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Dr. Juerg Steffen is Chief Executive Officer at Henley & Partners.
Global wealth has entered an era of high mobility. Millionaire migration projections for 2026 suggest an unprecedented wave of affluent families relocating across borders. Significantly, all the leading destinations for net millionaire inflows operate formal residence and/or citizenship frameworks expressly designed to attract international investors, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth families. This is no longer a peripheral phenomenon at the margins of global mobility — it has become a defining mechanism through which capital, talent, and opportunity are being reallocated among jurisdictions.
In this context, residence and citizenship planning is assuming an increasingly strategic role, shaping access to markets, diversifying exposure, and providing insulation against political and economic volatility. Residence and citizenship programs have become key conduits for relocation that determine where, and on what terms, globally mobile families choose to build their futures.
The UAE has firmly established itself as the leading destination for millionaires on the move and is positioning itself as a durable hub for asset management and wealth preservation. Its success rests on a deliberate combination of policy stability, economic openness, and an explicit strategy to attract global capital and talent.
The UAE Golden Visa is central to this approach, offering long-term residence to qualifying investors, entrepreneurs, and selected categories of skilled individuals, granting the right to live in any of the seven emirates and to base business and family life in a major global hub. These residence rights are embedded in a broader proposition that includes zero personal income tax, no capital or net worth tax for individuals, strong legal and physical infrastructure, and a streamlined, predictable permit system. Strategically located, the UAE is a gateway between Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, supported by advanced logistics, top international schools, and high-quality healthcare.
Saudi Arabia is emerging as the Gulf’s next frontier for globally mobile wealth. Under the Vision 2030 agenda, the Kingdom is deliberately shifting from a predominantly hydrocarbon-based economy towards a diversified, innovation-led hub, and it already features among the leading destinations for relocating millionaires.
A suite of regulatory reforms and new residence laws designed to attract global talent and capital is beginning to reshape its economic landscape, with investment opportunities expanding across tourism, entertainment, and renewable energy. A key component of this repositioning is an expanded permanent residence pathway through its Premium Residency Law. Qualifying applicants can secure long-term residence via a wide range of options, including business investment, entrepreneurship, establishing exceptional competence, and real estate acquisition. There is also a premium indefinite, fixed-term residence route. All options provide access to government services, banking, education, and healthcare, along with the ability to include close family members, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s intent to become a serious, long-term contender for global talent and capital in the region.
Europe continues to resonate strongly with migrating millionaires, combining cultural heritage with the practical advantage of visa-free travel access to Europe’s Schengen Area. The European countries attracting the largest inflows have all built sophisticated residence programs that link lifestyle and mobility with long-range security.
The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program offers the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, alongside visa-free travel across much of Europe, for a minimum contribution of EUR 250,000. Investors benefit from eligibility to apply for citizenship after five years, a low physical presence requirement, and access to excellent schools and universities. Combined with Portugal’s high quality of life, rich culture and cuisine, mild climate, strong personal security, and reliable healthcare, these features make it one of Europe’s most attractive options for globally mobile families.
Widely regarded as one of the most affordable residence by investment options in Europe, the Greece Golden Visa Program offers a renewable residence permit in exchange for a minimum specialized real estate investment of EUR 250,000. With no requirement to reside in Greece, investors may rent out the property and benefit from a residence permit with no fixed expiry date as long as the qualifying investment is maintained. After seven years of lawful residence, successful applicants are eligible to apply for Greek citizenship.
Italy and Switzerland contribute a further layer of prestige to the European landscape. Italy provides structured residence routes for those drawn to its cultural richness, central location, and evolving business climate, while Switzerland’s stable economy, high quality of life, and enduring appeal among global ultra-high-net-worth individuals continue to attract wealthy families seeking secure, long-term value.
The USA retains a unique gravitational pull for internationally mobile individuals, largely due to its blend of economic innovation, institutional maturity, and world-renowned education systems.
The US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is among the most influential residence routes globally, precisely because it ties residence eligibility to investments that support job creation and economic growth. Under the program, investors make a qualifying investment from USD 800,000 into approved projects in return for the prospect of permanent residence in one of the world’s most sought after destinations. The program opens access to the world’s largest consumer market, its deepest capital pools, and an unparalleled network of research universities and innovation clusters. For many high-net-worth families, participation in EB 5 reflects a broader aspiration: to anchor themselves within a system where economic mobility, educational opportunity, and entrepreneurial activity are deeply woven into the national fabric. And for ultra-high-net-worth investors with the USA in their sights, The Trump Gold Card, launched in December 2025, offers an expedited pathway to permanent residence status in return for a minimum gift of USD 1 million and a non-refundable USD 15,000 processing fee, after being vetted and approved by the Department of Homeland Security.
Singapore’s Global Investor Program provides a residence by investment pathway into one of the world’s most stable and sophisticated jurisdictions. Aimed at established business owners, next generation business leaders, founders of fast growing tech companies, and family office principals with substantial entrepreneurial and management experience, the program allows qualified applicants to select from a range of investment options in return for Singaporean permanent residence.
For affluent families, Singapore’s appeal lies in its political and economic stability, high levels of personal safety, and world-class education, healthcare, and transport, all within a multicultural, English and Mandarin speaking environment. As a leading international financial center with advanced business infrastructure and a territorial, investor-friendly tax regime, it offers a predictable, efficient base for internationally mobile wealth.
Australia remains one of the most attractive destinations for long term relocation, underpinned by the Australia National Innovation Visa, a streamlined alternative for highly skilled and talented individuals. To qualify, applicants should demonstrate internationally recognized, exceptional achievement, show they would be a clear asset to Australia, and secure a nomination from an approved Australian organization or government agency. There is no minimum capital outlay, and successful applicants and their families gain secure permanent residence, the right to live, work, and study in a multicultural environment with a high standard of living, and a clear pathway to eventual Australian citizenship.
Wealth is already on the move. Where it ultimately concentrates will depend both on how convincingly countries design credible mobility frameworks, and on how strategically high-net-worth families respond to them. Jurisdictions that combine economic dynamism, political and legal stability, high-quality infrastructure, and clear, predictable pathways for investors and their households are emerging as the leading net inflow destinations. Where robust residence and citizenship options exist, capital and talent will follow.
At the same time, the growing centrality of mobility planning reflects a deeper rethinking of how affluent families understand risk, opportunity, and permanence. Residence and citizenship rights are increasingly assembled rather than inherited: a curated portfolio of jurisdictions used to engineer resilience and mobility across generations. Wealthy families who treat these choices as deliberate elements of long-term strategy, rather than passive circumstances, will be best placed to absorb shocks, harness emerging possibilities, and preserve long-term optionality in an era when both wealth and talent are constantly on the move.
Henley & Partners assists international clients in obtaining residence and citizenship under the respective programs. Contact us to arrange an initial private consultation.
