Global Mobility 2026

From Passports To Strategic Mobility

In 2026, CBI and residency‑by‑investment have evolved from lifestyle upgrades into instruments of strategic mobility for high‑net‑worth and ultra‑high‑net‑worth families. Investors now treat alternative citizenships and residencies like asset classes within a diversified portfolio, balancing tax exposure, regulatory risk, and access to opportunity across multiple jurisdictions.​

Rather than simply chasing visa‑free travel, globally mobile families are aligning their mobility planning with business expansion, capital deployment, and succession. This means choosing jurisdictions that combine geopolitical stability, strong rule of law, and credible pathways for children’s education and cross‑border entrepreneurship.​

The map of who sells, soft‑pedals, or quietly facilitates citizenship is fragmenting in 2026. While traditional hubs in the Caribbean and parts of Europe remain influential, new entrants in South America, Africa, and the Middle East are designing programs tailored to regional development priorities and sector‑specific investment.​

Countries such as Argentina and Botswana are preparing or exploring structured routes linked to sectors like technology, agribusiness, tourism, renewable energy, mining, and financial services. This signals a broader shift from undifferentiated capital inflows toward targeted, real‑economy investments that can be politically defended at home and diplomatically abroad.

A powerful undercurrent shaping 2026 is “silent migration”: wealthy individuals and families relocating their tax base and legal ties without fanfare, using residency and citizenship planning to stage a controlled, phased exit from high‑tax or politically uncertain jurisdictions. Rather than abrupt departures, these moves often unfold over years, as families build multi‑jurisdictional lifestyles that are harder to tax and regulate from any single capital.​

This granular reallocation of people and capital is reshaping regional capital pools, private markets, and even real‑estate dynamics. Destination countries that capture this mobile wealth may see deeper funding for innovation, infrastructure, and financial services, while origin states risk eroding tax bases and reduced domestic investment.​

• Shift from real estate to funds
Many jurisdictions are pivoting away from pure property routes toward regulated fund‑based models that offer diversification, oversight, and potentially better returns for investors. This favors sophisticated wealth managers who can integrate fund‑linked residency into broader asset‑allocation strategies.

• Rise of innovation and sustainability visas
New program categories reward investments in technology, entrepreneurship, and green infrastructure, aligning mobility with impact‑driven capital. For UHNW families, this blends reputational benefits with exposure to future‑focused sectors.