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Stuart Wakeling is a Managing Partner at Henley & Partners and the Head of the firm’s London and Africa offices.
Africa’s wealth landscape is evolving, and investment migration has become a powerful vehicle for investors to secure long-term prosperity, mitigate regional risks, and preserve inter-generational wealth. The continent’s two wealthiest countries in terms of their millionaire populations, South Africa and Egypt, rank 7th and 10th globally, respectively, when it comes to the number of applications Henley & Partners has processed this year, illustrating the healthy demand for residence and citizenship by investment solutions among Africa’s affluent.
While access to visa-free travel remains a key motivation on a continent that suffers disproportionately high visa rejection rates, today’s wealth holders in Africa are after more than travel convenience. They are harnessing investment migration programs to strategically position their families across stable jurisdictions and structure their wealth in ways that endure across generations.
For many African investors, the disparity in African passport strength and global mobility options is stark. Even the Seychelles — Africa’s highest-ranking passport — offers access to only 156 destinations. South African passport holders can travel to 103 destinations without a prior visa, while Egyptians have visa-free access to just 49.
Compare this to the passports of jurisdictions such as Portugal (188 visa-free destinations), Greece (187), Antigua and Barbuda (152), and Grenada (147), which enable a strategic upgrade via investment migration. Gaining residence rights or citizenship in these countries improves global mobility and also open doors to financial systems, education institutions, and legal environments that protect wealth and support global integration.
Henley & Partners’ enquiries data shows that interest in investment migration has been accelerating across the continent. South Africa has long been in the Top 10 list globally in terms of enquiries and applications for programs. In North Africa, enquiries soared by 154% in Morocco between 2023 and 2024, 138% in Egypt, and 154% in Algeria. In West Africa, enquiries in Kenya were up by 71% in the same period, and by 60% in Ghana. To the east of the continent, Ethiopian and Ugandan enquiries rose by 147% and 69%, respectively, and in Cameroon in Central Africa they increased by 82%.
This wide-reaching demand signals a continental shift toward diversified wealth management. Families and their advisors are increasingly treating residence and citizenship programs as a core component of future-proofing wealth rather than a luxury or a contingency plan.
Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program continues to dominate as the most popular option for our African clientele in 2025. It allows investors to contribute to companies, investment funds, or research or cultural activities in return for residence rights, and offers a clear path to citizenship within five years. Elsewhere in Europe, Greece’s Golden Visa Program and Latvia’s Residence by Investment Program are compelling options that are gaining in popularity. Both have real estate investment pathways, and resident permit holders enjoy broad Schengen Area access.
The Caribbean citizenship programs of Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada rank joint 2nd in popularity among African applicants in 2025. Their appeal lies in affordability, visa-free access to over 140 destinations, and efficient processing times. For businesspeople looking to gain access to business centers such as the UK, Singapore, and Europe’s Schengen Area in a relatively short timeframe, these programs are ideal.
Investment migration is increasingly seen as a tool for intergenerational strategy and long-term security, with African high-net-worth investors using programs to access stable jurisdictions where they can establish family trusts, domiciles, and governance structures that safeguard their wealth.
Countries such as the UK, Australia, and Canada offer residence pathways that align with educational, lifestyle, and business ambitions. The UK Innovator Founder Program, for example, allows families to live, work, and study in one of the world’s most trusted legal environments, with prestigious schools and universities. Australia’s National Innovation Visa offers similar benefits for highly skilled and talented academics and researchers, innovative investors and entrepreneurs, as well as world-renowned athletes, artists, and entertainers — granting access to world-class universities and healthcare systems. The Canada Start-Up Visa Program offers permanent residence to entrepreneurs and investors in companies and expanding businesses that seek to establish a presence in the multi-cultural country, which offers a path to citizenship after three years.
Newer programs, such as Nauru’s Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, reflect the next generation of investment migration options. Successful applicants have the opportunity to secure a second citizenship while supporting the island’s sustainable development through a financial contribution. Nauru’s passport offers visa-free access to destinations including Hong Kong (SAR China), Singapore, the UAE, and the UK, providing diversified access amid a shifting geopolitical landscape
Looking ahead, investment migration is set to become a cornerstone of wealth planning for Africa’s affluent. With family offices expanding their global footprints and the next generation of wealth holders embracing international education and business opportunities, the demand for flexible residence and citizenship rights will only intensify.
This evolution positions Henley & Partners at the nexus of private wealth and global mobility. Our advisory services are not simply about acquiring travel documents — they are about unlocking global access, structuring for multi-generational prosperity, and safeguarding African wealth in an increasingly unpredictable world.
In a time of complexity, investment migration is more than a Plan B. It is a strategy for continuity. Africa’s wealthiest are going global, and a new era of legacy-building has begun.
Note: Visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and eTA rules can be updated, amended, or adjusted at any time due to changes in diplomatic, security, health, migration, or reciprocal policies.
Henley & Partners assists international clients in obtaining residence and citizenship under the respective programs. Contact us to arrange an initial private consultation.
