Few firms have shaped the global investor migration industry like Henley & Partners. Rather than simply participating in the rise of citizenship-by-investment programs, they played a central role in designing and institutionalizing them.
Since the late 1990s, Henley has moved from a boutique Swiss advisory to a multi-jurisdictional powerhouse that advises both high-net-worth individuals and sovereign governments on how to leverage mobility as strategy.
Their model is twofold: on one side, they guide private clients through acquiring second citizenships or residency rights in countries like Malta, Portugal, and St. Kitts & Nevis. On the other, they’ve helped governments launch and refine some of the most commercially successful investment migration programs in the world.
The firm’s impact is visible not just in how people move, but in how countries structure their visa offerings.
With a presence in over 55 cities and a client base that spans family offices, entrepreneurs, and legacy wealth holders, Henley isn’t selling escape plans—they’re offering optionality. For clients facing political instability, rising tax exposure, or simply the need for more global flexibility, this firm provides a path that feels less reactive and more calculated.
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Company Background
Henley & Partners was founded in 1997, but its rise didn’t follow the traditional path of a consultancy. Instead of scaling through client volume or real estate partnerships, the firm grew by embedding itself into the architecture of the investment migration industry itself. It wasn’t just advising wealthy individuals—it was helping governments build the very programs those individuals would one day apply for.
The company’s earliest major milestone came in the early 2000s, when it was brought in by the government of St. Kitts & Nevis to relaunch and professionalize its Citizenship by Investment program. That mandate wasn’t just operational—it was strategic. Henley helped design legal frameworks, vetting procedures, and marketing strategies that later became blueprints for other countries.
Today, the firm is headquartered in London but operates on a truly global scale, with over 55 offices across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. This network allows them to offer local insight while maintaining centralized expertise—something few competitors have managed to replicate.
The leadership team includes lawyers, economists, and policy advisors who often sit on panels with global institutions. The firm also publishes influential reports like the Henley Passport Index and Global Mobility Report, positioning itself not just as a service provider, but as a thought leader shaping the dialogue around global citizenship and mobility.
Unlike firms that built their credibility on high-touch concierge services, Henley built its name by being in the room where decisions get made—both at the personal level and at the policy level.
Core Services Offered
Henley & Partners doesn’t present itself as a typical immigration firm—and its services reflect that. Their approach blends legal advisory, investment planning, and government-facing strategy into one cohesive model that caters specifically to globally mobile individuals and families with complex needs.
Here’s what they offer:
- Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI): Henley advises clients on CBI programs in countries like Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, Grenada, Malta, and Turkey. They handle the entire process—from eligibility checks to investment structuring and application filing—while also managing risk assessments through internal due diligence.
- Residence-by-Investment (RBI): For those seeking more flexible relocation paths or future citizenship options, Henley supports programs in Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Austria. These programs often involve real estate, fund investment, or government bonds, and the firm builds personalized strategies around timing, tax exposure, and long-term ROI.
- Strategic Advisory for Governments: Henley is unique in that it doesn’t just work with applicants—it works with the countries themselves. The firm has advised more than 20 governments on how to design, regulate, and promote their investment migration frameworks. This includes legal drafting, security procedures, marketing rollouts, and application infrastructure.
- Private Client Structuring & Global Mobility Planning: Beyond passports and visas, Henley offers wealth migration planning—advising clients on tax residency, succession across jurisdictions, and long-term family office setup. These services are typically reserved for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and are often coordinated alongside law firms, private banks, or trustees.
- Reputation & Risk Advisory: The firm offers due diligence and political risk assessments for individuals entering sensitive jurisdictions or facing enhanced scrutiny. They work with global partners and databases to evaluate exposure before any application is submitted—particularly valuable for politically exposed persons (PEPs) or clients from emerging markets.
Pricing & Transparency
Henley & Partners operates at the high end of the investment migration market, and their pricing reflects that. While they don’t publish fixed rates for services on their website, the firm is upfront about government program costs and provides detailed proposals during the consultation phase.
For most citizenship-by-investment programs, clients can expect to pay the official government contribution (which ranges from $100,000 to $250,000 depending on the jurisdiction and number of dependents), plus Henley’s professional fees, which typically fall between $25,000 and $75,000 per application.
Complex cases involving family structuring, multiple jurisdictions, or enhanced due diligence may cost more.
On the residency-by-investment side—such as in Portugal or Greece—Henley’s role often includes coordination with legal teams, tax advisors, and real estate professionals. In these cases, advisory fees are customized and layered depending on how much of the process the client wants handled in-house versus through third parties.
For ultra-high-net-worth clients requiring mobility planning, succession strategy, or multi-jurisdictional asset protection, Henley offers premium advisory services under a retainer model or private client structure—typically discussed in closed consultation.
What’s worth noting is that Henley doesn’t incentivize volume or push specific programs with backend commissions. They position themselves as independent advisors, not brokers—and the pricing structure is built to reflect that.
In short: it’s not cheap, and it’s not off-the-shelf. But for clients with significant assets and complex objectives, the clarity and structure Henley provides often offsets the premium.
Client Experience & Reviews
Henley & Partners operates in a space where discretion is often more valuable than public praise. As a result, you won’t find a flood of online reviews or glowing testimonials scattered across platforms like Trustpilot or Google. That’s by design—many of their clients are politically exposed persons (PEPs), family offices, and ultra-wealthy individuals who expect privacy, not publicity.
Still, within legal and financial circles, Henley is widely viewed as the institutional player in the investment migration space. Law firms, banks, and wealth managers often refer their clients to Henley when the stakes are high or the case is particularly complex.
Their reputation is built not on marketing, but on execution—especially in jurisdictions where regulatory frameworks can be slow or unpredictable.
Clients who do speak publicly often reference the firm’s global consistency. A case that starts in Dubai can be handled in parallel by teams in Zurich or London without losing momentum. The ability to work across offices—without handing the client off to an affiliate or outside partner—is something most competitors still struggle to match.
There are occasional criticisms around speed and bureaucracy, particularly from clients expecting a concierge-like pace. But that seems to reflect Henley’s legal-first approach: they move carefully, not quickly, and they prioritize compliance over convenience. For clients expecting full-service white-glove treatment, that distinction matters.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deep Government-Level Influence: Henley isn’t just familiar with investment migration programs—they’ve helped design many of them. Their behind-the-scenes policy work gives them access and insight most firms simply don’t have.
- Global Presence with Integrated Teams: With 55+ offices worldwide, Henley offers a rare level of continuity across jurisdictions. Clients working across Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia can expect a unified experience rather than dealing with scattered affiliates.
- Comprehensive Service Scope: From second citizenship to tax residency and legacy planning, Henley covers a wide spectrum of services—especially useful for UHNW individuals managing cross-border complexity.
- Credibility and Compliance Focus: The firm prioritizes legal integrity and due diligence, making it a strong fit for clients with sensitive profiles or complex regulatory concerns.
Cons
- Not Built for Speed: The firm takes a methodical approach. Clients expecting fast-tracked, concierge-style execution may find the pace slower—particularly when compliance protocols come into play.
- Limited Personalization for Mid-Tier Clients: While high-net-worth and institutional clients receive tailored advisory, individuals with basic needs may find the experience less customized compared to boutique firms.
Why Choose Henley & Partners?
If you’re looking for global mobility with structure—not just access to a second passport, but a long-term plan that aligns with your wealth, your family, and your business—Henley & Partners makes a strong case. They’re not in the business of quick fixes. Instead, they offer a legally rigorous, globally integrated approach to citizenship and residency that’s designed to hold up under scrutiny.
What sets Henley apart is its strategic depth. Most firms will show you a menu of available programs—Henley will explain how each one affects your tax exposure, asset protection, and future exit options. They’re not just filing forms; they’re building frameworks.
They also offer something many firms can’t: institutional muscle. Whether you’re applying for a Caribbean citizenship, evaluating European residency pathways, or planning a multi-generational mobility strategy, their team can operate across borders without losing control of the process. That continuity matters—especially when timelines are tight, or compliance risk is high.
Henley isn’t the right choice for everyone. But for clients with complex international footprints—or those who want the same caliber of service they’d expect from a private bank or global law firm—it’s one of the most reliable players in the space.
