As the world has become both increasingly globalized and increasingly volatile, the need for greater travel freedom and improved safety and security has grown steadily. Across the economic spectrum, individuals seek to transcend the constraints imposed on them by their countries of origin and access business, education, career, and lifestyle opportunities on a global scale.
Alternative residence and citizenship represent the most direct routes to global mobility and overall stability, since individuals who have residence or citizenship in multiple jurisdictions benefit from each country’s best practices and are less vulnerable to its risks and shortcomings.
In its most basic form, citizenship-by-investment denotes the process whereby qualified, vetted candidates are granted full citizenship in exchange for their substantial economic contribution to the passport-issuing state. Residence-by-investment denotes a similar process, but candidates in this case are granted temporary residence, which can be extended to permanent residence or, in some cases, citizenship.
There is no a priori hierarchy between residence and citizenship programs. Each type of program has its advantages, and each will meet the needs of particular individuals and families.
Residence-by-investment programs, for example, give ultra-high-net-worth individuals the option of physically relocating to favorable jurisdictions — either now or during retirement — and becoming tax residents of those jurisdictions. Residents of a country have full legal rights, including the right to live, work, study, and receive healthcare in that country.
Citizenship-by-investment programs, on the other hand, provide ultra-wealthy families with the privilege of a second or third passport, which affords them all the internal rights enjoyed by residents as well as the broader right of travel, trade, and settlement abroad.
Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. Our highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 40 offices worldwide. Through our globally leading government advisory practice, Henley & Partners assists governments with strategic consulting as well as the design, set-up, operation, and promotion of investment-related residence and citizenship programs. We have raised more than USD 10 billion in foreign direct investment and have designed and implemented several of the most successful programs worldwide. These programs uphold the highest standards of due diligence, attracting carefully vetted individuals who bring capital, business networks, and talent to the country in question. In exchange for their contributions, successful applicants are granted full residence or citizenship, as the case may be.
For more information on acquiring alternative residence or citizenship, please fill in your details via the enquiry box at the top of the page.