The race to attract tech talent with golden visas.

The race to attract global tech talent is heating up significantly as many countries are successively launching golden visa policies and a series of new long-term residency incentives for artificial intelligence (AI) experts, semiconductor engineers, tech startups, and scientific researchers.

Competition in scientific and technological development has now extended to attracting talent and human resources. (Image : Intel)

Kazakhstan has become the latest country to join the race, with First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Yerbol Tuyakbayev revealing information on May 22 (local time) about the Altyn (gold) visa aimed at attracting strategic investors and highly qualified professionals. The country also plans to implement a digital residency program and simplify entry procedures for foreign professionals and investors.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also expanding its golden visa program, adding more eligible sectors such as AI, data science, clean technology, esports , digital content creation, and high-tech engineering.

Unlike the previous phase, which focused on asset investment, the new policy shifts the focus to professional expertise and technological contribution. Technology professionals can apply for a 10-year residency permit if they meet the requirements regarding qualifications, income, and professional background, even without owning significant real estate or investment capital in the UAE.

The Emirate of Dubai, in particular, has abolished the minimum asset value requirement of 750,000 AED (approximately $204,000 USD) for individuals applying for residency through real estate investment.

In Asia, Singapore is promoting programs for highly skilled workers in technology, AI, and digital finance, allowing international professionals to work long-term and flexibly switch between businesses without having to go through the complicated licensing procedures of the past.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong (China) is accelerating the implementation of its “Top Talent Pass Scheme” (TTPS), which allows highly skilled workers to reside in the country for 24-36 months without needing a prior employment contract. Visa holders are free to change jobs or start their own businesses during their stay.

In Europe, Portugal has recently adjusted its golden visa strategy. Previously, the program primarily attracted real estate investors; now Lisbon is shifting its focus to technology startups, innovation, and scientific research. The government hopes to make Portugal a new technology hub in Europe, capitalizing on the trend of businesses relocating from high-cost cities like London or Paris.

Germany and the Netherlands are also emerging as new destinations for AI talent in Europe thanks to their more open immigration policies for high-tech workers.

A common thread in the new golden visa policies is a shift in national competitive thinking. While previously these programs primarily aimed at attracting investment capital, many countries now view highly skilled human resources as their most important "strategic asset."

In addition to attracting talent, many countries also view golden visas as a tool to attract foreign investment. As of May 18th, Indonesia announced that its golden visa program, after less than two years of implementation, had attracted nearly $3 billion in investment, while also generating significant revenue for the state budget.

This reality has led many experts to believe that the world is entering an era of "brainpower wars," where countries compete not only with resources or investment capital, but also with their ability to attract talent.

However, the global "talent hunt" wave has also generated controversy. In Europe, golden visa programs have been criticized for driving up real estate prices and creating social inequality. Therefore, many countries are now considering shifting from a "buy a house for a visa" model to a "contribute knowledge for residency" model.

Furthermore, the competition to attract talent is causing many developing economies to worry about the risk of "brain drain." With wealthy nations offering attractive salaries and preferential residency policies, many young scientists and engineers choose to work abroad rather than stay in their home countries.

The trend of competing for golden visas is predicted to continue increasing in the coming years, as science and technology become the core drivers of global economic growth. In this context, highly skilled technology personnel are increasingly seen as the most important strategic resource of the digital age.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/dua-thu-hut-nhan-tai-cong-nghe-bang-thi-thuc-vang-868485.html