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On Tuesday 14 February, the Irish government announced the closure of the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). IIP applications via approved projects may be granted a grace period of three months to submit the finalised application. Any interest in IIP is the last chance and would have to apply on an urgent and immediate basis or the programme will no longer be available. Contact us now.

The 4 Things You Must Know About the Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme

Immigration is not a strange concept for people from Hong Kong at all.

As small as a city we are, Hong Kong has gone through a handful of immigration phases throughout history. At the end of World War II, indigenous inhabitants in the New Territories of Hong Kong started moving to the United Kingdom and Europe. In the 1970s, Hong Kong residents were already immigrating to Southeast Asia, South Africa, and even South American countries. And, of course, after the establishment of the “Sino-British Joint Declaration” and starting in the 1990s, there was a flood of people immigrating to Canada, Australia, and Singapore. Now, locations like Taiwan, Malaysia, and even Japan are all being considered as immigration options for Hong Kong people. 

However, conditions always apply to immigrants, and one of the deal-breakers can well be how long the applicant needs to stay in the country in order to achieve citizenship or residency. This is why Ireland stands out.

 

1. Stay for a day and qualify for a year!

Currently, the two popular options within the IIP investment schemes for people to immigrate to Ireland, 1) a personal donation of €500,000, 2) a corporate investment of €1 million. Though the first route is discounted to €400,000 per person if a group of 5 is donating together, the money is gone after the donation. Therefore, according to the statistical report of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) for 2015-2019, more than 70% of applicants have chosen to invest €1 million. 

If the applicant decides to go ahead with investment immigration, they will receive the pre-approval letter within 4 to 6 months. Upon receiving the pre-approval letter, the applicant can make their investment within a timeframe of 90 days. If the applicant invests in our Irish Investor Immigration programme (IIP), we will confirm with INIS that the money is received. The earlier the applicant makes their investment, the earlier INIS will issue the applicant their landing permission letter. With that, the applicant can then visit INIS physically to get their Stamp 4 and Irish Residence Permit (IRP) on the first time of their landing.

Subsequently, every year until the applicant wishes to apply for the Ireland passport, they are only required to be in Ireland for 24 hours every year to maintain their permanent resident status. If they arrive at the end of the year and leave at the beginning of the next year, that already fulfills the stay requirement of two years. This highly flexible requirement is perfect for those who are yet or are not considering leaving Hong Kong permanently but want to have an option ready.

 

Happy Asian family using tablet, laptop for playing game watching movies, relaxing at home for lifestyle concept

 

2. Earn profit and a new identity.

The donation route can be quite expensive, because the €400,000 or €500,000 poured out will not garner any return, resulting in a “purchased” STAMP 4. The Enterprise Investment, on the other hand, is very different. First of all, approval comes before the investment, and Bartra has a track record of 100% approval rating and a 100% renewal rating within the IIP. This means you are sure to receive your Stamp 4 with your investment. Secondly, within 3-5 years, depending on your choice of investment (nursing homes or social housing with Bartra), your total €1 million investment will be returned. Thirdly, investing in nursing home projects can generate around 4% interest per year. At the maturity of your five-year investment period, you will get an additional of €100,000 to €200,000, on top of your €1 million. 

In the end, you get the total capital of €1 million returned, along with a “free” STAMP 4 identity and an extra circa of €200,000. 

 

Happy Asian family using tablet, laptop for playing game watching movies, relaxing at home for lifestyle concept

 

3. It’s as safe as it gets

We’re not claiming how safe it is ourselves, INIS has identified Nursing Home and Social Housing projects as the preferred investment options for the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). Both of the projects are supported by the Irish government, meaning the income is stable and guaranteed. The two projects – nursing homes and social housing, are highly demanded by the Irish market. 

According to the CBRE report, elderlies of 65 and up will take up around 16% of the Irish population by 2026. In such cases, an estimated amount of at least 7,500 additional nursing home beds needs to be delivered. Hence, nursing home projects are subsidized by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and are a part of the strategic plan for reconstructing Ireland. Social housing is also in strong demand, where 68,693 Irish households are waiting to be housed in mid-2019. Yet, there were only 21,241 houses delivered in the same year. 

Secondly, projects like ours, which supports the country’s social infrastructure, are given priority by INIS. In particular, our social housing projects have signed a 25-year Enhanced Lease with the local authority at 95% of an agreed market rent, where index-linked and are debt-funded by different companies. The investment risk, therefore, is extremely low, and the safety of the investor’s funds are ensured. 

Not to mention, even during the current pandemic, the social housing industry is one of the first to recover and restart, as the Irish government plans to invest about €5.85 billion in this sector by 2021. According to The Sunday Business Post, the private nursing home trading market is anticipated to reach €100 million at the end of 2020.

 

 

4. 100% approval rate, 100% renewal rate, 100% transparency

Our projects are quite special as we provide 24-7 live Evercam streaming of our construction for all investors, accessible anywhere with the internet. Our investors are also regularly notified of the project’s progress and can get interesting Ireland and project news via our Facebook and LinkedIn

On top of that, we are a developer company, not an agency. As a developer who has successfully carried out many social housing and nursing home IIP projects, Bartra is the only one-stop-shop offering immigration service and direct access to investment projects. We have extensive Irish immigration experience and expertise in the investment field, and a strong business network of partners. Our Irish Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) has helped hundreds of families immigrate to Ireland while maintaining an application approval rate of 100% and a 100% renewal rate.

 

O'Connel Street, Dublin, Ireland - October 14, 2016.

Our IIP has been around since 2016 and is highly successful, sourcing over €310 million of IIP property-related projects, with a track record of over 250 successful IIP applicants. We have helped them live and freely travel to and from Ireland, the UK, and the 27 countries in the European Union after they have obtained their Irish passport from their STAMP 4 VISA. As the only Irish property developer who has a physical presence in Hong Kong, our unique business model supports clients throughout their investment and immigration journey. Simply scroll down to download your step by step IIP guide and assess if Ireland can be your next move. 

Living in Ireland – Weekend Destinations

Nobody likes a crowded weekend. 

Endless line ups, packed streets, sweaty passerby… all the things we have accepted as normal in Hong Kong doesn’t even exist in certain cities around the world. 

Ireland weekend

With no weather extremes and the lowest temperature at just 4 to 7 °C, the friendly climate is only one of the many great things you can expect when living in Ireland. Instead of diving into the tourist aspect of the country, let us look into the regular weekend life in a city like Dublin. 

 

Time to visit the Grocery Store

While delivery services of groceries, provided by companies such as HKTV Mall in Hong Kong have boomed in recent years, similar services have been enjoyed by Irish residents for quite some time. Chinese markets in Dublin also offer the service, such as the Asia Market. Known as “Ireland’s Premier Supermarket Since 1981”, they are the country’s largest Asia food importer, and a retailer that sells products ranging from condiments to fresh vegetables. With three branches across the areas of Dublin 2 and Dublin 12, you will immediately recognize it by its big, yellow door. Another great market is the Oriental Emporium, which sells classic Chinese ingredients, as well as ingredients from other countries (they have a Mexican corner too, so if you are into exotic food, this is where you need to visit!). Not to mention, their rich selection of sauces can ensure you in finding your favorite teriyaki sauce. 

If you are a frequent shopper at the cooked food section, visit the Han Sung Korean & Japanese Market on 22 Great Strand Street, where they serve homey Chinese stir fry, 2-dish or 3-dish rice, and other Asian delights such as bibimbap and gyoza.

Of course, there are also the big local chains, including SuperValu (just like any of our major supermarket chains in Hong Kong) and Dunnes Store (similar to Marks and Spencer in Hong Kong). Just like Hong Kong, remember to bring your own bag!

 

3:15 Tea Time

People using chopsticks and having Hong Kong dimsum in restaurant

Living in Dublin does not mean you have to forfeit your favorite time at the local cha chaan tengs. Hong Kong-born chef Kwanghi Chan opened the perfect place for your noodle, rice, or even bao craving. Located right in the heart of Dublin, the restaurant, Bowls by Kwanghi Chan, has earned the name of Ireland’s 100 Best Restaurant 2019 from McKennas’ Guide by The Sunday Times.

How about some siu mai and har gow? There is Yang’s Chinese Restaurant who serves lunch until 5 pm on Sundays, perfect for the night owls who prefer to have a late munch on their day off. Winner of The Irish Asian Food Awards 2019, I doubt we have to explain much about the quality of their food.

 

Spots for the Shopaholic

Ireland weekend

Get some fresh air and shop at one of Dublin’s principal shopping streets – Henry Street. With shops including Clarks, Boots, Pull and Bear, Lush, and even a Three store (yes, the mobile and network store we have here in Hong Kong), the street is perfect for the family. This is also where Christmas lights and Halloween parades are held.

Across River Liffey is the other principal shopping street – Grafton Street. Here, you have brands like Victoria Secret, Pandora, Levi’s, Ted Baker, and more. Looking for designer brands? The Brown Thomas Dublin department store is located right on the same street. This chain flagship store at 130,000-square-foot sells both prêt-à-porter and haute couture clothing and accessories.  

Ireland weekend

Consider Arnotts, Jervis shopping center, Dundrum shopping center, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre if you prefer indoor malls. All of these places are great to spend a relaxing afternoon in, similar to malls like Festival Walk and Elements in Hong Kong. How can we miss the outlets? There is the Kildare Outlet Village 45 minutes away from Dublin, which is a great day-trip option for you and your loved ones.

 

Trek and Hike

Ireland weekend

A lot of Hong Kong people deliberately fly to Nara to see the wild deers. In Dublin, you are just a short drive away! Interact with the wild deers at Phoenix Park and bring your pet along to enjoy the large green field. There is also the Malahide Castle & Gardens with a playground and a Fairy Trail for kids, just 30 minutes from Dublin. If you are a hiker, then the 3-hour walk up Killiney hill park is great. It is not a very difficult trail, and the ocean scene on the top is golden. There is also the Wicklow Mountains National Park, a recreation and biodiversity conservation site with a campsite.

Ireland weekend

The list of natural scenery in Ireland is endless, so there are countless explorations to go on. 

 

Kids Activities

couple at the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin

Learn about the country with your kids on the weekends. Housing a range of 14th to 20th-century European art, the National Gallery of Ireland regularly hosts different children-friendly activities and workshops. For small children under the age of 9, Imaginosity, Dublin Children‘s Museum is definitely the place to be. Encouraging discovery and a ‘hands-on, minds-on’ philosophy, the place offers party rentals as well, so you and your family can celebrate birthdays and other special occasions there. For older children, there is a lot to learn at the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. This place is uniquely dedicated to the stories of “Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists and even outlaws all over the world”. 

Of course, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the hours of these institutes are affected. Do visit their websites first to make sure they are opened!

Ireland weekend

Ireland may not be the first country that comes to mind, but there are countless worthwhile explorations to be made there. Learn more about the opportunities this 5th wealthiest country in the world offers, and speak to one of our expert advisors to find out more about Bartra Wealth Advisors and the Irish Immigrant Investment Programme by completing the form below!