It’s a wide world of opportunities for Canada’s wealthiest families—one they should not overlook when it comes to their assets, lifestyles and family security.
Of course, the world is not without its borders, with many desirable destinations each offering distinct advantages for those seeking to own property, grow their enterprises in new markets, and residency or even citizenship/security optionality.
Yet for many high-net-worth Canadians, this is an unexplored facet of potential for their finances, lifestyles and families, says Thane Stenner, founder of Stenner Wealth Partners+ at CG Wealth Management and Chairman Emeritus of ultra-high-net worth (UHNW) network Tiger 21 in Canada.
Stenner works with some of Canada’s wealthiest families and entrepreneurs. He previously held award-winning consulting roles at Morgan Stanley/Graystone Consulting, while based in California as Managing Director, International Client Advisor, Institutional Consulting Director, Alternative Investments Director and Portfolio Manager. He also hosts “Smart WealthTM with Thane Stenner,” a podcast produced by BNN Bloomberg Brand Studio.
“The bottom line is, it’s an interesting topic that isn’t talked about nearly enough,” he says. “Some of our clients have moved to different global jurisdictions, or family members have.”
There’s always a navigational journey to figure out where best to relocate and/or do more business.
Thane Stenner
“Most wealth advisors and family offices generally do not have the depth of experience to help clients purchase property in Italy or acquire citizenship by merit in Austria or Malta”, he adds.
They need specialized advisory services, whose sole purpose is helping families navigate asset ownership, taxation, residency, citizenship and passport acquisition across many jurisdictions.
Navigating the globe
“It is quite exciting for clients to explore, and so we lean on top experts,” Stenner says.
Top experts include Henley & Partners, a global advisory firm focused on residence and citizenship planning. With more than 70 offices worldwide, the firm has over 25 years of experience assisting high- and ultra-high-net worth families in structuring domicile portfolios tailored to their individual needs.
“Additionally, we are also able to continue to provide global investment strategies and solutions to these families even if they move out of Canada in most jurisdictions,” Stenner says. “This allows us to continue the long-standing relationship.”
The firm advises clients on a range of considerations—from identifying suitable residence or citizenship options to establishing business connections, acquiring property, and navigating the regulatory and tax frameworks of different jurisdictions.
“This idea of mobility planning is not necessarily about tax or relocation alone,” says Dominic Volek, Group Head of Private Clients and a member of the Executive Committee at Henley & Partners. “For many families, it’s about ensuring they are not limited to a single jurisdiction and have greater flexibility over where they can live, work, and plan for the future.”
Historically, the firm primarily served clients from emerging markets whose passports provided limited visa-free travel and restricted global mobility. For many wealthy families in these regions, securing alternative residence or citizenship rights has long been a practical way to expand travel freedom and build greater long-term resilience.
“There has long been a degree of geopolitical or economic uncertainty in certain parts of the world, which led many wealthy families to seek additional options as a form of long-term security,” Volek says.
While Henley & Partners continues to work with clients across the Global South, its client base has broadened significantly in recent years. Demand has grown particularly strongly in the United States, alongside increasing interest in Europe and the UK, and consistently high levels of engagement from Canada.
Where are wealthy families going?
Henley & Partners’ annual Henley Private Wealth Migration Report shows wealthy families are increasingly on the move. The number of millionaires relocating internationally has tripled since 2013 with 165,000 expected to change jurisdictions in 2026. “Among the top destinations over the past year have been the UAE, the USA, Italy and Switzerland—each offering a distinct combination of economic opportunity, lifestyle advantages, and institutional stability,” Volek says.
“The UAE remains attractive for many reasons, including the absence of income, capital gains and inheritance taxes,” he adds. “It also offers world-class infrastructure, strong connectivity between global markets, and a highly dynamic business environment.” While recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East have reminded investors of the importance of diversification and long-term resilience, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have firmly established themselves as major international hubs for capital, entrepreneurship, and globally mobile families.
“The needs among Canadians vary—from seeking residence in a tax-efficient jurisdiction to acquiring real estate in a year-round warm climate or establishing a business toehold in a new market,” says Alexander Eder, Director, Key Intermediaries – North America at Henley & Partners.
From a business perspective, we help Canadian entrepreneurs access foreign markets by navigating investment and residence requirements—whether that involves residence or citizenship—so they face fewer hurdles. A common question from clients here is which jurisdiction offers the most effective pathway to access the European Union.
Alexander Eder
Another nation on the radar for many Canadian entrepreneurs is New Zealand.
“New Zealand has thriving entertainment and tech industries—for example, WETA Workshop, the creative powerhouse behind The Lord of the Rings films. Wealthy individuals can obtain residence by making a qualifying investment and once established there they may also be able to access government grants that support innovation and help their investments succeed,” Eder says.
Often, client needs and wants are a combination of business, lifestyle and tax efficiencies. Yet they struggle to grasp the differences between jurisdictions, and citizenship versus residence.
“Business visas expire; citizenship does not—that’s for life—and a big benefit is you’re handing that down to your children,” he adds. “When legacy planning, who’s going to carry on the business and expand it, for many people it’s their children.”
Often HNW families are well positioned to gain citizenship and passports to many desirable nations. Most jurisdictions have criteria for investment to gain residency and citizenship that they can afford. For example, applicants can acquire residence through the Malta Permanent Residence Program or, alternatively, those with the relevant skills, profile, qualities, talents and expertise that are considered to significantly advance or benefit the national interest may be granted citizenship on the basis of merit.
Building a domicile portfolio
“In most cases, individuals may maintain their primary residence elsewhere while holding an alternative residence or citizenship,” Volek says. “This can provide families with additional flexibility, including the possibility for future generations to live, work, and study across the EU if they opt for a European program such as the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program,” Volek says.
One stumbling block is a misconception that it is one nation over another decision.
Henley & Partners works with around 60 different residence and citizenship programs across multiple jurisdictions, helping clients assess which options may best suit their circumstances.
“Many programs are quite prescriptive,” Volek says. “They set out clear requirements—for example, making a qualifying investment in exchange for residence rights.”
Greece, for instance, offers a residence option through a real estate investment starting at around EUR 250,000 that can include family members, he adds.
Increasingly, the most mobile-forward families are adopting a portfolio approach—combining citizenship, residence, and investment positions across several jurisdictions.
“If you have a large family, you might create a portfolio that includes a Costa Rica residence, Caribbean citizenship, a Dubai golden visa, a European citizenship, and New Zealand permanent residence.”
Volek says these five programs can form the “ultimate mobility portfolio,” meeting many different family and lifestyle objectives.
“We regularly review clients’ portfolios because policies change and the benefits attached to certain residences or citizenships may evolve over time—those you sought 10 years ago might be less useful today.”
This is all largely done in-house at Henley & Partners. Clients work with a dedicated advisor who collaborates with their other wealth teams, Eder says. Fees vary depending on the complexity of the case, ranging from US$5,000 to more than US$100,000.
“Our strength lies in the depth of expertise we bring to the process,” Eder says, pointing to resources such the Henley Passport Index, which compares the travel access offered by different passports.
“Clients work with one advisor throughout the journey, someone who understands the programs, the requirements, the benefits, and the potential challenges that can arise along the way to catch all the curveballs.”
Follow Thane Stenner and Stenner Wealth Partners+ on LinkedIn. Thane Stenner Interviews/Articles, Member of Canadian Family Offices.
Joel Schlesinger is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer who has written for Canadian Family Offices since 2021. Specializing in investment, wealth advice, real estate and personal finance, he is also a regular columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press, and his work regularly appears in The Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal.
About Henley & Partners
Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship planning. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. The firm’s highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 70 offices worldwide. Henley & Partners also runs the world’s leading government advisory practice for wealth migration, which has raised more than USD 15 billion in foreign direct investment. Contacts: Alexander Eder — Director, Key Intermediaries (North America) — alexander.eder@henleyglobal.com (LinkedIn here) and Dominic Volek — Group Head of Private Clients — dominic.volek@henleyglobal.com (LinkedIn here).
About Stenner Wealth Partners+
Stenner Wealth Partners+ (SWP+) is an in person/virtual Multi-Family Office/Outsourced CIO Consulting team of financial/wealth specialists with a boutique approach and global perspective. SWP+ serves Canadian and US investors/households with generally a minimum of 10M+ in investable assets or 25M+ net worth. As a CG Wealth Management team, SWP+ is a highly exclusive practice team with one of Canada’s largest independent wealth management firms. Client Range of Net Worths: between $25M To $3B+. They strategically limit new client engagements, onboarding only six to eight new key relationships annually to ensure a highly personalized and focused approach. SWP+ is a member of Canadian Family Offices.
Disclaimer: This story was created by Canadian Family Offices’ commercial content division on behalf of Stenner Wealth Partners+ at CG Wealth Management, which is a member and content provider of this publication. CG Wealth Management is a division of Canaccord Genuity Corp., member of CIPF and CIRO. Tax & Estate advice offered through Canaccord Genuity Wealth & Estate Planning Services Ltd. Thane Stenner’s views, including any recommendations, expressed in this article are his own only, and are not necessarily those of Canaccord Genuity Corp.