Wealthy families are increasingly abandoning single-country residency in favor of multi-jurisdictional living, according to the Henley & Partners Private Wealth Migration Report 2026. The report, which tracks investment migration applications from 86 nationalities across 47 programs, found that more than 28% of applicants already live outside their home country, signaling a structural shift in how affluent households manage their wealth and mobility.
Singapore topped the firm's new Wealth Mobility Competitiveness Score with 79.5 points, followed by New Zealand at 75.8. A second tier of strong performers includes the Cayman Islands (74.3), Cyprus (73.5), the Netherlands (72.8), Portugal (72.5), Italy (72.3), and Bermuda (72.0). Uruguay, Latvia, Panama, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Greece, Costa Rica, and Monaco also scored between 70.0 and 71.8, placing them among the most competitive markets for attracting mobile wealth.
At the other end of the spectrum, the UK scored 68.3, Germany 69.7, France 65.7, Norway 69.0, and South Korea 66.2, all classified as competitive jurisdictions under pressure. Markets facing more entrenched structural challenges include Brazil (64.2), China (60.5), Russia (58.7), India (56.5), Iran (45.8), Lebanon (45.5), and Nigeria (43.0).
The United States presents a paradox: despite being the world's largest private wealth market and a powerhouse of capital formation, it scored just 62.3 on the index. Henley & Partners reports that applications from US nationals doubled in 2025 versus the prior year and have remained elevated into 2026. Notably, only 7% of those applications came from Americans already living abroad, meaning the vast majority are from US-based residents seeking options elsewhere.
The UAE, by contrast, posted one of the highest scores at 85.3, buoyed by its tax regime, ease of investor access, family inclusion policies, safety record, connectivity, and long-term residence options. However, the report notes that regional conflict is prompting some wealthy UAE residents to draw up contingency plans, testing the durability of the Gulf's wealth hubs.
Juerg Steffen, chief executive of Henley & Partners, said governments can no longer assume their richest residents will stay put. “For much of the past century, governments could largely treat their wealthiest residents as a relatively fixed asset—rooted by businesses, family ties, and limited international mobility. That assumption is becoming increasingly outdated,” he said. “As a result, jurisdictions are competing not only for capital, but also for the entrepreneurs, investors, business owners, and skilled individuals who drive economic growth, innovation, employment, and prosperity.”
The trend has implications for financial advisors, who may need to help clients navigate cross-border tax, estate, and investment planning. As wealthy families diversify their residency, advisors should consider how practice management tools can support multi-jurisdictional client needs. Meanwhile, the ongoing retirement wave and wealth transfer are reshaping the advisor landscape, with firms seeking to capture assets from mobile high-net-worth clients.
