Citizenship by investment is an increasingly relevant consideration for HNWs. As governments seek foreign capital to boost their economies, create jobs and develop infrastructure, some offer residency or citizenship in return — an option that has gained appeal amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
According to Henley & Partners, more than 100 countries now operate some form of investment migration policy. The most sought-after regions include the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and EU member states such as Portugal, which offer free movement across the bloc. For some HNWs, citizenship diversification is becoming as integral to wealth planning as portfolio diversification.
Global mobility in 2025
The advisers featured in this year’s Spear’s index fall into two broad categories. The first includes consultants at citizenship firms who help clients assess programme options and guide them through the application process. Selma Brahimi of Passport Legacy, a Swiss-owned firm headquartered in Dubai, is particularly prominent in this space, while Daniel Twomey of La Vida Golden Visas offers a more financially focused perspective, positioning citizenship as a strategic asset. Both work closely with clients to ensure that the chosen programme aligns with their personal and financial goals.
The second group comprises advisers who represent jurisdictions offering citizenship or residency routes. Jo Stoddart of Locate Guernsey, for example, promotes the Crown Dependency to entrepreneurs and business owners considering relocation. ‘We typically deal with clients who seek guidance on every aspect of their life,’ she tells Spear’s. ‘They want an independent, unbiased adviser who will help them to understand what life in Guernsey is all about.’
Most clients pursue alternative citizenship or residency as part of a broader investment strategy. Some come from emerging markets like Brazil and India, seeking stronger passports; others hail from established economies such as the US and Germany, aiming to diversify their residency options. In both cases, many are effectively preparing for a ‘Plan B.’
[See also: Rich Germans eye exit plans amid conscription fears]
Henley & Partners’ managing partner Basil Mohr-Elzeki, new to this year’s rankings, tells Spear’s: ‘Right now the US has a very strong passport but we can’t predict that it will be like that for generations going forward. What does the education system look like? What does security look like? So it’s a hedge against geopolitical risk.’
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For those relocating, lifestyle factors also play a significant role. Considerations such as schooling, climate and real estate must be addressed. Advisers in our index often provide concierge-level services, offering guidance on banking, insurance, property and business setup.
In a space where programmes vary widely in structure and benefit, selecting the right option requires more than surface-level research. The best advisers take time to understand their clients’ business interests, tax exposure and long-term plans by consulting with accountants, liaising with legal teams and advising on mobility strategy with clear and informed foresight.
In today’s globalised wealth landscape, citizenship is no longer just a passport as much as it is a planning tool.
Click the links below to jump to a section of this article:
- Methodology
- The best global mobility, residence and citizenship by investment advisers: some names to know
- The best global mobility, residence and citizenship by investment advisers: the complete list
- Contact us
Methodology
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to The Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
The best global mobility, residence and citizenship by investment advisers: some names to know
Dominic Volek
- Focus: International citizenship and residency
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Henley & Partners
Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at Henley & Partners, provides advice to those searching for better mobility, security, privacy and estate planning. His work does not focus on a specific region; instead, he takes on the most complex UHNW cases and advises on residency and citizenship internationally.
‘Hundreds of wealthy individuals rely on our expertise and experience,’ says Volek, who splits his time among the firm’s major offices – from the Americas and Asia Pacific, to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He works closely with the different advisory wings within Henley & Partners, such as the education consultancy, to provide holistic plans for families looking to relocate.
Read Dominic Volek’s full profile on Spears500.com
Selma Brahimi
- Focus: Residency in the UAE
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Passport Legacy
As one of the leading client advisers at Passport Legacy, Selma Brahimi regularly assists HNWs in gaining second residency or citizenship. Based in Dubai, Brahimi is well-equipped to advise on the many programmes available across the Middle East. She also has experience with investment routes around the world, such as in Nauru, Portugal and the US.
Her clients tend to be entrepreneurs and finance professionals who are interested in obtaining a stronger passport, relocating their families or increasing their ability to travel freely around the globe.
The firm, which also has a property arm, was established in 2018 as a boutique global mobility advisory by former Henley & Partners director Jeffrey Henseler.
Read Selma Brahimi’s full profile on Spears500.com
Stuart Wakeling
- Focus: Clients based in the UK and Africa
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Henley & Partners
Stuart Wakeling, managing partner at Henley & Partners and head of the firm’s London, Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria offices, has 20 years of experience in advising HNW and UHNW individuals, helping them to seek out value-creating opportunities across multiple jurisdictions.
The majority of his clients in Africa are seeking out alternative citizenship in other regions in order to strengthen their ability to work and travel internationally, while his British clients are more likely to be concerned with residency under a more favourable tax regime.
Wakeling began his career at Coutts in 2001 and subsequently joined HSBC Global Private Banking as a relationship executive in 2008. He began working at Henley & Partners in 2016.
Read Stuart Wakeling’s full profile on Spears500.com
Alison Teare
- Focus: Isle of Man residency
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Locate Isle of Man
In her role as head of Locate Isle of Man, part of the Isle of Man’s Department for Enterprise, Alison Teare combines marketing skills with practical and operational guidance to help move clients’ families and businesses to the Crown Dependency.
Teare works to connect potential clients to the correct people and offices – smoothing the process of inward mobility. Her clients are largely HNW families looking for citizenship to settle on the island long term.
She tells Spear’s that there are ample opportunities for those looking to move their business to the Isle of Man: ‘The offering is good. We have a grant system which is very good here, and there is a lot of support for businesses.’
Read Alison Teare’s full profile on Spears500.com
The best global mobility, residence and citizenship by investment advisers: the complete list
Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles of each adviser on The Spear’s 500 website. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically by surname.
Contact us
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