Investment Migration Reaches $30 Billion - How Tourism, Culture & Regulated Funds Are Reshaping Global Mobility (Why Portugal Leads)

A $30 Billion Market Reshaping Global Mobility

According to international tourism and investment migration media, the global citizenship and residency by investment market now exceeds $30 billion in annual value, with an estimated growth rate of around 12% per year.

More than 80 countries have implemented some form of investment migration route - from EU residence permits and island citizenships to digital nomad visas and entrepreneur residence programs.

What was once a discreet niche has turned into a global development ecosystem, linking:

• tourism growth;
• cultural diplomacy and soft power;
• foreign direct investment (FDI);
• innovation, R&D and infrastructure.

Tourism, Culture & Investment - The New Global Triad

Tourism boards, cultural institutions and investment migration advisors are increasingly working together to design “investment destination tours” - curated trips where prospective investors:

• visit key regions and lifestyle hotspots;
• meet institutional and government representatives;
• tour schools, hospitals and innovation hubs;
• receive in-depth briefings on tax and residency rules.

The result is a more experiential and family-centric process, where the decision is not just “where to invest”, but “where to build the next chapter of our lives”.

Why Portugal, Malta & the UAE Lead the Pack

Despite the broad range of programs, a handful of jurisdictions have built a clear leadership position by combining:

• strong tourism brands;
• high institutional credibility;
• robust financial systems;
• clear compliance and due-diligence frameworks.

For globally mobile families, Portugal increasingly plays the role of anchor jurisdiction - with other programs (Malta, UAE, Caribbean, etc.) acting as complementary pieces.

Internal link: Global ranking of the best residency & Golden Visa programs for 2025.

AI, Blockchain & ESG - Technology and Governance Rewrite the Sector

Technology is reshaping investment migration just as it has transformed banking and asset management. Governments and regulators are increasingly using:

• Artificial intelligence to accelerate due-diligence and risk scoring;
• Blockchain solutions for identity management and source-of-funds verification;
• Mandatory ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) criteria for investment routes.

Investment migration capital is increasingly directed toward:

• green energy and climate transition projects;
• social housing and urban regeneration;
• innovation, R&D and Industry 4.0 initiatives;
• cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.

This shift plays directly into the strengths of regulated private equity and SIFIDE-type funds in Portugal, which are already structured around impact, governance and real-economy outcomes.

The New Investor Profile: Families, Entrepreneurs & Security

The typical applicant profile has broadened. Beyond ultra-high-net worth individuals, today's investment migration clients increasingly include:

• business owners seeking geopolitical diversification;
• young entrepreneurs building location-independent companies;
• families prioritising healthcare, education and safety;
• cross-border professionals aligning residency with global careers.

For these investors, investment migration is less about status and more about a family security and lifestyle strategy - deeply connected to wellness tourism and cultural immersion.

Portugal’s Edge: Fund-Based Residency & Private Equity

Portugal's move away from pure real estate toward €500k investment funds has reinforced its role as a benchmark jurisdiction for serious investors.

By allocating capital into CMVM-regulated funds, investors can:

• obtain a Portuguese residence permit with low physical presence requirements;
• access the Schengen Area for travel and, over time, a route to EU citizenship;
• gain diversified exposure to private equity, infrastructure, innovation or other asset classes;
• align their residency plan with ESG and impactobjectives.

For global families, this is a fundamental shift: residency is no longer tied to a single property, but to a professionally managed portfolio.

Internal links: Portugal Golden Visa via private equity funds and Greece vs. Portugal - why the Portuguese fund route still wins for serious investors.

Explorer’s Role in the New Global Momentum

With more than €1.8 billion in assets under management, Explorer operates precisely at the intersection of private equity, SIFIDE funds and Golden Visa-eligible vehicles.

For international families and corporate investors, this means:

• Access to regulated private equity funds that qualify for the Portuguese Golden Visa;
• SIFIDE and R&D-focused funds that optimise corporate tax (IRC) while supporting innovation;
• A consistent track record of capital deployment and distributions, including ~75% of capital returned in the first SIFIDE fund;
• A long-term approach to global mobility architecture: combining Portugal with Greece, Malta, UAE and other hubs when it makes strategic sense.

“In a $30 billion market, the real differentiator is not who offers a visa - it is who can combine residency rights, private equity discipline and real economic impact in a transparent, regulated framework. That is where Explorer chooses to stand.”

Internal link: Learn more about Explorer Investments, our team and our investment philosophy.

FAQs - The $30B Investment Migration Market