The landscape of wealth migration underwent another transformative year in 2024, with 134,000 high-net-worth individuals relocating and establishing new domiciles globally.
This exceeded initial forecasts, driven by robust inflows to the UAE, USA, and Italy, alongside higher-than-expected departures from the UK, notes Dr. Juerg Steffen, FIMC, chief executive officer of Henley & Partners.
Looking ahead to 2025, he said that projections indicate an even greater surge in millionaire migration, with 142,000 high-net-worth individuals with liquid investable wealth of $1 million or more expected to seek new horizons.
This represents the most significant wealth migration wave ever documented and reflects fundamental changes in how affluent individuals approach geographic and financial planning.
Steffen said that the future of investment migration is being shaped by several emerging forces. Climate resilience has become a critical factor in location decisions, with wealthy individuals increasingly factoring environmental stability into their mobility choices.
"Digital infrastructure and cryptocurrency regulations now rank alongside traditional concerns such as education and taxation when it comes to weighing up residence and citizenship by investment program options," he said.
"Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate several key developments. The concept of citizenship itself is becoming more fluid, with programmes evolving to meet the needs of a more mobile and digitally connected world.
"We expect to see more innovative programme structures emerging, particularly in countries looking to position themselves as new global wealth hubs."
Henley & Partners noted that the profile of investment migration clients continues to diversify. "While historically dominated by investors from emerging economies seeking enhanced global access, we are now seeing growing interest and demand from developed nations."
It said that the investment migration sector, estimated to be worth EUR 20 billion, stands at a crossroads. Once viewed as a niche service for the ultra-wealthy, it has matured into a sophisticated wealth planning tool, recognised by governments and financial institutions alike.
"As we move through 2025, the sector's role in facilitating global capital flows and fostering economic development will only grow in importance.
These developments point to a future where investment migration becomes increasingly integral to both personal wealth planning and national economic strategies. The combination of political uncertainty, climate change, and technological disruption ensures that the demand for alternative residence and citizenship options will continue to grow, said Steffen.
For nations competing in this space, success will depend on their ability to offer programmes that balance attractiveness to investors with sustainable development goals, he added.
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