The past few months have seen a surge in the number of Americans applying for “golden visas” around the world as growing economic uncertainty pushes many wealthy residents to look for stability out of the country.
Golden visas, also known as residency-by-investment programs, offer temporary or permanent residency in a country in return for a substantial investment. For high-net-worth individuals, it is a great way to protect their assets from economic and political instability, access more business opportunities and, sometimes, pay lower taxes.
Last year, Henley & Partners—which helps wealthy individuals around the world seeking residence and citizenship by investment in countries other than their own—reported a record-breaking number of U.S. nationals seeking residence or citizenship abroad. This number continued growing after Donald Trump‘s election and inauguration, with the first quarter of 2025 reporting an increase of 183 percent in inquiries from U.S. nationals compared to a year earlier.
According to the company, U.S. nationals account for over 30 percent of all investment migration applications submitted through Henley & Partners so far this year—nearly double the combined total of the next five investor nationalities, which included Turkish, Indian and British.
“This shift reflects evolving perspectives among high-net-worth Americans. Most view investment migration as sophisticated risk management, creating a ‘Plan B’ that provides optionality for themselves and their families to relocate if they need or want to,” Basil Mohr-Elzeki, Head of North America at Henley & Partners, told Newsweek.
“Motivations include geopolitical risk diversification, enhanced global mobility, business expansion, educational and alternative healthcare access, and cross-border legacy planning for future generations,” he said.
The Best Options For Wealthy Americans
According to Henley & Partners, these are the leading golden visa programs in the world:
- Australia National Innovation Visa Program
- Austria Private Residence Program
- Canada Start-Up Visa Program; Canada Quebec Investor Immigration Program
- Costa Rica Residence by Investment Program
- Cyprus Permanent Residence Program
- Greece Golden Visa Program
- Hong Kong Visa Programs
- Hungary Guest Investor Program
- Italy Residence by Investment Program
- Latvia Residence by Investment Program
- Luxembourg Residence by Investment Program
- Malaysia My Second Home Program; Malaysia Premium Visa Program
- Malta Permanent Residence Programme
- Mauritius Residence by Investment Program
- Monaco Residence
- Montenegro Residence
- Namibia Residence by Investment
- New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Program
- Panama Residence by Investment Program
- Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program
- Singapore Global Investor Program
- Swiss Residence Program
- Thailand Residence by Investment Program
- UAE Residence by Investment
- UK Innovator Founder Program
- Uruguay Residence Program
While Canada offers American investors the opportunity to remain close to home, Henley & Partners told Newsweek that European golden visas are particularly attractive because of the “exceptional quality of life and business opportunities they offer, along with access rights to the whole of Europe’s Schengen Area.” With a passport from a member country of the European Union, individuals can travel and relocate to any nation within the bloc.
Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program requires applicants to make a capital transfer of €500,000 (approximately $575,000) into Portuguese venture capital or investment funds.
“With minimal physical presence requirements—just seven days annually—and a potential citizenship pathway after five years, Portugal offers an exceptional European base without disrupting American residence,” Mohr-Elzeki said.
The Mediterranean island of Malta also offers a good option for American investors with its Permanent Residence Programme. The small country offers access to the EU and is a leading investment location, according to Henley & Partners, thanks to its reputation for stability, predictability, and security.
The program requires a minimum investment of €182,000 (approximately $205,000), mixed capital contribution and real estate purchase or lease. “The island nation’s spectacular natural beauty and Mediterranean lifestyle make it a desirable place of residence for wealthy individuals and families,” Mohr-Elzeki said.
Another very small country in Europe offers a great opportunity to wealthy Americans, according to the company. While Monaco’s investment threshold exceeds €1 million for property acquisition—which makes it among the most expensive golden visa programs in the world—”the Principality’s tax environment and security infrastructure justify the premium for certain investors,” Mohr-Elzeki said.
“Monaco’s banking privacy and asset protection frameworks offer particular advantages to American investors concerned about litigation exposure.”
Greece and Italy offer cheaper options, but still valid ones. Greece provides one of the most cost-effective European options, requiring applicants to make real estate investments starting at €250,000 (roughly $280,000), with no mandatory stay requirements.
Italy’s Investor Visa Program requires a €500,000 investment in Italian companies or €250,000 in innovative start-ups. “For American entrepreneurs with transatlantic business interests, Italian residence creates seamless operations within Europe’s regulatory framework,” Mohr-Elzeki said.
But there are also attractive options outside of Europe, according to Henley & Partners. Costa Rica’s golden visa program, for example, requires an investment of “just” $150,000 in the country with no mandatory stay requirements for renewal while also offering substantial tax advantages for foreign-source income.
Panama’s Friendly Nations Visa requires a $200,000 real estate investment or bank deposit, providing lifetime residence status without demanding applicants’ physical presence in the country. “For Americans concerned about currency risk and banking stability, Panama’s dollarized economy and strong financial sector provide valuable fallback options,” according to Mohr-Elzeki.
New Zealand’s recently updated Active Investor Plus Program is also proving popular among Americans, with nearly half of all applicants so far this year (85 out of 189) coming from the U.S., according to data shared by the government. Under the new rules, which came into effect in April, the threshold for investment was lowered to a minimum of $5 million over three years.
“The country’s unparalleled political stability, self-sufficiency, and geographic isolation make it the ultimate ‘peace of mind’ option within a sovereign portfolio,” Mohr-Elzeki said. “For high-profile Americans concerned about privacy and security, New Zealand’s remote location and cultural respect for discretion offer unique advantages.”
