Henley & Partners, a global leader in residence and citizenship by investment, has released a specialized investment migration guide for Filipinos, highlighting the most attractive destinations for wealthy individuals and startup entrepreneurs seeking additional residency or citizenship for stability, mobility, wealth preservation, or enhanced lifestyle benefits.
Investment migration, which encompasses both residence and citizenship by investment, allows individuals to secure alternative residency or citizenship through financial contributions to a host country’s economy.
Residence by investment refers to countries that grant residence permits to individuals who make significant capital contributions to their economy, while citizenship by investment provides investors and their families with the benefit of acquiring an alternative citizenship, offering enhanced mobility and access to international markets.
According to Henley & Partners, an increasing number of wealthy Filipinos are considering investment migration for securing greater opportunities, future-proofing their wealth and ensuring their family’s long-term security.
The Henley & Partners guide aims to provide them with a comprehensive analysis of some of the world’s top residence and citizenship by investment programs available to Filipinos, highlighting Greece, Portugal, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as among the most attractive destinations for those looking to an additional residence or citizenship.
Top investment migration programs for Filipinos
The guide highlights Greece’s Golden Visa Program as one of the most cost-effective pathways to European residency. This program offers successful applicants and their families visa-free access to the Schengen Area, providing high levels of safety and security, excellent education opportunities, robust healthcare options, a pathway to citizenship, and a dependable rule of law. It requires a minimum investment of EUR 250,000 in specialized real estate.
Portugal offers a similar program that grants visa-free travel within the Schengen Area and allows successful applicants to live, work and study in Portugal, offering access to one of the world’s most globalized and peaceful nations, a strong property market, international-quality education and healthcare, as well as excellent lifestyle options.
This program, called the Golden Residence Permit Program, also offers eligibility for citizenship after five years without requiring renunciation of other citizenships. A minimum investment of EUR 250,000 is required.
In the Middle East, the UAE offers residency to foreign investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals, allowing them to live in any of the seven emirates by making a significant real estate investment in the country.
This program, which requires a minimum investment of AED 2 million (US$550,000), provides access to one of the world’s most favorable tax regimes, a high quality of life, strategic location linking Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, as well as the option to include a spouse and unmarried children at no extra investment.
In America, the USA’s EB-5 Visa Program is designed for individuals who can make a significant, qualified investment that generates jobs for the local economy. Through this program, these individuals and their immediate family members can obtain permanent residence in the USA.
This program requires a minimum investment of US$800,000, and offers advantages including access to one of the most desirable business and lifestyle destinations in the world, top-tier schools and Ivy League universities, an efficient route to gaining permanent residence and citizenship, and minimal application requirements.
Best programs for enhanced global mobility
The guide also features the top options for Filipinos looking for greater global mobility. In this category, Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Program is a compelling option for high-net-worth families looking to gain access to the European and Caribbean markets, along with visa-free entry to over 150 key destinations, including key Asian financial centers.
This program requires a minimum investment of US$230,000. Benefits include an attractive place to live or to own a second home, excellent air links to North America and Europe, as well as a tropical climate with beautiful beaches.
St. Kitts and Nevis also offers a strong Caribbean passport and allows citizenship through investment. Its citizenship by investment program requires a minimum investment of US$250,000 and comes with advantages including a prime second-home destination with strong air links to Europe and North America, citizenship by descent available to future generations, pristine beaches and tropical landscapes, as well as visa-free access to over 150 countries.
Another popular program is Malta’s Citizenship Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program. This program grants citizenship by a certificate of naturalization to foreign individuals and their families who contribute to the country’s economic development.
It requires a minimum investment of EUR 600,000, excluding real estate fees, and offers visa-free travel to around 190 destinations, access to a reputable financial center, a stable and desirable location for living or owning a second home, low crime rates and excellent global connectivity.
Another program highlighted is the Nauru citizenship program, which offers an alternative and safe passport to travel on with visa-free access to a number of desirable destinations, including some of the world’s most important financial, educational, and business hubs, while supporting the island’s sustainable development.
This program requires a minimum investment of US$130,000, and offers advantages including a cost-effective second citizenship, visa-free access to strategic destinations such as Ireland and the UK, family inclusivity, no minimum stay or visit requirements, and supports climate crisis solutions in the South Pacific.
Best options for Filipinos looking to relocate
Finally, the guide offers a review of the best options for Filipinos seeking a better quality of life and diverse economic opportunities.
In this category, Australia’s National Innovation Visa program stands out as a compelling option. This program offers a streamlined pathway to permanent residence for highly skilled and talented academics, global researchers, innovative investors and entrepreneurs, as well as world-renowned athletes, artists, and entertainers. It does not require any financial contribution and gives access to a high standard of living, a strong economy, top-notch healthcare and education systems, and a safe environment.
Another popular option is Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program, which provides foreign entrepreneurs with the opportunity to create an innovative business in Canada and apply for permanent residency. This program requires an innovative startup business and gives advantages such as access to a high quality of life in Canada, a multicultural and tolerant environment, excellent healthcare and education, a robust economy, as well as easy access to the US.
In New Zealand, the Active Investor Plus Visa allows applicants to live, work, and study in the country indefinitely by making a substantial investment in the country. However, this program requires a more considerable investment of a minimum of NZD 5 million (US$2.9 million) but gives advantages including access to political, social and economic stability, a high standard of living with an outdoor lifestyle, a strong economy, and top-tier education options.
Finally, in Europe, the UK provides the Innovator Founder Visa, which targets individuals with business experience and sufficient funds to start a new UK business. This program grants three years of leave, with the option to extend or apply for permanent residence, and requires only an innovative and scalable business. Visa holders gain access to a vast economy, world-renowned schools and universities, attractive tax regime, and a high quality of life. They also get a pathway to permanent residency after three years.
Featured image credit: edited from freepik
