Investment Migration Market Surges Past $100 Billion as Demand From Turkey Soars

The global market for residency and citizenship through investment programs is entering a phase of rapid expansion, with Turkey emerging as one of the fastest-growing sources of demand. Once a niche segment with limited participation before the pandemic, the sector is now projected to exceed $100 billion by 2026, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting tax regimes, and a growing focus on wealth protection.

Data indicate that interest from Turkish investors has increased dramatically over the past four years, rising more than tenfold compared with pre-pandemic levels. This surge reflects broader changes in how high-net-worth individuals and globally mobile entrepreneurs approach risk management, residency planning, and asset diversification.

A Market Transformed by Global Uncertainty

In 2019, the global investment migration market—including citizenship-by-investment and residency-by-investment programs—was estimated at approximately $21.4 billion. Since then, a convergence of global factors has reshaped the sector.

Geopolitical tensions, evolving tax enforcement practices, capital controls in certain jurisdictions, and heightened concerns over personal and financial security have all contributed to accelerating demand. Rather than being viewed solely as a pathway to visa-free travel or lifestyle flexibility, investment migration is increasingly treated as a strategic financial hedge.

Current projections suggest that the market is on track to grow exponentially over the next two years, with institutional players, real estate developers, and advisory firms expanding their presence to capture rising investor interest.

Golden Visa Capital Fuels Real Estate Growth

According to Savills, the global real estate market is expected to surpass $1 trillion in value by 2026. Analysts estimate that at least 10% of this volume will be directly linked to capital flows associated with Golden Visa and citizenship-by-investment programs.

This connection highlights the growing role of real estate as the primary asset class underpinning investment migration schemes. Residential and mixed-use developments tied to residency incentives are increasingly structured to appeal to internationally mobile investors seeking both capital preservation and regulatory stability.

For many investors, Golden Visa programs now serve a dual function: enabling mobility while also offering exposure to regulated property markets in politically and economically stable jurisdictions.

Turkey Emerges as a Standout Source Market

While global demand for investment migration has risen broadly, Turkey stands out for the scale and speed of growth in outbound investment activity. According to reporting by Bloomberg HT, Turkey’s contribution to the sector has expanded far more rapidly than the global average.

Data shared by Teuta Narazan, Co-Founder of Vesta Global, shows that capital from Turkey directed toward residency and citizenship-by-investment programs totaled approximately $213 million in 2020. By contrast, in the first 11 months of 2024, this figure exceeded $2.4 billion.

Based on current momentum, annual investment volume from Turkey is expected to reach $3 billion, underscoring the country’s growing importance in the global investment migration ecosystem.

This sharp increase reflects not only growing wealth mobility but also a shift in investor mindset. Turkish investors are increasingly using international residency options as part of a broader portfolio strategy rather than treating them as one-off lifestyle decisions.

Destination Preferences: Europe and the Gulf Lead

Regarding destination choice, Turkish investors exhibit a clear geographic pattern. Narazan notes that within Europe, Portugal and Greece remain the most popular options, largely due to their established legal frameworks, real estate-linked residency models, and relatively transparent program structures.

Outside Europe, Dubai has emerged as a leading destination, benefiting from its investor-friendly regulatory environment, tax advantages, and positioning as a global business hub. The UAE’s long-term residency initiatives have made it particularly attractive for entrepreneurs and internationally active professionals.

However, Narazan emphasizes that rising demand has also made investors more selective. Program choice is no longer driven solely by minimum investment thresholds. Instead, factors such as legal certainty, regulatory consistency, and long-term sustainability are decisive.

From Lifestyle Choice to Risk Management Tool

Industry observers note that the evolution of the investment migration market reflects a deeper transformation in investor priorities. Programs once marketed primarily around lifestyle benefits—such as freedom of movement or second-home opportunities—are now evaluated through the lens of risk diversification and asset protection.

For investors from Turkey and other emerging markets, residency and citizenship programs offer a way to mitigate exposure to political volatility, currency risk, and regulatory unpredictability. This has positioned the sector as a structural component of global wealth planning rather than a cyclical trend.

Outlook: Structural Growth Ahead

With global mobility patterns continuing to evolve and cross-border capital flows becoming more complex, analysts expect the investment migration market to maintain strong growth beyond 2026. The combination of rising global wealth, persistent uncertainty, and increasingly sophisticated investor behavior suggests that demand will remain resilient.

For Turkey, the rapid expansion of outbound investment in residency and citizenship programs signals a lasting shift rather than a temporary spike. As investors prioritize flexibility, legal security, and long-term stability, Turkey is likely to remain one of the most influential source markets shaping the future of global investment migration.