International News

英國的居留簽證，包括投資者簽證 (Tier 1 Investor Visa)、初創簽證 (Tier 1 Startup Visa)、創新者簽證（Tier 1 Innovator Visa）及工作簽證（Tier 2 Working Visa）。 1. 工作簽證（Tier 2 Working Visa） 申請人要來自歐洲經濟區（EEA）和瑞士國家以外 須受僱於持有僱主擔保許可證的英國公司，並達到至少3萬英鎊（約30萬港元）或指定的年薪 通過CEFR B1英文水平測試或大學以上學歷等，成功申請工作簽證可最多獲得5年逗留時間，而從事英國短缺的職業（詳情見底部連結） 在當地生活及工作5年，期間任何12個月內離境不超過180天，便可申請永居權。 2. 投資者簽證 (Tier 1 Investor Visa) 申請人須18歲或以上 於英國金融行為監管局規管的投資銀行開立戶口，並投資不少於200萬英鎊（約2,000萬港元）於指定的基金或投資產品 成功申請後，可同時申請家人前來居住，這簽證可在當地工作或讀書 投資金額愈高，等待申請入籍的時...

Three-quarters of Greater London's tech workers are expected to leave in the capital in the next three years, with Manchester seen as their most likely destination, according to CWJobs Manchester is on course to be the next UK tech hub, as an influx of tech talent and IT workers is predicted in the next three years, according to new research from CWJobs. Surveying 1,000 tech workers, Manchester emerged as the top choice outside of the capital (22%) to work in, with a fifth (20%) also rev...

The UK has stepped up its action plan to “delay” the spread of coronavirus. A lot of people are now asking what the health crisis might do to the country’s housing market. For many months, the Brexit and leadership impasse have been the dominant topics across the UK. However, the Conservatives’ landslide victory in the December election saw the party finally secure a majority government. Since then, the “Boris bounce” has arguably been in full swing. But...

Private equity firm agrees £120m deal to buy 22 logistics sites as online shopping soars Private equity firm Blackstone has agreed a £120m deal to buy 22 logistics sites across the UK as online shopping soars in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Blackstone’s purchase of the portfolio from Clearbell Capital, a private real estate fund manager, follows last week’s £4.2bn swoop by rival firm KKR for UK recycling company Viridor. As mergers and acquisition...

【英國買樓費用開支逐樣睇】 1. 首期、按揭成本 一般銀行可承造樓價6成至7成半的按揭，按揭年期視乎各間銀行不同而定。承造按揭時需要支付手續費及銀行的估價費。不同的按揭產品有不同手續費，息率約3至4厘不等。手續費大約1,500至2,000鎊。而估價費則與物業價值掛鈎，是樓價的0.05- 0.15% 不等。買家亦需支付按揭申請雜費，包括銀行律師費，評估費等，大約300至800鎊不等。 2.印花稅 英國政府已落實徵收2%海外買家印花稅，如買家於2021 年4月1 日前完成整個買賣流程及收樓則可避免繳交此額外所花稅。購英國印花稅採用累進稅制，如果買家在全球包括英國，都沒有擁有物業，樓價首12.5萬鎊毋需徴收，而12.5萬至25萬鎊的稅率為2%，25萬至92.5萬鎊的稅率為5%，92.5萬至150萬鎊為10%，150萬鎊以上為12%。如果買家申報了在全球任何地方擁有物業，要加3%稅率。 3.律師費 在英國買樓涉及的法律問題，可以請事務律師處理。買家如買一手及新樓樓花項目均需使用買家代表律師，收費大約900至2500鎊。當中除了包括律師費外，亦有其他雜費，例如...

Manchester saw an increase of investment of £48m from 2018 to 2019, up 277 per cent to £181m Manchester is the fastest growing tech city in Europe with investment more than doubling within one year, according to government funded industry body Tech Nation. In the annual Tech Nation Report, it was revealed that Manchester saw an increase of investment of £48m from 2018 to 2019, up 277 per cent to £181m. In the north west as a whole, the report found there had been...

在英國置業，除了要支付樓價及相對律師費外，在購買過程中和持有物業作收租用途也有其他稅項要注意。 1.印花稅(Stamp Duty Land Tax) 在英國，購買住宅的印花稅門檻為12.5萬鎊，非住宅土地及物業為15萬鎊。 以下為不同樓價需徵收之稅項比率 12.5萬至25萬鎊的稅率為2% 25萬至92.5萬鎊為5% 92.5萬至150萬鎊為10% 150萬鎊以上則為12% 無論是否英國居民，如果業主是首次置業，英國各地都有不同減稅優惠。在英格蘭購買50萬鎊以下物業，樓價首30萬鎊可減免印花稅；在蘇格蘭，17.5萬鎊以下物業可免徵印花稅；在威爾斯，購買18萬鎊以下住宅，可以免交印花稅。 如果業主擁有多於一個物業，印花稅率就要額外增加3%，代表首12.5萬鎊要徵收3%，12.5萬至25萬鎊稅率為5%，如此類推。 2.服務增值稅(Value Added Tax) 在英國期間，對提供商品或服務產生的增值部分所徵收的稅項為服務增值稅。在買樓的過程中，幾乎所有的律師服務、會計服務，都需要繳交增值稅。 提供服務的會計事務所將根據...

A stamp duty land tax surcharge of 2 per cent is to be brought in on non-UK residents, setting up a likely surge in property purchases as overseas buyers look to beat its introduction in April 2021. The measure comes four years after the introduction of a 3 per cent surcharge on second homes and buy-to-let property. Housing market analysts said most overseas buyers would be liable for both surcharges, which together would leave the buyer of a home worth £800,000 paying an extra £40,...