This visa is given to students once they collect ten different stamps in their passport during visits to ten different Heritage Malta sites and museums. Two adults may accompany each student for this special occasion, Heritage Malta says.

Four sessions will be available at 9:15 am, 10:15 am, 11:15 am and 12:15 pm, for a maximum of ten children per each session. Each session will be divided into two parts: starting with a short tour of the site of San Pawl Milqi, followed by an activity related to bee-keeping and honey making techniques.

Heritage Malta emphasises that anybody allergic to bees should not participate, due to the presence of bees on site. At the same time, participants are recommended not to wear open shoes, heavy perfume and gel. The activity related to the bees will be only for the 10 children wearing protective clothing. No adults or small children will be allowed near, for safety reasons.

The site of San Pawl Milqi gets its name from the small chapel of San Pawl Milqi that replaced the 15th century chapel of St Paul Bindichi in the mid-17th century, both of which were built on the remains of a Roman villa. This villa is traditionally connected with the house of Publius, and therefore the place where St Paul was welcomed by the First Citizen.

Although the event is free of charge and is open only to Heritage Malta Passport Visa holders, tickets have to be booked. Tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis from all Heritage Malta sites and museums. No tickets will be available on-site and admission is subject to presenting pre-issued tickets, together with the Heritage Malta Passport and Visa.

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Having a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programme significantly boosts the overall passport strength of a country, according to Henley & Partners. Earlier this year, Malta ranked 9th globally on the index, when the number of destinations was similarly 182.

“Malta currently sits in the 8th spot, ahead of Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand. Montenegro — due to launching its citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programme soon — has climbed 19 places since 2009 to the 43rd spot with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 143. Moldova has jumped 21 places over the past decade and is now in the 45th spot on the index with [passport] holders able to travel to 121 global destinations visa-free,” a press statement by Henley says.

Additionally, Asia sees growing power and influence globally, with Japan, Singapore, and South Korea now holding the joint top spot on the passport index, with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 189 destinations, the company finds.

“Investment migration programmes help strengthen and diversify the economies of sovereign states, enabling governments to drive capital into domestic development projects, create new employment opportunities, encourage further investment, and improve the lives of citizens. For investors, the travel mobility afforded by a second passport is unmatched, and the opportunities it provides are unparalleled,” says Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners.

Citizenship by investment schemes

Malta launched its Individual Investor Programme (IIP) at the beginning of 2014, which is a citizenship-by-investment programme. “Successful candidates will be granted citizenship in Malta by a Certificate of Naturalisation, which can also be extended to include their families,” the official website of Malta Immigration says. Those who receive citizenship can set up businesses in Malta and have the right of establishment in all European Union countries and Switzerland.

Up to the date of publication, the IIP has received more than 1,000 Malta passport applications on behalf of investors from more than 40 different countries, and submission is open.

However, lately, controversy has arisen related to investment by citizenship schemes in the European Commission, in general in the European Union. In January, Věra Jourová, the European Commissioner for Justice said that “the European Commission does not endorse the cash-for-passports scheme”, in reaction to Nationalist Party MEP Roberta Metsola’s question criticising such programmes, the MaltaToday reported.

Beyond Malta, some other EU countries also offer similar schemes, including Cyprus, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Portugal.

The post Maltese passport steps up on Henley’s strength index first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

With the approval of China’s State Council, Qingdao implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy in five cities including Qingdao. This is further enhancement of the 72-hour visa-free transit policy currently in effect, according to the exit and entry administration of the Shandong provincial public security bureau, the press statement adds.

Holders of Maltese passport, who can show valid international travel documents and a connecting flight ticket bound for a third country or region with a valid ticket and a set departure date within 144 hours of entry into the country, can enter or exit from Qingdao’s airports and seaports and move about within the administrative area of Shandong Province for 144 hours, visa-free, according to the press statement.

Along with the extension of the visa-free stay time from 72 hours to 144 hours, the number of entry and exit ports also grew from being limited to only airports to include both airports and seaports in Qingdao.

The countries for which the policy is applicable are determined by the number of entry and transit points as well as the roster of inbound and outbound international flights. To maintain the uniformity of the policy, qualified countries for the 144-hour transit visa-free policy will be the same as those enjoying the 72-hour free transit policy.

Applicable countries for the visa-free transit policy are as follows: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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Similarly to last year, Henley & Partners finds that countries with citizenship-by-investment (CBI) hold strong positions on the index programs. On this note, the report underlines Malta’s 9th position, as well as the 27th and 28th spots of St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda, respectively. Moldova was able to hold its 46th place, with citizens offered access to 122 countries.

Japan is at the 1st place on the Henley Passport Index offering visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 190 destinations, Singapore and South Korea now are jointly at the 2nd place with access to 189 destinations, while Germany and France are at the 3rd place with a visa-free score of 188.

“The enduring appeal of investment migration programs shows that more and more people are embracing alternative citizenship as the best way to access previously unimagined opportunities and improve their passport power,” says Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners. “Additionally, it is no surprise that countries are increasingly looking to launch CBI programs, which attract talented individuals and bring enormous economic and societal benefits,” he adds.

“For some people, a passport is a portal to the world. For others, it is a barrier to the travel freedom they seek,” Henley & Partners says on its website. Their passport index is considered by many to be one of the most rigorous and sophisticated measures of global access.

“The general spread of open-door policies has the potential to contribute billions to the global economy, as well as create significant employment opportunities around the world,” says Dr Christian H. Kälin, Group Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the Passport Index concept. “South Korea and the United Arab Emirates’ recent ascent in the rankings are further examples of what happens when countries take a proactive foreign affairs approach, an attitude which significantly benefits their citizens as well as the international community,” he adds.

The Henley Passport Index is based on IATA data, enhanced by extensive in-house research, supported by expert commentary, and updated regularly throughout the year, making it the most robust, credible, and reliable index of its kind, according to the official website of the index.

Citizenship by investment schemes

Malta launched its Malta Individual Investor Programme (IIP) at the beginning of 2014, which is an investment citizenship program. “Successful candidates will be granted citizenship in Malta by a Certificate of Naturalization, which can also be extended to include their families,” the official website of Malta Immigration says. Those who receive citizenship can set up businesses in Malta and have the right of establishment in all 28 EU countries and Switzerland.

Up to the date of publication, as the IIP has received more than 1,000 Malta passport applications on behalf of investors from more than 40 different countries, and submission is still open.

However, lately, controversy has arisen in related to investment by citizenship schemes in the European Commission in general. In January, Věra Jourová, the European Commissioner for Justice said that “the European Commission does not endorse the cash-for-passports scheme”, in reaction to Nationalist Party MEP Roberta Metsola’s question criticising such programmes, the MaltaToday reported.

Beyond Malta, Cyprus, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Portugal also offer such schemes.

The post Malta ranks 9th on Henley Passport Index first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.