Interest in golden-visa and residency-by-investment options has surged, just as the Autumn Budget 2025 in the UK looms. Recent data from Astons highlights dramatic upticks in searches for investment and residence-based immigration pathways, reflecting a broader shift in how high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are responding to tax and mobility concerns.
Search Interest Soars
Recent search-trend data covering October 2024 to October 2025 shows:
- Searches for the term “Investment Visa” rose by about 377.8 %, with a 324.2 % increase in just the past three months.
- “Residency by Investment” increased by 238.3 % over 12 months.
- “Citizenship by Investment” climbed 206.4 %.
- Interest in the exact phrase “Golden Visa” rose by 93.5 %.
Leading Destinations: Italy, Greece, Portugal
When pinpointing which destinations are drawing the greatest surge:
- Italy’s golden-visa schemes saw an annual growth of 388.9 %.
- The Greece Golden Visa option jumped by 304.7 % in the past three months, and 257.1 % annually.
- The Portugal Golden Visa remained strong, growing 189.8 % over the past year.
The Budget as a Catalyst
The timing of this uptick is far from coincidental. With the UK budget expected to announce changes to thresholds on income tax, capital gains tax, national insurance on rental or investment income, and possible gift/estate tax adjustments, many wealthy individuals are evaluating alternatives.
- Some business owners are considering relocating their companies overseas—over 40 % of UK business-owners polled say they would contemplate moving their business if capital gains tax rises.
- As one industry commentator put it:
“When the world’s leading economies are facing such uncertainty, Golden Visas are increasingly recognised as powerful avenues towards securing financial and societal freedom, stability, and opportunity.”
What This Means for Wealth & Mobility
- Mobility as a wealth-tool – The surge in interest suggests that for many HNWIs and entrepreneurs, residency or citizenship is no longer a luxury; it’s part of a strategic portfolio decision.
- Tax policy drives behaviour – The fact that advisory firms and platforms are seeing a spike in interest ahead of tax announcements underscores how sensitive wealthy individuals are to policy shifts.
- Competition among jurisdictions – With Greece, Italy and Portugal leading in interest growth, jurisdictions that offer transparent, efficient pathways, favourable tax regimes and lifestyle appeal are gaining. For example, Greece’s Golden Visa can start from €250,000 with a non-dom tax regime capping global income tax at €100,000 per year.
- Asset migration lags person migration – It’s one thing to seek a new residence; it’s another to relocate assets, restructure investment portfolios and align governance. The golden-visa boom may be the first step in broader shifts over time.
Implications for Firms Advising HNWIs
- Advisory firms need readiness: Wealth-advisory, migration and private-banking firms should ensure their teams are up to date on residence/citizenship programmes, cross-border tax implications and structuring considerations.
- Messaging must align: For clients, framing the value of mobility in the context of tax mitigation, risk diversification, lifestyle, legacy and governance will resonate more.
- Due-diligence and timing matter: With interest spiking, jurisdictions may modify terms, processing may slow, and compliance standards may tighten—clients should act with foresight, not simply reaction.
- Holistic solution design: Rather than treating golden-visa programmes in isolation, they should be integrated with wealth structuring, investment strategy, estate planning and cross-jurisdictional readiness.
Is This Wealth Migration or Just Interest?
While a spike in search interest is certainly telling, the crucial question is how much of that converts into yields: actual residency, relocation of wealth, new domiciles and long-term shifts. 2025 may well mark the start of a broader trend of wealth migration. The extent and pace will depend on:
- How the UK budget materialises and whether tax burdens increase significantly.
- The ability of destination jurisdictions to scale their programmes, ensure favourable conditions and offer genuine value.
- The willingness of HNWIs to restructure—not just relocate.
- Geopolitical, economic and regulatory stability in the host jurisdictions.
For any advisor in the wealth-management, migration-advisory or international-mobility space, this is a moment to pay attention: your clients may be ahead of you.
