New research from deVere Group indicates that around 35% of high-net-worth individuals are exploring relocation to countries with lower taxes.
Over a third of our 80,000 mostly affluent clients, especially from the UK, parts of Europe, Australia, and select Asian and African regions, are seeking guidance on moving themselves, their families, or business operations to reduce their tax liabilities.
As I was quoted by Khaleej Times, Investor Ideas, Financial Planning Today, Business Money, Middle East Economy, Money Marketing, and Luxurious Magazine, amongst other media, the findings highlight a trend that is becoming increasingly clear across global advisory networks: the rapid rise of the Great Wealth Migration.
Jurisdictional Risk Reshapes Wealth Strategy
Affluent individuals are re-evaluating where to locate themselves and their assets amid shifting tax policies, geopolitical risks, and policy uncertainty.
This reflects careful, strategic planning rather than impulsive decisions.
Internal advisory data reveals a significant rise in client inquiries about tax residency planning, domicile reviews, obtaining second residencies, and cross-border corporate restructuring.
Discussions that used to focus on optimisation are now focused on risk management.
Three major factors are fuelling this change.
The first is that jurisdictional risk has become a key consideration for wealth planning.
Tax exposure is no longer seen as fixed. Adjustments to capital gains taxes, inheritance rules, and preferential regimes in many developed countries have shown how quickly fiscal landscapes can change.
Clients are restructuring their legal and residency setups to avoid over-reliance on a single tax system or political environment.
Defensive Relocation Prioritises Wealth Preservation
Policy priorities can shift within a single political term. Families are seeking certainty and structural flexibility, as concentrated exposure to one jurisdiction now represents a tangible financial risk.
Second, moving residences is now often driven by defensive considerations.
Earlier waves of international relocation were mostly motivated by growth and expansion opportunities. Today, however, the focus is on preserving wealth and protecting assets.
Key drivers include safeguarding wealth for future generations, maintaining operational continuity, and minimising exposure to sudden legal or policy changes.
Succession planning is now a central part of relocation decisions. Families are examining inheritance liabilities, trust arrangements, and intergenerational asset transfers alongside their residency choices.
Capital Flows Toward Stability and Predictability
Third, wealth is increasingly concentrated in jurisdictions with predictable policies.
The Great Wealth Migration is deliberate. Capital is flowing toward countries that provide clear fiscal rules, strong legal frameworks, and long-term policy stability.
Areas that combine competitive tax structures with robust institutions are attracting steady interest from globally mobile high-net-worth individuals.
The United Arab Emirates remains a major draw thanks to its zero personal income tax and long-term residency options. Certain European and Asian financial hubs with stable regulatory environments are also gaining appeal among globally mobile families.
Entrepreneurs are exploring relocating corporate headquarters, restructuring holding entities, and re-domiciling operations to maximise after-tax returns and enhance strategic positioning.
Wealth flows to stability. When policy feels uncertain, investors gravitate toward jurisdictions with transparent, predictable, and favourable regulations.
The magnitude of this migration is significant. Worldwide trends show increasing outflows of millionaires from higher-tax countries, matched by record inflows into jurisdictions with stable policies. Data from deVere’s clients mirrors this pattern.
Relocation decisions are far from simple. Factors such as double taxation treaties, substance requirements, reporting duties, and long-term residency criteria all need careful evaluation. Professional guidance is crucial to ensure both compliance and a smooth, effective transition.
The Great Wealth Migration reflects careful, rational planning in response to shifting global risks. High-net-worth individuals are thinking ahead.
They are strategically deciding where to live, where to conduct business, and how to structure their assets to strengthen long-term wealth resilience, protection, and growth.
To read my previous blog post, click here.