LONDON, Feb 27 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- European
residence and
citizenship by investment programs continue to dominate the top spots of global wealth advisory firm
Henley & Partners’ annual rankings of the most sought-after investment migration programs in the world.
Malta holds onto 1
st place in the 2024
Global Citizenship Program Index as it has done for nine consecutive years, while the
Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program retains top spot on the
Global Residence Program Index.
The two indexes — featured in the 2024 edition of the
Investment Migration Programs report — offer a systematic analysis and comprehensive benchmarking of the world’s most attractive
residence and
citizenship by investment programs, providing the gold standard in the sector. This year’s edition includes a total of 39 programs, representing the most relevant of over 100 programs worldwide. These have been appraised by a panel of independent experts, including leading academic researchers, country risk specialists, economists, independent expert immigration and citizenship lawyers, and other specialists, who consider a broad range of pertinent factors. Interactive
digital comparisons of the programs are also available, enabling global investors and wealthy families to select what matters most to them when weighing up their options.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, international immigration and citizenship law expert and Chairman of Henley & Partners, says, “The publication is important for private clients and wealth management professionals as well as for government policy makers looking to manage investment migration programs to achieve greater fiscal autonomy and economic growth. In this era of heightened global volatility, nation states are using investment migration as an innovative financing tool to fund national or regional social and infrastructure projects as well as development initiatives that mitigate sustainability risks, to the benefit of their citizens and residents.”
Citizenship programs: Malta reigns supremeThe
Global Citizenship Program Index ranks 13 programs, with the strategically-located European nation of
Malta scoring 77 out of 100 and taking top honors once again. Malta’s Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment Regulations allow for the granting of citizenship by a certificate of naturalization to foreign individuals and their families who contribute to the country’s economic development. This is possible following a 36-month residence period (or 12 months by exception). Malta’s original citizenship program was designed by Henley & Partners in 2013–2014 and went on to become one of the most successful such programs in the world.
Retaining 2
nd place with a score of 74 is
Austria’s premium citizenship by investment offering, which requires applicants to make a substantial contribution to the Austrian economy. Three Caribbean island nations tie in 3
rd position, each scoring 70: the
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program, the
Grenada Citizenship by Investment Program, and the
St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program all offer attractive
real estate-linked investment routes and fund options.
Residence programs: Portugal in prime positionEurope also prevails in the 2024
Global Residence Program Index, with programs on the continent occupying the Top 5 positions. The
Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program ranks 1
st overall out of 26 programs, with a score of 75 out of 100. Each scoring 73, the
Austria Private Residence Program shares 2
nd place with the Mediterranean’s rising star — the
Greece Golden Visa Program, followed closely by the
Swiss Residence Program on 72 — an investment option developed by Henley & Partners, which combines private residence with the Swiss forfait tax provisions.
Italy’s Residence by Investment Program is joint 4
th with the
UK’s Innovator Founder Visa, each scoring 71. The only Top 5 program not in Europe is the
Canada Start-Up Visa Program, which scores 69 and shares the 5
th spot with another European favorite that is attracting a great deal of attention, the
Spain Residence by Investment Program.
Domicile diversification a top priorityDr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, says, “Acquiring alternative residence and/or citizenship programs enables greater flexibility and participation in the world’s leading economies, as well as optionality, which is now an indispensable part of any family’s insurance policy for the 21
st century. The more jurisdictions a family can access, the more diversified its assets, the lower its exposure to country-specific, regional, and global volatility, and the more sustainable it will be over the long term.”
Last year, US-Americans were the top nationality applying for alternative residence and citizenship options through Henley & Partners, and this trend has continued into the first quarter of 2024. This year is also projected to be a record-breaker in terms of millionaire migration, according to the
Henley Private Wealth Migration Report, with 128,000 high-net-worth individuals forecast to move to a new country, compared to the 120,000 who did so last year, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of 110,000.
Read Full Press ReleaseSarah NicklinGroup Head of PR
sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com
Mobile: +27 72 464 8965
SOURCE : HENLEY & PARTNERS GROUP HOLDINGS LTD
--BERNAMA