Foreword from the CEO
At Global Citizen Solutions, we believe that global mobility is not just about access. It’s about possibility! Possibility for families to build better futures, for entrepreneurs to unlock opportunity, and for individuals to find security in an uncertain world. As CEO, I’ve had the privilege of watching the Residence and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI) space evolve from a quiet legal niche into a dynamic global ecosystem. But with growth comes complexity. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Global RCBI Report 2025, a tool designed not just to rank programs, but to help people make informed, strategic, and values-aligned decisions.
We live in a time of tremendous flux, geopolitical instability, economic headwinds, shifting regulations. In this context, RCBI has become much more than a mobility solution. For many, it’s a lifeline, a way to protect assets, ensure personal safety, access better healthcare or education, or simply gain the freedom to move. And yet, despite its growing relevance, the RCBI landscape remains fragmented and complex: 36 programs across 35 countries, each with their own rules, timelines, benefits, and risks. Comparing them fairly is no easy task.
That’s where this report comes in. Backed by months of research, data analysis, and industry engagement, it delivers the most comprehensive and balanced comparison of global RCBI options to date. Our methodology looks beyond superficial markers like minimum investment or passport count. Instead, we evaluate each program across 18 indicators, grouped into five dimensions that truly matter to investors: Procedure, Mobility, Tax Optimization, Quality of Life, and Investment Environment. It’s a holistic approach designed to reflect what people care about when choosing a second residence or citizenship, not just what’s legally available, but what’s strategically meaningful.
We’ve also separated the rankings into two clear tracks: CBI for those seeking immediate nationality, and RBI for those preferring a long-term residence route. This distinction matters. It empowers users to understand the difference between access and integration, between short-term flexibility and long-term belonging.
The findings are fascinating. Caribbean countries like Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada continue to excel in the CBI space, showing how small nations can compete globally through efficient, investor-friendly policies. On the RBI side, countries like Portugal, Greece, and Switzerland remain top choices, but we’re also seeing the rise of new contenders like Singapore, Luxembourg, and the UAE, whose programs increasingly blend investment with innovation, sustainability, and national development goals.
Importantly, this report goes beyond rankings. It explores the broader trends shaping investment migration in 2025: growing compliance and transparency measures from CBI programs, the rise of hybrid talent-investment visas, and the alignment of RCBI with national strategies around tech, climate, and resilience. These are not just immigration programs, they’re tools of diplomacy, development, and human mobility.
For me, the Global RCBI Report is personal. It’s a reflection of what our clients face every day: difficult decisions, high stakes, and a desire to do what’s best for themselves and their loved ones. It’s also a reminder that citizenship and residency are not abstract legal statuses, they are rights, protections, and possibilities. Our mission at Global Citizen Solutions is to make these possibilities visible, accessible, and meaningful.
I hope it gives you confidence to navigate the RCBI space with purpose, strategy, and trust.
Patricia Casaburi
CEO, Global Citizen Solutions
Introduction
In a time marked by geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and shifting regulatory environments, the Global RCBI Report 2025 emerges as an essential tool for understanding and navigating the complex world of Residence and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI) programs. As nations compete to attract global capital, skilled individuals, and international families, investment migration has transformed from a niche legal practice into a mainstream strategic instrument for wealth planning, mobility enhancement, and global risk mitigation. With 36 active programs across 35 countries, the RCBI landscape has matured into a dynamic ecosystem. Yet one that remains difficult to compare due to its diversity in legal frameworks, investment thresholds, and long-term outcomes.
This report presents the most comprehensive, data-driven assessment of global RCBI options to date. It ranks both Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residence by Investment (RBI) programs through a robust methodology that goes beyond just passport power or minimal investment thresholds. Instead, it applies a multi-dimensional evaluation model grounded in 18 performance indicators, distributed across five key thematic dimensions: Procedure, Mobility, Tax Optimization, Quality of Life, and Investment Environment. These dimensions reflect the real concerns of investors, entrepreneurs, and global families seeking both access and stability.
Each country’s program is evaluated using a combination of standardized quantitative data and calibrated qualitative insights. This ensures that cross-country comparisons are both rigorous and fair. The resulting index structure allows for dual rankings (one focused on CBI programs and the other on RBI schemes) giving readers the ability to differentiate between jurisdictions that offer immediate nationality and those that offer long-term residence pathways. Crucially, the indexes don’t just measure what each program offers, but how well it aligns with the motivations and needs of international investors in 2025.
The Global RCBI Report highlights the evolving dynamics of investment migration, showcasing how both Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residence by Investment (RBI) programs are adapting to global trends. Caribbean nations such as Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada continue to lead in the CBI space, leveraging efficient application processes, favorable tax regimes, and extensive global mobility to attract international investors. Their success underscores the potential for smaller states to assert a strong presence on the global stage through well-structured and strategically positioned programs. On the RBI front, countries like Greece, Malta, Portugal and Switzerland maintain their appeal with robust legal systems and high-quality residency rights, while emerging players such as Latvia, Luxembourg, Singapore and the UAE are reshaping the landscape by aligning residence programs with innovation-driven, sustainable economic growth. The report’s comparative analysis of these diverse models offers critical insights into the future direction and competitive dynamics of the RCBI sector.
Beyond the rankings themselves, the report delves into emerging trends shaping the future of investment migration. These include the evolution of CBI schemes in the Caribbean amidst international regulatory scrutiny, the rise of hybrid talent-investment pathways in Asia and the Middle East, and the increasing convergence of RCBI programs with broader state-building objectives, such as climate resilience, tech innovation, and regional development. In sum, the Global RCBI Report 2025 is more than a ranking, it is a strategic guide for investors, policymakers, and advisors navigating a world in flux.
Methodology
The Global RCBI Report 2025 offers the most comprehensive, data-driven assessment of the global Residence and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI) landscape to date. Analyzing 36 programs across 35 countries, the report ranks both Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residence by Investment (RBI) schemes using a rigorous methodology built on 18 targeted indicators, grouped into five thematic sub-indexes or dimensions: Procedure Index, Mobility Index, Tax Optimization Index, Quality of Life Index, and Investment Environment Index.
Each program is scored using a mix of quantitative and qualitative data, standardized and normalized for cross-country comparability. The result is a dual index (one for CBI and one for RBI) that reflects not only the legal and administrative structure of each program, but also its broader appeal to global investors, entrepreneurs, and relocating families.
Constructing the rankings for the five dimensions for the Global RCBI Report required a rigorous multi-step methodology that combines normalization techniques, comparative policy analysis, and expert calibration. Each sub-index – Procedure, Mobility, Tax Optimization, Quality of Life, and Investment Environment – is weighted and rated on a standardized scale from 0 to 10. These scores are derived from a synthesis of multiple quantitative indicators and qualitative variables, carefully selected to reflect both investor priorities and policy design dimensions.
| Procedure Index | – Minimum Investment Threshold – Average Processing Time – Path to Citizenship (RBI only) – Investment Options – Visit and Residency Requirements – Family Member Inclusion – Program Reputation |
| Mobility Index | – Visa-Free or Visa-on-Arrival Access – Destination Attractiveness |
| Tax Optimization Index | – Type of Tax System – Tax Rates |
| Quality of Life Index | – Human Development – Migrant’s Acceptance – Global Peace – Healthcare |
| Investment Index | – Ease of Doing Business – Economic Stability |
Full Report
Investment migration serves as an umbrella term encompassing a range of programs that enable individuals to acquire residence or citizenship rights through economic contributions. It includes Residence by Investment (RBI) schemes (commonly known as Golden Visas) which offer legal residency in exchange for qualifying investments, as well as Entrepreneurial Visas that require active business engagement, job creation, and immediate relocation.
On the other hand, Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs, often referred to as Golden Passports, grant citizenship directly through capital contributions without the need for prior residence. Together, these pathways reflect the diversity of state strategies in leveraging migration channels to attract foreign capital, talent, and entrepreneurship, while maintaining differentiated levels of integration and mobility rights.
The Global RCBI Report provides insights into the shifting landscape of investment migration, highlighting the adaptive strategies employed by Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residence by Investment (RBI) programs amid evolving global trends. Caribbean countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada continue to dominate the CBI market by offering streamlined application processes, advantageous tax structures, and extensive global mobility benefits, positioning themselves effectively to attract international investors. Their success illustrates how smaller nations can significantly enhance their global presence through carefully structured, strategically targeted programs.
In the realm of RBI programs, established destinations like Greece, Malta, Portugal, and Switzerland retain their attractiveness due to reliable legal frameworks and superior residency benefits. Concurrently, newer participants including Latvia, Luxembourg, Singapore, and the UAE are transforming the RBI landscape by aligning their residency schemes with innovative and sustainable economic growth initiatives. Through its comparative analysis of these varied approaches, the report sheds essential light on emerging trends and competitive dynamics shaping the future of the RCBI sector.
