bwa, Author at Bartra Wealth Advisors | 爱尔兰房地产开发集团

Bartra Wealth Advisors was awarded the Supreme Brand Award 2020

Posted on November 27, 2020November 28, 2020 by bwa

Bartra Wealth Advisors has won the Supreme Brand of Overseas Investment & Immigration Consultant Firm Award 2020, organised by CAPITAL CEO X Entrepreneur. The awards ceremony took place on 27^th November at Island Shangri-La Hong Kong.

Mr. Jeffrey Ling, Regional Manager shared, “Thank you CAPITAL for the award. We are honored and grateful to have the industry recognition for our brand and service, and have the opportunity to participate in this awards ceremony with all the award-winning companies on the stage.

Throwback to about the same time last year when we were literally starting our business in Hong Kong (August 2019), although we are one of the largest, leading developers in Ireland who are also the only developer can provide Hong Kongers with direct Ireland investment immigration services, to deliver great businesses results in just one-year time it wasn’t easy, coupled with the challenging global economic environment and the pandemic’s impacts.

Thankfully, our real estate investment projects are safe with a simple investment process. We have a transparent and open investment environment, a great team of dedicated professionals, plus having the advantage of the growing economy in Ireland in recent years and its more important place amongst the nations of the world, this year’s achievement is remarkable.”

He added, “We are thrilled to win the brand award. There’s a tremendous amount of effort required behind a successful brand, from products to services. It requires everyone to have the same belief, be insistent and persistent. Every time when we hear clients thank us for our help, have their trust and their recognition of our products and services, our energy and confidence are increased.

Thanks again to everyone and the award, we will continue to strive to be better!”

Upper left corner picture, from left to right: Regional Manager Jeffrey Ling, Sales Manager Tanya Wong, Marketing Director Jay Cheung and Business Development Manager Alan Lau. Lower left corner picture: Regional Manager Jeffrey Ling was receiving the award from Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors Mr. Edmund K H Leung.

Bartra Wealth Advisors Ltd is a subsidiary company within the Bartra Capital Ltd Group of companies. As the immigration arm of Ireland’s most successful real estate developer Bartra Capital, Bartra Wealth Advisors provides investors direct access to high-quality Nursing Home and Social Housing projects as the preferred investment options designated by the Irish government for the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). With a well-established business, extensive Irish immigration experience, expertise in real estate investments, professional landing teams and strong business network support, Bartra Group has helped hundreds of families successfully immigrate to Ireland.

Bartra Wealth Advisors prides itself on delivering streamlined, in-group, end-to-end services. Its unique business model supports clients throughout their investment and immigration journey, from immigration advisory and government backed IIP projects through to successful investment exits. It maintains a 100% application approval rate as well as 100% renewal rate.

Impact Investing – The potential of Social Housing and Nursing Homes in Ireland

Posted on November 14, 2020November 14, 2020 by bwa

Social Housing and Nursing Home markets

Not just in Hong Kong, but everywhere else in the world, we see a high demand for and a shortage in Social Housing and Nursing Homes. This puts a lot of pressure on the government and the people, but it means there are great potentials in these projects.

Beaumont, our biggest nursing home project to date, has just finished construction ahead of schedule and will now enter the HIQA inspection phase.

The fact is, the investment in these markets have well been the trend in Europe and the UK. This is because they receive guaranteed long-term secure income streams from a local authority or an Approved Housing Body. This makes it particularly appealing to institutional investors and pension funds, as investors get to enjoy long-term leases with little or no day-to-day management, repair, or maintenance responsibility.

Such growth is seen in the Social Housing market in Ireland and is reflected in the CBRE Group report for the past six months. In Ireland, there are a total of 68,693 households waiting to be housed. However, no more than 15,000 are likely to be developed in 2020.

With its ageing population, the undersupplied Nursing Homes are also seeing strong demands in Ireland. The percentage of over 65-year-olds is expected to reach 16% of the total population, accounting for 860,600 people. This means the country will need 7,500 new nursing home beds in the system by 2020. However, very little is expected to be built in the next few years, resulting in only the 1,144 beds which are currently on site.

To meet the required volume of units and to reduce the housing waiting lists, the collaboration between the public and the private sector to increase the delivery of much-needed Public Housing and Nursing homes is essential.

The role of our Irish Immigrant Investor Programme

As a developer who has successfully carried out many social housing and nursing home projects, we offer these projects as the Enterprise Investment route for families who are considering immigration to Ireland under our Irish Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). Our extensive Irish immigration experience and expertise in the investment field, as well as our strong business network of partners, have allowed us to maintain an application approval rate of 100% and a 100% renewal rate.

Applying for Irish residency via IIP is very straightforward, with short processing times and no quotas. Investment in Nursing Homes, in particular, offers Hong Kong investors capital protection with a potential profitable return. We offer a five-year term with a 4% annual return for Nursing Home investments. More importantly, we offer end-to-end services, so you can be sure that your investment and your family’s future is in safe hands all the way through the process.

Why Bartra?

We at Bartra only market investments where we have already purchased the site. All of our projects are located in Dublin, the area of highest investor demand, and long term value. We only use high-quality design team members including architects, planners, quantity surveyors, and construction companies. All our projects are fully cost by independent third parties prior to being marketed to IIP applicants. The investments are structured so that there is a clear alignment of interest between investors and Bartra, that the projects are only profitable for Bartra if they are first sold and investors are repaid.

https://vimeo.com/444470232

Bartra Group already has a pipeline of 435 Social Homes with a value in excess of €130 million at the moment. We are planning to construct more than 1200 homes in the next 5 years. Our Social Housing project at Poplar Row has just signed a 25-year Enhanced Lease with the government. At a 0.14 hectare size with 39 apartments, the construction started in June 2020 and is progressing on time. Our other Social Housing projects are also debt funded by various companies. Bartra Group also has a pipeline of 823 Nursing Home beds and plans to run over 1,000 beds in the next 5 years. One of our projects, the Loughshinny Nursing Home Development, has been completed and was opened in summer 2019 with residents moving in. It has also shown full compliance across all areas in the HIQA report, which is hard to achieve. Also, our Northwood project has officially opened in late May this year, with occupants moved in.

Fast becoming one of the largest providers of Social Housing and Nursing Homes in Ireland, our available IIP project slots are filling up quickly. Speak with one of our expert advisors to find out more about Bartra Wealth Advisors and our projects by completing the form below, and see how you can be a part of our projects.

The safest investment – Hong Kong iBond 2020 vs The Immigrant Investor Programme

Posted on November 4, 2020November 9, 2020 by bwa

The announcement of the latest iBond, which is the seventh series issued since 2011, is open for subscription at 9 am on October 23, 2020. The three-year-long, HK$10 billion worth bonds promises to provide a steady source of income for everyday investors, but there are always alternatives among the safe investments. We know an investment option that offers not only an almost guaranteed rate of return but also a world-class permanent residency.

What are we talking about?

In short, the iBond is an inflation-linked retail bond released by the HKSAR Government under the retail bond issuance programme of the Government Bond Programme. Offered at a minimum denomination of HK$10,000, the HKSAR Government will repay 100% of the principal amount at maturity, along with generating half-yearly interest payments which are based on the Composite Consumer Price Index. The guaranteed minimum payment is at 2%.

If you are investing based on the appeal of a safe and regular return, investing in iBond is sensible. However, if you are aiming for more, the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) can be a promising alternative.

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) offers the applicant a secure residency status in Ireland through an approved investment. Depending on the choice of project, whereby we offer government-backed Nursing Home and Social Housing projects under the Enterprise Investment route, the applicant will receive their full investment of €1 million and 4% interest per year if they were to choose to invest in our Nursing Home projects. This means, at the maturity of the five-year investment period, the applicant will get an extra €200,000 tax-free, on top of their €1 million investment, as well as a STAMP 4 identity in Ireland.

How do you invest in them?

The iBond subscription period will start from 9 am October 23 to 2 pm, November 5. Applications can be done via placing banks, securities brokers, or the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited. If the total application amount is under HK$15 billion, all eligible applicants will be satisfied. However, if the total application amount is over HK$15 billion, the iBond will be allotted by lottery, where each chosen applicant only gets one hand of bonds. The iBond will then be issued on November 16 and be listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on November 17. The trading of it in secondary markets can happen after.

On the other hand, the IIP is open for application at any time of the year and the process is very simple.

https://vimeo.com/444468824

There are just four key steps to the IIP process:

Application
Approval
Investment
Receive residency

What is particularly attractive about this programme is that the investment is placed after receiving the approval letter. Not to mention, both of the assets of Social Housing and Nursing Home projects derive their income directly from the Irish State, making it a very safe investment for our investors.

Why should you care?

Both the iBond and the IIP are stable investments that offer promising investment returns. But as the intention to immigrate has spiked in recent years, being able to obtain a residency on top of an investment can be very appealing.

Ireland is an emerging emigrant destination for Hong Kong people. As the only English-speaking member of the European Union, Ireland is a gateway to both the UK and European countries, offering a great education system and enjoys one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe, increasing its appeal as a regional business hub for multinational corporations.

The time for getting approval for the IIP is only 4-6 months. There are no language requirements and the residency requirement is just one day per year, meaning that the applicant can obtain residency without moving.

The choice is yours

Of course, you should assess all the aspects of every investment you make, and there will definitely be variables that may change your mind. For example, the biggest barrier to the IIP is that the applicant is required to have €2 million net wealth. While we are able to offer investors a 4% annual investment return on their €1 million investment for 5 years, the iBond has historically exceeded the 2% minimum return, where their highest interest rate offered was 6.08% in 2011.

This is why we’re here. To find out more about IIP, how it works, what the benefits are, and how you can apply, speak with one of our expert advisors! Or simply complete the form below to download your IIP brochure.

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

Posted on October 28, 2020November 23, 2020 by bwa

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.

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.

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.

https://youtu.be/i5uKesfDN40

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.

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

Posted on October 20, 2020October 21, 2020 by bwa

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Kids Activities

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 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!

Stoneybatter – Dublin’s Hippest Neighbourhood

Posted on September 23, 2020September 28, 2020 by bwa

A view of buildings at the corner of Aughrim Street and Manor Street | Unedited | Attribution: William Murphy | This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Bartra making a mark in this inner-city village

A Vibrant Community

Filled with laid-back cafes and edgy restaurants, Stoneybatter is known by locals and tourists as Dublin’s edgy neighborhood. Imagine a vibe similar to Sheung Wan in Hong Kong, the community blends young families, students (particularly from the Grangegorman DIT campus, which is just around 600 meters away), and older residents, where they’d mingle over some steaming coffee or a relaxing pint of plain. Stoneybatter has beat out Hong Kong, Budapest, and Prague, ranking as one of the world’s 50 coolest neighbourhoods by Time Out magazine. Described as “one of the most central places” in the city “where young people can still afford to live (just), and the neighbourhood pride is strong”, this close-knit area is a heartful location unique to Dublin and Ireland, if not to the world.

Image Credit: Nothingness Vision | Photo of Dublin

Experience Dublin like a Local

Stoneybatter has something for everybody. There are so many things to do for locals, students, backpackers and other tourists. Kick-off your day at Love Supreme with their famous flat whites and sausage roll, or Proper Order with their champion-winning coffee, and drop by the beautiful little bookshop, The Lilliput Press, to pick up a copy by a famous Irish writer. Take a stroll at Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed public park in any capital city in Europe, and savor a winner brunch at Slice before lunch hits. Have a sweet tooth? Visit The Green Door Bakery, and enjoy their range of scrumptious baked goods! If you want some personal pointers around Stoneybatter, go visit Maureen, she would know where to point you.

When it comes to Stoneybatter restaurants and must-try local food, the list can go on. But on the top of our list would be L. Mulligan Grocer, known for their scotch eggs and single pot still whiskey, and Fish Shop, which serves the best locally caught, beer-battered fish with wine. Looking for a cozy spot to enjoy a late-night drink? Consider Frank Ryan’s and Dice as your next destination. Want to go to a movie? Visit Light House, a cool cinema in the hipster area.

How is Bartra making a mark?

With a growing population and a drop in housing listings due to COVID-19, Bartra’s announcement of the acquisition of the Stoneybatter site of 0.07 hectares last year is a powerful move. Our Stoneybatter social housing project is located at Blackhall, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7, right in the heart of the city. The size of the 23-apartments project is 15% to 20% larger than most apartments in the area. This social housing project is less than 2km from Dublin Centre, 150 meters from the Law Society of Ireland, and just 500 meters from the Smithfield LUAS stop, making it highly convenient. Acquiring the site with our capital, the construction is fully on schedule since its start date in September 2019, and is aiming for completion at the end of March 2021 (This will be dependent on any further restrictions or delays caused by COVID-19). As the first company in Ireland to enter into a 25-year Enhanced Lease Agreement with a local authority, namely, the Dublin City Council, the Backhall-located apartments will not only allow more people to call this amazing neighbourhood home but welcomes those who are wishing to immigrate to use such investment as their ticket to Ireland.

The Stoneybatter social housing is just one of our phase 1 projects, with the gross development value at about €11.5 million. With phase II around the corner, speak with one of our expert advisors to find out more about Bartra Wealth Advisors and the Irish Immigrant Investment Programme by completing the form below, and see how you can be a part of our projects.

What is it like to attend secondary school in Ireland?

Posted on September 16, 2020September 29, 2020 by bwa

Preparing your children for the Irish Education System

When you search for schools in Ireland, you’ll likely come across a range of articles on Ireland’s higher education institutions, namely, Trinity College Dublin. But for parents with children yet to enter higher studies, how is school life in Ireland like for them?

Irish School System Explained

The Education System in the Republic of Ireland is made up of primary, second, third-level, and further education. Similar to Hong Kong, where school is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 to 15, Irish education is compulsory from the ages of 6 to 16 or until the student has completed 3 years of second-level education. Second-level education, which is also referred to as the junior cycle, starts when the child is 12 years old. At the end of the junior cycle, students are required to take The Junior Certificate or JCPA examination, followed by a Transition Year. This year is particularly interesting because it focuses on education and training for the students through work experiences. There are no formal examinations during this year.

Then, in the post-primary school phase, students enter their senior cycle, which is 2 years of school education that prepares them to enter higher-level institutions. Children in Ireland get to choose between one of three programs, including the established Leaving Certificate, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, or the Leaving Certificate Applied. Each of these state examinations prepares children with different learning experiences.

If your child is planning to enter universities, institutes of technology, or colleges, the established Leaving Certificate sets them up for that. Instead, if your child already recognizes what technical subjects they are interested in, they can choose the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, specialized in vocational training. Different from Hong Kong, the education system in Ireland also offers a third option, which is the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme. With a primary objective to prepare children for the adult working life, this programme is more focused on establishing the children’s spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, aesthetic, and physical abilities.

With the Irish school system extremely child-centered and based around the concept of collaborative learning, students get the option to experience a range of subjects, encouraging them to take part in things like business studies and entrepreneurial competitions. Here, we have an Irish secondary school teacher giving her insights into the Irish school system:

https://vimeo.com/445520558

Local and International Students Entering the Ireland Education System

International students in Hong Kong mostly take the GCSE and IB Diploma Programme, following the UK system. Whereas, as mentioned, Ireland students take one of the three Leaving Certificates. Though there is not an apple-to-apple equivalent, International students do not have a problem applying for higher education in Ireland with their GCSE (broadly equivalent to the junior cycle) and IB Diploma (similar to the Leaving Certificates). On the other hand, Hong Kong education qualifications, such as the HKDSE, is also recognized by higher-level institutions in Ireland. On average, a grade of 44333 meets the general entrance requirements for university colleges, such as University College Dublin.

There are lots of studies in Ireland seminars happening around Hong Kong, which should well be able to facilitate further understanding of the alignments of the different educational systems. Here are some helpful links as well:

Students can decide to further their studies in Ireland, where universities are as good as, if not even better in certain subjects, than Cambridge and Oxford. Students who have obtained their Leaving Certificate in Ireland with a grade of H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3, have already met the minimum grade for enrolling in universities in the UK. Therefore, the option of continuing their studies in the UK is also completely attainable.

Overall, student outcomes in Ireland and student attainment are extremely positive. Ireland now is an extremely multicultural society, where there is net inward migration and all students would and do feel very welcome in the system.

Here at Bartra Wealth Advisors, we deliver streamlined, in-group, end-to-end services that can help bring you and your family to Ireland. Our unique business model supports clients throughout their investment and immigration journey, from immigration advisory and government-backed IIP projects through to exit executions. We maintain a 100% application approval rate and a 100% renewal rate. Simply scroll down to download your step by step IIP guide and assess if Ireland can be your next move.

Ireland: an appealing destination for immigration

Posted on August 18, 2020September 24, 2020 by bwa

Europe’s rising star

An unprecedented level of global uncertainty means choosing a destination to immigrate to is not an easy proposition. With its strong economy and enviable education system, Ireland is a strong contender.

Bringing Covid-19 under control

While other countries continue to struggle to control cases of Covid-19 and its wider effects on the economy and society, Ireland has long since flattened the curve. As early as April, Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer reported that each infected person was infecting less than one other person and that no further peak was expected – which he attributed to measures implemented by the government and ‘hard work in communities.’

Growing economy, growing opportunities

Before the pandemic, Ireland’s economy was booming, with more than 400,000 jobs created in the six-years up to 2020. And despite being projected to contract by 8.5% this year as a result of Covid, it is predicted to then grow back 6.25% by 2021. This makes it a prime place for both job seekers and investors during the post-lockdown recovery phase, and a great place for setting up new enterprises.

Nursing homes: a chance to invest and help society

Hong Kong citizens can benefit from a unique route towards Irish residency via the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), which allows high-net-worth individuals to gain residency within 4-6 months by investing in nursing homes and other social infrastructure. In recent years Ireland has suffered a shortage in suitable residential facilities for the elderly, and as Covid-19 has shown, well-equipped facilities and skilled staff are essential.

Investment in nursing homes has been growing in recent years, with an increase in institutional investors providing the capacity to build larger facilities. This is seen in the fact that in 2019 there were 3,000 more beds available than ten years previously, while the actual number of nursing homes had shrunk by 18 percent in the same period. One of the main reasons for increasing investment is the stability that it provides over the long term to investors.

Bartra has already run many successful nursing home investment projects and is currently offering Hong Kong investors the opportunity to achieve Irish residency and help boost the care of the nation’s elderly.

Bartra Wealth Advisors provide end-to-end services to guide you through every aspect of immigrating to and investing in Ireland.

Education – one of Ireland’s biggest strengths

Posted on July 30, 2020September 24, 2020 by bwa

If you’re currently seeking to emigrate from Hong Kong with your family then Ireland is a prime destination. As well as having a historically well-performing economy which is tipped to bounce back well from coronavirus, Ireland has an exceptional education system. This is not only good news for the future of your family, but also for your investment opportunities, as research has shown that education is the key to strong economic development.

Most educated country in Europe

Ireland has gained renown in recent years for being the most educated country in Europe. Half of all people aged between 25 and 64 have a level 3 qualification above (equivalent of HKQF 1), higher than all other countries in the EU. Very few young people leave education early in Ireland, helping to ensure a population that is well-trained and well-educated for the future.

Recent research in the US has highlighted the need for lifelong learning, and Ireland’s education system is well-primed to support this. According to McKinsey, “Just as the transition from an agrarian economy to an industrialised one resulted in universal high school, today’s increasingly tech-driven economy calls for new skills, a new educational approach, and a new learning lifespan.” Ireland now boasts a significant presence of most major tech companies in the world, such as Microsoft, Dell, Intel, IBM, SAP, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, HubSpot and PayPal to name but a few. With over 100,000 people in Ireland employed by tech companies and the continuous demand in the tech industry, it makes sense to equip graduates with the right skills to meet employers’ demands and employees are provided with continuous learning opportunities.

It should also be noted that all Irish education is carried out in English, and that Ireland is now the only English-speaking country in the EU, making it well set-up for both global business and your family’s education.

A quality education for your family

In addition to Ireland’s robust education system making it a good place to invest, it also means that you can rely on your children getting a good education. Furthermore, once you’ve successfully applied for the Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) your family will be entitled to free public elementary and junior high schools, and low undergraduate and postgraduate tuition fees.

Bartra Wealth Advisors provides immigration specialists and end-to-end services for helping clients apply for the IIP. Bartra can help you secure your family’s future.

Irish tax residency and taxation of Irish source income

Posted on July 7, 2020September 24, 2020 by bwa

https://vimeo.com/444470734

This is a summary on Irish tax residency and taxation of Irish source income. An individual is regarded as Irish tax resident for a given tax year if he or she spends 183 days or more in Ireland during the tax year, or 280 days or more in Ireland in the current tax year and the previous tax year.

With regard to the taxation of non-residents, Ireland subjects non-resident individuals to Irish income tax on certain Irish source income only, however, there are a large number of exemptions available, depending on the type of income and whether the recipient of the income is resident in a country with which Ireland has a double tax treaty.

While every investment opportunity is different, and investors should always obtain independent tax advice, in our experience, investments which involve the provision of loan finance to property development groups do not generally result in a non-resident investor being subject to Irish tax on any interest income earned and the interest can generally be paid without deduction of Irish withholding tax where the investor is resident in a country with which Ireland has a double tax treaty. The interest income may be taxable in the recipients home country. There is a link on this website to Irish Revenue, where a full list of countries who have a double tax treaty with Ireland can be found.

Author: bwa