Investment migration programmes open and close as governments change policy. Whether a file already submitted is protected depends on the country and on the exact wording of the law that closes the route.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
When a country winds down a route, the law that does so normally sets a cut off date. Files received before that date are often processed under the rules that applied when they were lodged, while new files are refused. The legal term for this protection is a transitional provision, sometimes described as grandfathering.
This is why the date a complete application reaches the authority can matter as much as the investment itself. A file that arrives a day after the cut off can fall outside the protection entirely.
Not every closure protects pending files, and even where it does, protection is conditional. You normally still have to meet every eligibility rule, prove a lawful source of funds and keep the investment in place. Grandfathering preserves your right to be assessed, not a right to be approved.
Some closures are abrupt, for example where a court strikes a programme down rather than a government phasing it out. In that situation the usual transitional comfort may not exist, and pending files can be paused while the authority works out how to respond.
Before you commit, read what the law actually says about closure and pending files, and confirm it with the official authority. Ask how a future change would treat a file already in the queue and what happens to your money if processing stops.
After you file, keep dated proof that a complete application was received, since that record is what a transitional rule looks to. If a closure is announced while you wait, contact the authority promptly to confirm where your file stands.
Treatment of funds varies. Government fees are often non refundable once work has begun, while an investment held in a fund, a deposit or property may simply be returned to your control if the route ends before you qualify. The closing law and your own agreements govern this, so confirm it rather than assume.
It depends on the route and the stage you reached. Capital placed in a fund, deposit or property is often recoverable, while government processing fees are commonly non refundable. Check the closing law and your agreements, and confirm with the official authority.
Usually not. Closing a route to new applicants is different from withdrawing a residence permit or citizenship already granted. Existing holders can often renew under the original terms, but confirm this with the authority.
It varies. Some give months of warning and a clear cut off date, while a court ruling can end a route quickly. Because notice is unpredictable, the filing date of a complete application is the safest thing to control.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
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