Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Portugal, Italy, and Greece are the jurisdictions with the best residency programs for high-net-worth individuals and investors, according to the 2026 Global Residency Programs Index produced by Global Citizen Solutions (GCS). “We built the index around five weighted pillars: quality of life, procedure, mobility, investment, and compliance and credibility, because no single number tells the whole story of a residency program. For that very reason, quality of life carries the greatest weight among all the pillars in our model, tied with procedure,” explains Laura Madrid, Lead Researcher at the Global Intelligence Unit at Global Citizen.
The Top Five, at a Glance
According to the firm, Switzerland’s edge comes from a perfect score in Compliance & Credibility, paired with near-elite quality of life, top-tier mobility, and a strong fiscal profile. It ranks among the safest and most politically stable countries in the world; the trade-off is one of the highest costs of living, offset by exceptional healthcare, world-class schools, and a family-friendly culture oriented around the outdoors across four distinct Alpine seasons.
Second place is occupied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a region that stands out in fiscal matters. It offers zero personal income tax and a comparatively low entry threshold, available through routes such as real estate investment. Added to this is strong mobility and one of the lowest-crime environments in the world, alongside a large international expat community and family-oriented infrastructure. Its Golden Visa offers only a renewable residency status, as Emirati nationality is reserved for exceptional cases nominated by the government and is not something an investor can work toward.
In third place, Portugal’s Golden Visa offers a high quality of life, near-maximum mobility thanks to a full EU/Schengen passport, and a pathway to citizenship of between seven and ten years depending on nationality. According to the GCS study, it can be obtained through a qualifying investment fund (minimum of €500,000 in a private equity or venture capital fund investing in Portuguese companies), a cultural donation (starting at around €200,000), a contribution to scientific research, or an investment tied to job creation. “It remains Europe’s best value-for-money option, with a moderate cost of living, a mild Atlantic climate, and a welcoming culture for families relocating from abroad, making it the highest-ranked route in the EU,” they indicate.
Italy achieves fourth position thanks to its process and the strength of its passport, rather than its price. Its Investor Visa offers a fast and flexible menu of qualifying investments (government bonds, corporate shares, startups, or a philanthropic donation), combined with strong mobility within the EU. According to analysts at the firm, that combination offsets a costlier and less tax-efficient entry.
Finally, Greece is, by a wide margin, the fastest-processing program in the index, combined with strong mobility. Its Mediterranean climate, welcoming culture, and relaxed, community-centered lifestyle make it a great choice for families prioritizing sunshine and hospitality. Of the top five, it is the only one where real estate remains the primary route—with the threshold for qualifying property raised to €800,000 in prime areas as of September 2024—though an alternative investment in startups is now also available.
The Americas: North, South, and Central
The U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (83.9) and the E-2 Treaty Investor visa (82.6) remain solid options, but both fall outside the global top 10 this year, sitting in 27th and 32nd place, respectively. Canada’s Quebec Investor and Provincial routes round out the global top 10 in 10th place (88.6), boasting quality-of-life scores among the highest in the Index—a relevant comparison for Americans weighing a move within the region.
Additionally, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic offer accessible, lower-cost residency with fast processes and strong lifestyle appeal, though none scores high enough to reach the top global tier.
“Some of this year’s fastest programs are found in Latin America: the Dominican Republic can process applications in as little as 45 to 90 days, Costa Rica and Mexico require only a light, ongoing connection to the country, and Brazil combines an eight-month timeframe with a fast track toward naturalization. For a growing number of our clients, overseas residency is not simply a financial instrument; it is a life decision. Cost and compliance matter, but so does how one actually lives day-to-day in a new country: the schools, healthcare, and community. That is precisely what this year’s Index was built to capture: destinations like Italy, Portugal, and Greece top the table because of the combination of their strengths, and because of how good daily life actually feels,” notes Patricia Casaburi, CEO of Global Citizen Solutions.
