Wealthy investors favor Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Switzerland over UK, Germany, France

The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2026 finds that high‑net‑worth individuals are increasingly choosing Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Switzerland for residence and citizenship programmes, while the United Kingdom, Germany and France are losing ground in the competition for wealthy newcomers. Cyprus tops the European ranking with a score of 73.5, followed by the Netherlands (72.8), Portugal (72.5) and Italy (72.3). Switzerland (70.8) and Greece (70.5) also rank near the top.

Italy attracts investors with a favourable tax regime and access to the EU market, while Greece benefits from recent changes to its “golden visa” schemes. Switzerland remains popular for capital protection amid geopolitical volatility. Across the globe, the United Arab Emirates scores 85.3 and Singapore leads worldwide with 79.5. The United States, despite being the world’s largest wealth generator, saw a doubling of requests for foreign residence in 2025, with about half of those applications targeting European programmes.

The report highlights a broader shift as wealthy individuals seek jurisdictions offering tax advantages, political stability and high quality of life, reshaping the competitive landscape for resident‑by‑investment markets.