Passportivity sees citizenship by investment market shifting by 2030

By AI, Created 10:10 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Passportivity says the citizenship by investment market is moving from a travel perk to a wealth-planning tool, with demand expected to stay strong through 2030 among high-net-worth families in the U.S. and Canada. The report points to tighter regulation, more emerging-market programs and a broader focus on banking access, tax planning and backup residency options.

Why it matters: - Citizenship by investment is becoming a risk-management and wealth-planning strategy, not just a way to gain visa-free travel. - The shift affects high-net-worth families who want mobility, banking access, tax flexibility and a contingency plan in an unstable global environment. - Passportivity expects demand to remain strong through 2030 even as governments tighten rules and programs move beyond the Caribbean.

What happened: - Passportivity released a report on May 7, 2026, saying the global citizenship by investment market is entering a new phase driven by geopolitical instability, regulatory pressure and changing investor priorities. - The report says demand should stay elevated through 2030, especially among wealthy investors and globally mobile families in the United States and Canada. - The company says applicants now care less about passport prestige alone and more about speed, total cost, no residence requirements, family inclusion, tax optimization and global banking flexibility.

The details: - The report says citizenship by investment is increasingly used to maintain access to international banking systems, diversify geopolitical exposure and support long-term family planning. - Passportivity says the Caribbean remains a major region for these programs, but the supply of programs is widening quickly. - New or announced programs include Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Príncipe in Africa, Nauru in Oceania, and an expected launch in Argentina. - The report says additional Caribbean countries are preparing to enter the market. - Growing competition among governments seeking foreign capital is pushing this expansion. - Stricter rules in established markets are also steering investors toward new jurisdictions. - European Union pressure has already reshaped the sector. - By 2025, all European citizenship-by-investment programs had closed after legal rulings found such schemes conflict with EU law. - Caribbean governments have begun harmonizing their programs, including standardizing minimum investment thresholds and adding compliance measures such as enhanced due diligence and, in some cases, residence requirements. - Passportivity compares programs by minimum investment thresholds, processing times, residence requirements, family eligibility and available investment routes.

Between the lines: - The report suggests investors are treating second citizenship as part of a broader financial defense strategy. - Geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts are making backup citizenship more attractive to wealthy families. - Tax and regulatory changes in major economies are pushing some investors to look for more flexible jurisdictions. - Banking compliance is another driver, since multiple citizenships can simplify due diligence and reduce account disruption risk. - The analysis points to a market splitting between stricter, higher-compliance programs and newer, lower-threshold options in emerging markets. - Passportivity also expects more governments to tie citizenship offers to infrastructure, sustainability and climate resilience projects, which would move the sector away from purely transactional models.

What’s next: - Passportivity expects tighter due diligence and applicant screening to continue through 2030. - The report says emerging markets in Africa and developing economies are likely to gain share because of lower entry thresholds and faster processing. - Multi-status strategies that combine citizenship and residence permits across several countries are expected to grow. - Investors in North America are likely to keep focusing on backup mobility, education access, healthcare options and long-term relocation flexibility. - Passportivity says families from the United States and Canada are increasingly seeking a credible Plan B for wealth preservation and future movement.

The bottom line: - Citizenship by investment is moving from a niche mobility product to a strategic financial tool, and the next phase of competition will center on compliance, speed and long-term value rather than simple passport access.