Southeast Asian investor visas compared should start with one simple truth: these routes are not “one category.” Some are permanent residence (PR) programs built for serious capital and governance. Others are long-stay visas designed for lifestyle and convenience. The smart move for HNWIs is choosing the right tool for the right outcome: PR, a long-term base, or a hub footprint.
Clear definitions of the key programs
1) Singapore – Global Investor Programme (GIP)
What it is: A government-led investor route that grants Singapore PR to eligible investors and business owners.
Typical entry points:
- S$10M in a Singapore business entity (Option A)
- S$25M into a GIP-select fund (Option B)
- Single Family Office with ≥ S$200M AUM (Option C)
Time expectation: Official materials indicate ~12 months as a planning assumption (case-dependent).
Citizenship angle: Citizenship is separate; eligibility notes include being a PR for at least 2 years (approval remains merit-based).
Best for: Ultra-HNWIs and founders who want top-tier permanency and can support strong governance and compliance.
2) Hong Kong – New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)
What it is: A residence pathway based on deploying capital into permissible investment assets, with clear allocation rules.
Threshold (verified):
- Minimum HK$30M net into permissible investment assets (with program rules on allocation).
Permanence angle: Long-term permanence is typically tied to meeting 7 years ordinary residence for permanent resident status (Right of Abode / PR status), with evidence requirements.
Best for: Investors prioritizing a global finance hub footprint and able to commit to a residence pattern that supports permanence.
3) Thailand – Thailand Privilege (formerly Elite Visa)
What it is: A paid membership long-stay model. It is not positioned as an “investor PR” program; it’s designed for convenience and lifestyle.
What you get: Renewable long-stay options via tiers (commonly marketed as 5–20 years depending on membership).
Verified pricing signal: Entry tier starts at THB 650,000 (package-based).
Citizenship angle: Not structured as a direct PR/citizenship-by-investment route in the same way as PR programs.
Best for: HNWIs who want ease, premium services, and flexibility—not necessarily a citizenship plan.
4) Malaysia – Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
What it is: A long-term residence program with tiered categories and clear financial and lifestyle conditions (fixed deposit + property, plus minimum stay rules).
Core commitments (verified from official terms):
- Fixed deposit tiers listed as USD 150k / 500k / 1M (by category).
- Minimum stay requirement includes 90 days per year (cumulative) (as stated in the official terms).
Best for: HNWIs seeking a structured second base and willing to operationalize compliance (banking, property holding, stay-days).
5) Indonesia – Second Home Visa (E33)
What it is: A long-stay visa framework intended for foreigners who want Indonesia as a second base, tied to financial sufficiency or qualifying assets.
Verified requirement signal (official immigration page):
- Commitment to hold ≥ US$130,000 (or equivalent) in a state-owned bank account or purchase property ≥ US$1,000,000 (or equivalent), within a defined timeline after the stay permit is granted.
Stay and cost (official eVisa FAQ): - Lists up to 5 years (extendable) and an official fee line item in IDR.
Best for: Lifestyle-led HNWIs who want medium-term to long-term presence in Indonesia under clear, documented conditions.
6) Philippines – Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV)
What it is: An investor residence route linked to remitting and maintaining qualifying investment, administered through the Philippines’ investment framework.
Verified threshold signal:
- BOI materials reference a minimum US$75,000 remittance/investment requirement (with rules on how funds are remitted and deployed).
Best for: Investors looking for an investor residence concept at a lower entry threshold, with ongoing investment maintenance discipline.
What to choose, based on your outcome
Use these HNWI filters when Southeast Asian investor visas compared becomes a decision:
- If PR is the core asset: Singapore’s GIP is the most PR-forward route on this list.
- If you want a hub with defined capital rules + a “residence-to-permanence” arc: Hong Kong New CIES + the 7-year ordinary residence path is the planning model.
- If you want premium long-stay convenience without PR complexity: Thailand Privilege is the operational play.
- If you want a structured second base with explicit obligations: Malaysia MM2H is designed around that reality.
- If you want Indonesia as a long-stay base with asset-based qualification: Second Home (E33) is the relevant framework.
- If you want a lower-entry investor residence concept: Philippines SIRV is often shortlisted.
Conclusion: how Globalia (partner of Globevisa Group) supports HNWIs
With Southeast Asian investor visas compared, the failure point is rarely “eligibility.” It’s usually:
- deploying capital before you’ve engineered bankability (clean source-of-funds, documentation trail),
- choosing a program that doesn’t match your end goal (PR vs long-stay),
- or underestimating compliance cadence (renewals, minimum stay, reporting, investment maintenance).
Globalia Consulting, partner of Globevisa Group, helps HNWIs execute with a compliance-first operating model:
- Route selection memo (decision-grade): match your target outcome (PR / hub access / long-stay base) to the right program.
- Due-diligence file engineering: source-of-wealth narrative, banking trail, beneficial ownership clarity, legalization strategy.
- Capital deployment governance: structured support for property, deposits, or eligible assets—aligned to program rules.
- Timeline management: submissions built to reduce rework and avoid delays caused by documentation gaps.