The EU Blue Card is sometimes compared to the US Green Card. The blue color is said to be the color of the European Union flag, for this reason the map should be blue. Its purpose is to give non-EU/EEA citizens a work and residence permit. It offers people the right to fit into the socio-economic landscape and embark on a path that leads to permanent residence in Europe. Put simply, people can live and work in Europe without restrictions if they have a Blue Card.
Purpose of introducing an EU Blue Card It was introduced by the European Commission in 2007, proposed and implemented in 2009 and issued by 25 countries that are member states of the EU. According to Eurostat data, in 2016 most work permits issued were registered in Germany (more than 17,000), France (more than 700) and Poland (more than 600).
The second purpose of the EU Blue Card is to make Europe a more attractive destination for professionals from outside the European Union. A special EU Blue Card program has been created for all EU member states with the exception of Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark, which invites highly qualified people to the EU states. This scheme aims to make Europe the world's most popular migration destination.
This can be guaranteed through equal salaries and working conditions for foreigners, freedom of movement within the Schengen area, socio-economic rights, favorable conditions for family reunification, permanent residence prospects and freedom of association. Obtaining the EU Blue Card has several main advantages. These include very high chances of a permanent residence permit, which entitles you to any kind of employment under easier conditions, equal rights and equal opportunities to work in Europe's largest economy and a huge business market, and easy travel opportunities.
Prerequisites for applying for a Blue Card Although the same basic criteria can apply to all 25 member states of the EU, there are smaller additional criteria that are determined by each member state for itself. In principle, the Blue Card can be applied for if three main requirements are met. These are: non-EU nationality, educational or professional foreigners (highly qualified or skilled workers, researchers, students and trainees) and with an employment contract or binding job offer (seasonal workers, internal transfers). A person can be considered a highly skilled worker if they have an employment contract of at least one year and if they can meet the conditions listed below. If a person is able to meet these mandatory requirements, they will be given an online profile in the EU Blue Card network, which has a dual function – to consult foreigners with employers to offer them an employment contract and to allow foreigners to change their employment contract to submit applications.
In recent years there has been a shortage of workers, which is noticeable in areas such as medicine, technology, computer science (IT), natural sciences and mathematics. This means that foreigners who work in the areas mentioned usually have a better chance of receiving the EU Blue Card.
In addition, a person who is self-employed or an entrepreneur can receive the Blue Card if they have sufficient financial resources, have a business that has a positive impact on the economy of the host country and can generate an economic interest that is active in the host EU -Member State is low.
When applying, it is important to consider the time frame it will take to gather all the required documents. It usually takes 4-6 months to prepare all the required documents. Some countries arrange appointments with the relevant embassies or consulates in foreigners' home countries, others offer online applications that can be filled out by foreigners themselves or their employer or a law firm. It is expected that after applying, the person will have to wait up to 3 months for the processing to be completed.
The development of telecommunications and economic globalization have made it possible for interested investors to set up companies all over the world. With proper research, financial investment and legal backing, business ventures can be safely incorporated in almost any country in the world. Building an international business used to be a complicated entrepreneurial venture, but today it is commonplace with the help of experienced legal and business advisors.
The advantages of founding a company abroad are as numerous as they are obvious. Many countries offer specific locational advantages, ranging from natural resources and well-established infrastructure to beneficial laws and regulations that encourage growth in a particular industry. Likewise, it can be difficult to start a business or an acquisition in your own country due to adverse situations: political or regulatory environment, lack of resources and more. In this situation, it makes sense to consider an overseas option that offers greater opportunities for growth, development, and success.
Company registration in Taiwan When starting a business in Taiwan, a prospective investor must exercise due diligence regarding legal procedures, international regulations, and sufficient investment for success. It is crucial to understand cultural, social and political factors that influence starting and growing one's business. Failure to do so may result in unintended consequences. Poorly researched and toneless international launches often end in disaster as time, money and energy is wasted due to poor planning.
Legal Documents Every country in the world presents its own intricate challenges when it comes to starting, developing and maintaining a business. Owners, financiers and investors must make these commitments with the support of a knowledgeable and experienced legal team. Only someone with in-depth knowledge of local and international corporate law will be able to set up an overseas business while avoiding the pitfalls that plague many new businesses.
Additionally, smart business people can consider ways to invest in foreign companies without actually starting their own businesses. In these situations, it is still beneficial for the investor to partner with a knowledgeable global economics and litigation advisor. International investments create a truly diverse portfolio that offers growth opportunities that were unthinkable decades ago.
Potential investors, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs should consider the existing infrastructure in Taiwan when planning to start a new business. While extensive infrastructure and systems can help make the process of starting a business a smooth one, it could also represent market saturation and reduced growth potential. On the other hand, a lack of infrastructure is often a major obstacle to growth; However, the lack of infrastructure points to a clear market opening for a creative and efficient new business.
Bank account opening in Taiwan In connection with company formation, it is necessary to open one or more bank accounts in Taiwan. Confidus Solutions offers the ability to open a bank account in over twenty jurisdictions, making it easy for you to avoid challenging language barriers or bureaucratic hassles.
Virtual Office in Taiwan Since a registered address is a necessity for international business, Confidus Solutions enables foreign investors to set up a virtual office in Taiwan. This address allows international entrepreneurs to accept mail, arrange for shipping and set up a registered bank account in their country of business.
The total population of Oman is 4,829,946 people. The people of Oman speak the language Modern Standard Arabic. Oman's linguistic diversity is diverse according to a fractionation scale, which for Oman is 0.3567. The average age is around 24.9 years. The life expectancy in Oman is 76. The female fertility rate in Oman is 2.9. Around 21% of Oman's population is obese. Ethnic diversity is diverse according to a fractionation scale, which for Oman is 0.4373. Details on the language, religion, age, gender distribution and advancement of the people of Oman can be found in the sections below, as well as the section on education in the country.
Population In Oman, the population density is 13.5 people per square kilometer (35 per square mile). Based on these statistics, this country is considered sparsely populated. The total population of Oman is 4,829,946 people. Oman has approximately 1,844,978 foreign immigrants. Immigrants in Oman make up 0.5 percent of the total number of immigrants worldwide. Immigrants in Oman make up 30.6 percent of the total number of immigrants worldwide. The ethnic diversity of Oman is diverse according to an ethnicity-based fractionation scale. Ethnic Fractionation (EF) deals with the number, size, socioeconomic distribution, and geographic location of diverse cultural groups, usually within a state or some other demarcated area. Specific cultural characteristics can refer to language, skin color, religion, ethnicity, customs and traditions, history, or other distinctive criteria, alone or in combination. These characteristics are often used for social exclusion and power monopolization. The index of ethnic fractionation in Oman is 0.4373. This means that there is some diversity in Oman, although all people can still be divided into relatively few major ethnic groups. EF is usually measured as 1 minus the Herfindahl concentration index of ethnolinguistic group proportions, which reflects the probability that two randomly drawn individuals from the population belong to different groups. The theoretical maximum of EF of 1 means that each person belongs to a different group. Read below Oman statistics on average age and gender distribution at different ages.
Old The average age is around 24.9 years. The median age for males is 26.1 years, while the median age for females is 23.4 years.
Gender The sex ratio, or number of males per female (estimated at birth), is 1.05. It can be further broken down into the following categories: sex ratio below 15 - 1.04; sex ratio from 15 to 64 - 1.38; sex ratio over 64 - 1.32; Overall sex ratio - 1.22. The overall sex ratio differs from the sex ratio estimated at birth. This is because some newborns are included in the sex ratio estimated at birth, but die within the first few weeks of life and are not included in the overall sex ratio.
Religion The majority religion of Oman is Islam, whose adherents make up 85.9% of all religious believers in the country. Islam (Arabic: الإسلام) is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated through the Qur'an, a religious text believed to be the literal word of God (Allāh) by its followers and by the teachings and norms for the vast majority of followers becomes an example (called Sunna, Arabic سنة, composed of reports, called Hadith, Arabic حديث) of Muhammad, who is considered by most of them to be the last prophet of God. A follower of Islam is called a Muslim. In addition to Islam, there are some followers of Christianity in Oman. Oman's religious diversity is diverse according to a fractionation scale based on the number of religions in Oman. The index of religious fractionalization in Oman is 0.4322. This score means that within the country there is one major religion and several other minor beliefs.
Turkey is considered to be a large nation because of its total area. Its total land area is 783,562 km² (approx. 302,534 mi²). Continental shelf of Turkey is approximately 56,093 km² (around 21,658 mi²). Turkey is located in Asia. Asia is the world’s largest and most populous continent. Asian countries include, but are not limited to, Russia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and North and South Korea. Turkey has 8 neighbouring countries. Its neighbours include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Syria. Turkey is not a landlocked country. It means that is is bordered by at least one major body of water. The average elevation range of Turkey is 1,132 m (3,714 ft).
Neighbors Total length of land borders of Turkey is 2816 kilometers (~1,087 miles). Turkey shares its land borders with 8 different countries, and has the same number of unique land boundaries to neigbouring territories. As in the case of Turkey, if a country has the same number of unique neighboring territories as number of land borders, than that country has no non-contiguous sections of a land border. This is in contrast to several countries that have multiple non-contiguous sections of land borders. Turkey has 8 neighbouring countries. Its neighbours include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The lengths of the land borders of Turkey with its neighbouring countries are as follows:
Armenia - 268 km (167 mi), Azerbaijan - 9 km (6 mi), Bulgaria - 240 km (149 mi), Georgia - 252 km (157 mi), Greece - 206 km (128 mi), Iran - 499 km (310 mi), Iraq - 352 km (219 mi), Syria - 822 km (511 mi).
Cities The capital city of Turkey is Ankara. The largest cities in Turkey are Ankara, Istanbul.
Elevation The average elevation range of Turkey is 1,132 m (3,714 ft). The highest point of Turkey is Mount Ararat, with its official height being 5137 m (16,854 ft). The lowest point of Turkey is Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea. The elevation difference between the highest (Mount Ararat) and lowest (Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea) points of Turkey is 5137 m (2 ft).
Area The total land area of Turkey is 783,562 km² (approx. 302,534 mi²). and the total exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is 261,654 km² (~101,025 mi²). The continental shelf of Turkey is approximately 56,093 km² (around 21,658 mi²). Including land mass and EEZ, the total area of Turkey is approximately 1,045,216 km² (~403,558 mi²). Turkey is considered to be a large nation because of its total area.
Forest and arable land 216,781 km² of Turkey's territory is covered in forests, and forest land comprises 28% of all the land in the country. There are 229,764 km² of arable land in Turkey, and it comprises 29% of the country's total territory.
The reason Ireland is such an attractive option for royalty recovery is that there is generally no withholding tax on outgoing royalties (with the exception of patent and mining royalties, but even these may be exempt in certain circumstances).
For many licensing structures, Ireland will be the best location for an intermediary licensing company for the exploitation of all types of intellectual property. With its new, convenient capital grants system, Ireland is now an ideal location for the development, ownership and exploitation of intellectual property. It is important to remember that every case is different and proper advice must always be sought.
About license payments Royalties from Irish companies may be subject to a 20% withholding tax. However, there is an exception if the recipient is a resident of an EU or contracting state in which royalties are subject to tax. Even where these conditions are not met, by appropriate structuring and by ensuring that the payment is not treated as Irish originating (i.e. ensuring that the patent is not registered or exploited in Ireland, that an Irish bank account is not used, and related agreements are not governed by Irish law etc.) it will in many cases still be possible for an Irish company to pay royalties on patents without any deduction for Irish withholding tax.
Structures where the Irish company is the intellectual property owner Alternatively, an Irish company may be used to farm intellectual property that it has either developed internally or acquired (including from a related party, in which case the purchase price will be capped at arm's length for tax purposes). . Generous tax credits are available for income from the exploitation of intellectual property, including patents, copyright, trademarks and brands, and know-how (when the income is directly attributable to intangible assets). The allowances available correspond to the depreciation or amortization costs recorded in the balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The allowances can only be offset against income or sales from the use or exploitation of the intellectual property and are capped at 80% of the profits from such activities in any given year. With the right structuring, the average tax rate can be reduced to 2.5%. In order to qualify for Irish intellectual property tax relief, the Company must be actively using the product or derivative products in Ireland. This requires an office and staff in Ireland. This requirement does not apply to those using an offshore structure.
Note that appropriate structures could be put in place to ensure that dividends paid by the Irish company out of its after tax profits are not subject to withholding tax.
A holding company is a company that lawfully holds (owns) shares in other companies. Usually it is an LLC or LP that holds enough equity in another company to control and manage its operations and profits. As such, a holding company is often only used to control other business structures: it can be a corporation, LP, or LLC rather than manufacturing its own goods or offering services. Holding companies can also be used to own some type of property. Equity holdings are widely used as owners of real estate, intellectual property rights, stocks, and other assets. When a company is wholly owned by a holding company, it is known as a subsidiary.
Purpose of a holding company
One advantage of a holding company is that the holding company's assets are very well protected against losses, claims and other risks. In the event of the bankruptcy of one of the companies, the holding structure will result in a loss of capital and a decrease in net assets, but the creditors of the insolvent company will not be able to claim any assets of the holding company in the context of the dispute. For example, a large corporate structure can be organized in the form of a holding company with only one subsidiary in order to own its IP rights or, alternatively, to own real estate or equipment or to operate as a franchise company. By building such a complex multi-layered holding structure, each subsidiary bears quite limited financial and legal responsibility alongside the parent company itself, which makes them a good solution for asset protection. The creation of a holding company structure can also reduce tax liability, which can be achieved by incorporating some parts of the company into jurisdictions with reduced or exempt taxes.
Holdings also allow private persons to protect their income or assets. Instead of owning assets personally and bearing full responsibility for one’s debts, possible lawsuits and other risk factors, holding structure can hold the assets instead, thus, putting only holding company’s assets at steak.
Main activities of a holding company include supervising the subsidiary companies it owns. It can recruit and fire staff, if required, however, managers of the subsidiaries will be held responsible for their decisions regardless. Even though the parent company does not manage daily operations of the subsidiaries, the holding shareholders should have a picture of what is going on and how these subsidiary companies work in order to evaluate the performance and financial data.
Benefits of having a holding structure In addition to everything previously mentioned, there are other major benefits of having a holding structure.
Full operational control over all subsidiaries:
A holding company has full supervision and control over directors’ board of the subsidiary. Parent company has the authority recruit staff, including directors.
Can be used to own property:
A holding company can hold different types of property, including, but not limited to real estate and intellectual property rights as well as other assets.
A holding company can not only hold, but also utilize and even pledge it’s property as well as invest it.
Risk minimization:
Holdings are often used to own assets, thus usually such structures are owners of numerous valuable assets. Holding corporate structure provides legal opportunity to protect these assets from claims, damages, lawsuits and other risks.
Holdings can be organized in several different ways. This allows quite flexible asset distribution between all subsidiaries.
Holdings company can own and use property:
Putting your company’s intellectual property rights or any other assets into a holding structure may be very beneficial in terms of legal protection against potential risks.
Flexibility of participation in risky investment projects:
A holding company participating in high-risk investment projects can protect shareholders of a daughter company.
Board of directors of each of the companies must act in the best interests of their company:
The parent company and its subsidiaries are recognized as separate legal entities each, each having separate board of directors. The board of directors is liable for the company’s activities as well as they are bound to act in the best interests of the represented business.
Tax planning solution:
The holding structure may be set up entirely in a different jurisdiction, which offers decreased or exempted taxes.
The holding can be quite a beneficial structure, especially considering that it often has lower tax rates than a trust would usually have applied.