Malta retains 1^st place in the 2026 Global Citizenship Program Index for the 11^th consecutive year with its citizenship by merit framework, and Greece once again tops the 2026 Global Residence Program Index. The rankings are published as part of the most established comparative benchmark of investment migration options, independently assessed by a panel of leading internationally recognized immigration and citizenship experts as well as academics, economists, and country risk experts.

New Entrants and Rapid Climbers Reshape the Rankings

The UAE records the year’s most striking rise, moving from 5^th to joint 2^nd place on the Global Residence Program Index and entering the Top 3 for the first time. Strong upward momentum is also evident across Asia-Pacific and Central America, with Costa Rica, New Zealand, Panama, and Singapore all climbing the rankings, alongside steady gains by Malaysia, Mauritius, and Thailand.

Three countries make notable first appearances on the Global Residence Program Index: Uruguay enters in 5^th place, Saudi Arabia debuts in 9^th, and the Maldives in 11^th — underscoring the widening geographic spread of competitive residence offerings.

A similar pattern of recalibration is evident on the Global Citizenship Program Index, where several established Caribbean and MENA programs improve their positions and two new entrants — Samoa and São Tomé and Príncipe — join the rankings for the first time.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman at Henley & Partners, says the findings mark an important inflection point for policymakers. “Together, the 2026 results reflect a structural evolution: Europe remains highly attractive, but its relative dominance is declining. Forward-thinking countries such as Singapore and the UAE are engaging strategically with globally mobile investors. At a time when foreign direct investment, entrepreneurial talent, and fiscal resilience are critical, policy certainty and openness are decisive competitive advantages.”

Governments Compete for Capital and Talent

Millionaire migration projections for 2026 point to an unprecedented wave of affluent families relocating across borders, with the leading destinations for net inflows all operating formal residence and/or citizenship frameworks designed to attract international investors and entrepreneurs. Reflecting this accelerating competition, Henley & Partners onboarded clients from 95 countries over the past 12 months — clear evidence that structured domicile portfolio management is becoming mainstream among globally mobile families.

Against this backdrop, the two indexes published today benchmark 40 leading programs — selected from over 100 worldwide — across key criteria including reputation, quality of life, compliance, investment requirements, tax efficiency, processing standards, and mobility outcomes. Together, they provide a comparative measure of how effectively countries position themselves to attract and retain globally mobile investors and talent.

Dr. Juerg Steffen, Chief Executive Officer at Henley & Partners, says residence and citizenship programs have evolved into core instruments of economic government strategy rather than simple revenue channels. “Governments are deploying these frameworks to secure long-term advantage — attracting entrepreneurs, investors, and internationally mobile families who contribute to innovation and growth. At the same time, for globally exposed households, mobility planning has become a core element of risk management and opportunity creation. Jurisdictions that offer clarity, stability, and attractive pathways to residence and citizenship are positioning themselves to win.”

Citizenship Programs: Established Leaders and Agile Island States Dominate

The 2026 Global Citizenship Program Index ranks 15 programs, with Malta’s citizenship by merit framework securing top position with a score of 77 out of 100, reinforcing its position as Europe’s gold standard for structured, compliance-driven naturalization. Austria retains 2^nd place with 74, reflecting its highly selective route for applicants who make substantial economic contributions or demonstrate extraordinary achievements that benefit the country.

Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis share 3^rd place (67), marking St. Kitts’s continued advancement following recent program refinements. Nauru moves up to 4^th (66) with its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program — launched just over a year ago at COP29 — gaining recognition as a model that channels capital towards climate adaptation initiatives. Antigua and Barbuda ranks 5^th (65).

St. Lucia and Türkiye share 6^th place (64), with Türkiye continuing to appeal to investors seeking strategic positioning between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East through diversified investment routes. Dominica, Egypt, and Jordan occupy joint 7^th (63), with Egypt and Jordan each improving year-on-year, reflecting growing interest in alternative regional gateways.

São Tomé and Príncipe debuts in 8^th place (61), expanding Africa’s presence in the index, while Samoa enters in 9^th (60), adding Pacific representation. Vanuatu ranks 10^th (59), followed by Cambodia (53).

Residence Programs: Europe Consolidates, New Hubs Accelerate

Greece retains 1^st place in the 2026 Global Residence Program Index with a score of 73, combining European Union access, lifestyle appeal, and competitive investment thresholds.

Italy, Switzerland — which offers options developed by Henley & Partners combining private residence with Swiss forfait tax provisions — and the UAE share 2^nd place (72), with the UAE’s rapid ascent reflecting its transformation into a global wealth hub supported by tax competitiveness, regulatory agility, and proactive investor engagement. Portugal ranks 3^rd (71), followed by Australia in 4^th place (69).

Canada and new entrant Uruguay share 5^th place (68), highlighting Uruguay’s growing reputation for political stability, legal certainty, and accessible residence pathways tied to employment, entrepreneurship, and financial independence.

Luxembourg and the UK rank joint 6^th (67). Costa Rica, Panama, and Singapore share 7^th (65), reflecting continued strength among established financial and lifestyle destinations. New Zealand climbs to 8^th (63), while Malta and Saudi Arabia share 9^th (61), with Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency Law signaling an increasingly strategic Middle Eastern push to attract global investors.

Latvia and the USA round out the Top 10 (60), followed by Cyprus, Monaco, Thailand, and Maldives (59). Malaysia ranks 12^th (51), Mauritius 13^th (50), and Hong Kong 14^th (47).

Standout Performers Across Key Criteria

In the Global Citizenship Program Index, Austria leads for reputation and achieves a perfect score for quality of life, while Malta ranks highest for compliance and mobility strength. São Tomé and Príncipe performs particularly strongly for investment requirements — a measure that assesses not only the level of upfront capital required, but also the range and flexibility of qualifying investment options, the nature of the contribution, and associated additional costs.

Six programs — Dominica, Grenada, Nauru, São Tomé and Principe, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia — achieve top marks for minimal physical visit requirements.

In the Global Residence Program Index, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland achieve perfect reputation scores, with the UAE joining them at the top for quality of life. Monaco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE lead in tax efficiency. Australia and Switzerland score highest for investment requirements due to the absence of mandatory upfront capital contributions to secure residence rights, while the USA ranks strongest for compliance.

Wealth on the Move

Interactive digital comparisons of the 40 different residence and citizenship programs are also available, enabling global investors and wealthy families to select what matters most to them when weighing up their options.

Dominic Volek, Group Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners, says the data confirms a fundamental global shift. “Wealth is relocating at an unprecedented pace. Where it ultimately concentrates will depend on how credibly countries design immigration frameworks for investors, entrepreneurs and wealthy families. Countries that combine economic dynamism, legal certainty, political stability, strong infrastructure, and clear pathways for applicants are emerging as the primary net inflow destinations. Where credible mobility options exist, capital and talent follow.”

He adds that this reflects a deeper reassessment of risk and permanence. “Residence and citizenship rights are increasingly assembled rather than inherited — structured portfolios of access rights built to create resilience across generations. Families that approach mobility as a deliberate long-term strategy, rather than a contingency plan, will be best positioned to absorb shocks, capture opportunity, and preserve optionality in a world where both capital and talent are highly fluid.”