How Strategic Residency Is Becoming A Boardroom Issue

Forbes

18-07-2025

Dominic Jones, Managing Director, Origin Capital Partners & Greener Pastures New Zealand.
The European Court of Justice's recent decision to strike down Malta's golden passport program marks the end of a chapter in global migration policy. More importantly, it signals a wider pivot in how governments view investor migration.
Overall, they are moving away from passive capital inflows and toward meaningful, long-term economic alignment. As someone who works directly with high-net-worth individuals navigating this space, I've seen how this shift is affecting not just applicants but the business leaders who advise them.
In today's uncertain geopolitical landscape, cross-border mobility is becoming essential to enterprise resilience. Once the domain of the ultra-wealthy seeking a second passport for convenience or status, strategic residency has entered the boardroom as a risk management tool.
Executives, founders and investors are actively evaluating their options not only for lifestyle or taxation purposes but to safeguard operations, talent and capital in an increasingly fragmented world.
The End Of 'Citizenship For Sale'
The EU ruling represents a clear message: The era of "buy-a-passport" schemes may be over, at least in many advanced Western democracies. The concern, according to the court, was that such programs commoditized national identity and allowed applicants to sidestep the deeper vetting processes that come with permanent migration. This has implications far beyond Malta. Other nations with similar programs have already removed or begun rethinking their offerings.
As ever, change brings opportunity. The demise of low-barrier citizenship programs opens the door for a new generation of strategic residency pathways—ones that are more rigorous, aligned with national priorities and sustainable in the long run.
Strategic Residency As Corporate Risk Management
From my conversations with clients and peers within the industry, it's clear that a second residency is quickly becoming a key part of continuity planning. The war in Ukraine, heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait, ongoing instability in the Middle East and domestic political polarization in major markets have all contributed to a new calculus. Where will my leadership team be safe and operational in the event of regional conflict? How can I preserve mobility for employees and board members? What jurisdictions offer not just legal safety, but reputational integrity?
In that context, strategic residency options are increasingly seen as a form of geopolitical diversification. Just as savvy investors don't put all their capital into one market, global executives are realizing they don't want to place all their people and operations within a single national framework.
Key Features Of Future-Proof Residency Programs
Programs that I see succeeding in this new era share three key characteristics:
1. Economic Alignment: These programs don't just accept capital; they direct it to areas of strategic national value. In New Zealand, for instance, the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa encourages growth investments in operating businesses and local funds, not passive real estate speculation.
2. High Vetting Standards: Modern programs require meaningful background checks, financial transparency and applicant engagement. This increases the legitimacy of the program and reduces political backlash.
3. Integration Over Isolation: The best programs aren't about hiding wealth abroad or parking capital. They attract applicants who want to participate in the local economy as investors, mentors, board members and sometimes even residents. This benefits both the applicant and the host country.
Why Boards Should Care
At the board level, the implications are growing clearer. Strategic residency can support:
• Executive Relocation And Retention: Offering flexibility in where senior leadership can live and work is a growing perk for top talent.
• Cross-Border Investment Planning: Certain jurisdictions offer stability that can underpin global expansion or hedge against domestic disruption.
• Family And Wealth Protection: Residency programs often come with enhanced legal protections for personal and corporate assets.
These considerations are no longer fringe or speculative. They are increasingly on the agenda at quarterly meetings and in succession planning sessions.
Advice For Business Leaders
If you're a decision maker in today's complex business environment, here are a few steps I often recommend to clients:
• Audit your geographic risk. Assess where your leadership, IP and capital are based. Are you overly exposed to one market?
• Evaluate long-term fit. Look beyond tax benefits. Consider alignment with your company's values, strategic industries and growth potential.
• Partner with trusted advisors. Work with local firms who understand both the legal framework and cultural landscape of your target jurisdiction.
With this changing stance on these types of international investments, we are seeing a smarter, more strategic approach to global residency taking place. Governments are right to demand more from applicants, but the best applicants, like successful founders, investors and executives, are also demanding more from governments. They want to contribute, not just gain access.
As the conversation shifts from convenience to contribution, business leaders would be wise to pay attention. In a world of rising uncertainty, the right residency isn't just a personal perk. It could be one of the most strategic assets on your company's balance sheet.
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