Citizenship & Residence by Investment Programmes

Global Residence and Citizenship by Investment

Residence and citizenship by investment programmes provide individuals, families, entrepreneurs and investors with structured immigration routes linked to qualifying investment or economic contribution. Hudson McKenzie advises clients on residence by investment, permanent residence, citizenship by investment and investor immigration programmes across Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Americas.

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Investment migration is a highly regulated and constantly changing area of international immigration law. Minimum investment thresholds, qualifying investments, holding periods, eligibility requirements, due diligence procedures and programme availability can change without notice.

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As at September 2026, a number of countries operate established investment migration programmes, while others have introduced investor residence routes designed to attract international capital, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals.

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What Investors Should Consider

Selecting an investment migration programme involves considerably more than comparing the headline investment amount. Hudson McKenzie assesses the wider immigration and legal position, including:

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Immigration objectives

Whether the objective is residence, permanent residence, citizenship, family relocation, international mobility, business expansion, access to a particular market, education for children or long-term succession and family planning.

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Investment requirements

The investment may involve property, government funds, investment funds, companies, government bonds, bank deposits, employment creation, national development funds or strategic economic projects.

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Family eligibility

The definition of an eligible dependant varies significantly between countries. It may include spouses, civil partners, dependent children, adult children in education, parents, grandparents or other qualifying relatives.

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Physical presence

Some programmes have minimal residence requirements, while others require substantial physical presence. This can be particularly important where the applicant intends to use residence as a potential route towards permanent residence or citizenship.

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Tax residence

Immigration residence and tax residence are different legal concepts. Obtaining an investor residence permit does not automatically determine an individual's tax residence. International investors should obtain separate tax advice before changing residence, domicile, investment structures or family arrangements.

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Source of funds and due diligence

Investment migration programmes generally involve detailed source-of-funds and source-of-wealth checks. Applicants may also be subject to government due diligence, background checks, police certificates, identity verification, financial checks and other screening. A qualifying investment does not guarantee approval.

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Why Hudson McKenzie?

Hudson McKenzie provides immigration and international mobility advice to individuals, families, entrepreneurs and investors considering residence and citizenship by investment.

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Our support can include:

• Assessing eligibility
• Reviewing investment and immigration requirements
• Advising on documentation
• Assessing family eligibility
• Reviewing source-of-funds requirements
• Supporting immigration applications
• Advising on longer-term residence and citizenship objectives

Where tax analysis is required, Hudson McKenzie can work alongside appropriately qualified tax advisers to consider the tax consequences of a proposed immigration or investment strategy.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Investment migration programmes, eligibility requirements, investment thresholds and immigration rules can change. Applicants should obtain advice based on their individual circumstances and the rules applicable at the time of application.