Singapore has a population of about 5.9 million and a nominal GDP of roughly US$500 billion, with GDP per capita among the world’s highest. It is a founding member of ASEAN and a leading global financial hub; its currency is the Singapore dollar. Its Global Investor Programme is the highest-ranked Asian route in the index.
The Global Residency Programs Report 2026 combines five weighted dimensions, each built from its own set of normalised metrics: Quality of Life (30%), Procedure (30%), Mobility (20%), Investment (10%) and Compliance & Credibility (10%). The index is a starting point for individuals, advisors and policymakers to compare 48 residency programs on a like-for-like basis, surface the routes whose strengths match a specific priority, and screen out those that fall short on credibility.
Singapore’s GIP is among the highest-threshold programmes globally, granting permanent residence to established business owners and fund principals who commit substantial capital to the economy.
Programme: Global Investor Programme (GIP) Legal basis: administered by the Economic Development Board as a policy scheme; permanent residence granted under the Immigration Act 1959 Indicative minimum: SGD 10,000,000 (approximately USD 7,400,000) Estimated processing: 9 to 12 months
The 2026 Global Residency Programs Index 2026 makes one thing clear: there is no single best programme, only the best fit for a given set of priorities. A decade of reform has left the sector more transparent, more compliance-driven and more diverse in the routes it offers (from regulated funds and entrepreneurial ventures to lifestyle and long-stay options) so that residency has matured into a credible, durable planning tool rather than a shortcut. Whether the goal is mobility, tax efficiency, quality of life or an eventual second passport, the value of this 2026 GRP Index lies in matching the right route to the right objective, grounded in evidence rather than marketing.
