Indian high-net-worth families are increasingly utilizing residence and citizenship planning as a core wealth diversification strategy, according to insights shared at the Hubbis India Wealth Management Forum 2025 in Mumbai. Dominic Volek, Group Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners, outlined how domicile planning, international education pathways, and mobility have become essential components of modern private wealth management alongside traditional asset allocation.
Domicile Diversification and Global Mobility for Indian Families
For most wealthy Indian families, international mobility does not mean abandoning their home country. According to data and presentations from Henley & Partners presented in Mumbai, the vast majority of affluent clients retain their primary base in India while securing alternative residence or citizenship abroad. Dominic Volek characterized this approach as an essential “insurance policy” or Plan B designed to manage political, regulatory, or tax uncertainties.
This strategy mirrors traditional portfolio management. Just as investors spread capital across equities, fixed income, and real estate, domicile diversification gives families international optionality. Demand is particularly strong for golden visa and residence programmes in European and global markets such as Portugal, Malta, Greece, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates.
Education Pathways and Evolving Global Programmes
International education serves as one of the primary catalysts driving Indian families toward investment migration. Wealthy parents frequently seek structured residence solutions in major study destinations—including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UAE—to ensure their children can transition smoothly from academic programmes to post-graduate career opportunities and long-term legal residence.
The global landscape for these programmes is undergoing rapid structural shifts. According to Henley & Partners, recent policy adjustments include Spain moving to close its golden visa framework, pending regulatory changes in Portugal, the introduction of new pathways in Argentina, and the emergence of New Zealand as an increasingly favored safe-haven destination. Additionally, shifts in the United Kingdom’s tax regime have triggered noticeable outflows of ultra-high-net-worth individuals relocating to alternative European jurisdictions and the UAE.
End-to-End Advisory and Global Execution
To navigate these complex regulatory environments, wealth managers and advisory firms are deploying integrated, end-to-end service models. Henley & Partners operates through a global network of more than 60 offices—including local teams positioned across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru—to manage client applications directly. Over its 25-year history, the firm has advised more than 25,000 clients globally and facilitated over USD 15 billion in foreign direct investment through its direct advisory work with sovereign governments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are Indian HNWIs investing in residence and citizenship planning? Families use these programmes primarily for international education access, tax planning, and establishing a secure Plan B against macroeconomic or regulatory volatility.
- Does acquiring a second residence mean leaving India? No. According to industry data, most wealthy Indian clients maintain their primary economic and personal ties in India while utilizing foreign residence rights as a form of cross-border diversification.
- Which destinations are currently in highest demand? Popular jurisdictions include European countries offering residence-by-investment pathways, traditional study destinations like Canada and Australia, and emerging financial hubs such as the UAE.
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