Demand to immigrate out of China reportedly soars amid the Shanghai zero-Covid lockdown.
The unpopular lockdown persists in the city of 26 million, and similar onerous restrictions to that in Shanghai are being felt nationwide, with a recent Nomura survey indicating at least 373 million people in 45 cities have been affected by full or partial lockdowns.
The draconian measures have prompted Chinese residents to show public outrage with small, sporadic protests breaking out over food and medicine.
Now, it even seems that the wealthy are looking for ways to leave the country.
Search Data
According to the WeChat Index, related keyword searches have surged. As a clear example, Chinese word searches for «immigration» have spiked seven-fold since the beginning of April.
This is also reflected by anecdotal indications from local immigration consultants. A «Financial Times» report cited multiple consultants from Shanghai and other cities saying the number of inquiries has risen rapidly because of the increasing dissatisfaction with the conditions imposed by the lockdown.
The report indicated that traditionally popular destinations such as the U.S. and Canada have lost some luster given the deterioration of the relationship between the U.S. and China, with other locations such as Singapore and Ireland being increasingly favored.
