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Forbes
18-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Strategic Residency Is Becoming A Boardroom Issue
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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USA Today
11-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Want to move to Middle-earth? New Zealand just made it easier for rich Americans to stay
Want to move to Middle-earth? New Zealand just made it easier for rich Americans to stay Show Caption Hide Caption Want to move abroad? These are the best countries for remote workers. Here are seven countries with digital nomad visas if you're looking to move abroad. New Zealand eased requirements for its Active Investor Plus Visa Program, making it simpler for wealthy individuals to gain residency. The updated program removes the English-language requirement and reduces the minimum required stay. While the visa contributes towards citizenship, it requires additional time spent in New Zealand. While some countries may be scaling back their golden visa opportunities, New Zealand just made it easier for wealthy Americans to earn residency. New Zealand relaxed several of the requirements for its Active Investor Plus Visa Program on April 1. The program launched in September 2022 as part of a broader scheme to attract "global citizens who can bring ideas and financial capital into the country," according to Dominic Jones, managing director of Origin Capital Partners and Greener Pastures New Zealand, a firm that helps people achieve these visas. At first, the program brought in an average of $1 billion NZD a year, but then tightened its rules. Since then, only 43 applications have been approved. The new modifications include removing the English-language requirement, requiring investments in full and shortening the time people need to spend in the country to as little as 21 days, according to the New Zealand government website. "These changes help attract high value investment, simplify settings, and incentivize people to invest in 'active' investment classes," it states. "The theory behind that is by putting money into the local business, there's a direct benefit on jobs. And from that, either a benefit in terms of economic outpour or for New Zealand in particular – we're an export-led nation – so they're very much trying to encourage dollars in equaling tangible benefit out on the other side for New Zealand," Jones said. On a recent visit to the island nation, Dr. Travis Taylor and his partner Chris fell in love with its mountainscapes and welcoming culture. They find New Zealand's South Island, known for its glaciers, to be their ideal destination to live part-time for about five months out of the year once they retire and are just starting their visa process. "I love it, it was absolutely gorgeous," Taylor said. "It's just an amazing to drive around." He added that New Zealand's small population compared to its land mass, offers the quiet retreat they've been looking for. Here's what to know about New Zealand's golden visa. Make your journey safer and smarter: Sign up for USA TODAY's Travel newsletter. What to know about golden visas: You could 'buy' European residency for about $500K What are the requirements for New Zealand's golden visa? Interested expats can pursue two newly introduced routes, but in both cases, investments need to be made within six months, according to the official website. The Growth Category, or a minimum 5 million NZD (about $2.87 million) investment over a three-year period in managed funds and direct business investments, plus a 21-day stay. The Balanced Category, or a minimum investment of 10 million NZD (about $5.74 million) over five years in a diverse range of investments, like philanthropy and bonds, as well as spending 105 days in the country. Additional investments for the latter will also shorten the required time in New Zealand. What are the benefits of a New Zealand residency? Besides abundant coastal and mountain landscapes – the latter of which are so stunning that they're nicknamed the Southern Alps – New Zealand boasts a stable democracy and relaxed way of living, according to Jones. It's often ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, according to the World Population Review. It's also one of the few English-speaking countries that offer a golden visa, added Jones. Australia and the United Kingdom don't, although the U.S. recently launched one. How long does it take to get citizenship to New Zealand? The visa is not the same as citizenship, but it counts towards the five years needed to earn citizenship. You'd also need to be present in the country for 240 days each year.
