% in southern Italy, with a ten-year extension.
- VisaIn effect · 2024
🇲🇾 Federal MM2H moves to three fixed-deposit tiers #
The 2024 federal MM2H reform set Silver, Gold, and Platinum fixed deposits at USD150,000, USD500,000, and USD1,000,000. The former MYR40,000 monthly-income and MYR1.5 million liquid-assets floors no longer apply; there is no fixed federal income floor, though proof of financial standing is still required with the application.
What it means: Compare the current deposit tiers instead of testing against the superseded 2021 income and asset model.
Stale wording found in the audit: MM2H requires MYR40,000 monthly income, MYR1.5 million in liquid assets, or the old MYR500,000/MYR1 million deposits.
- InvestmentIn effect · 2023
🇨🇾 Cyprus raises its permanent-residence income requirement #
Cyprus raised the annual-income requirement in its permanent-residence programme from €30,000 to €50,000 in its 2023 reform. The Golden Visa row notes that a separate 2026 reform was still under consideration, not enacted.
What it means: Budget against the €50,000 annual-income requirement rather than the superseded €30,000 figure.
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