Alternatives Guide 2026
Henley charges EUR 30,000+ for immigration advice. For 99% of people, there are dramatically cheaper ways to get the same answers.
Henley and Partners is the world's most prominent citizenship and residency advisory firm. Founded in 1997, they advise ultra-high-net-worth individuals on citizenship by investment (CBI) and residency by investment (RBI) programmes. They also publish the Henley Passport Index, the most-cited passport power ranking.
Their services include programme selection, application management, due diligence preparation, and government liaison for investment migration. Fees typically start at EUR 30,000 and can exceed EUR 100,000 for complex cases. Their clients are investing EUR 100,000 to EUR 2,000,000+ in exchange for a second passport or golden visa, so the consulting fee is a fraction of the total investment.
For the ultra-wealthy planning a EUR 500,000 citizenship-by-investment application, Henley's expertise and government relationships are genuinely valuable. But the vast majority of people searching for immigration options are not investing millions. They are skilled workers, professionals, small business owners, or retirees looking for straightforward visa routes. For them, Henley's services are not just expensive -- they are entirely the wrong tool.
Henley helps the ultra-wealthy invest in second passports. WhereToEmigrate helps everyone else discover which immigration routes they qualify for. It checks your profile against 1,913 programmes across 200 countries -- not just investment visas, but work permits, skilled worker routes, retirement visas, and digital nomad visas.
Every country publishes its immigration requirements on official government websites. With enough research time, you can find all the information yourself. WhereToEmigrate's report includes direct links to official portals for each programme you qualify for.
For the actual application process -- especially for complex cases like employer-sponsored work permits or family reunification -- a local immigration lawyer in your target country provides legal advice, document preparation, and representation.
Henley and Partners exists for a specific clientele: individuals with EUR 500,000+ to invest in exchange for citizenship or residency in places like Malta, Portugal, Greece, or Caribbean nations. For that niche, their expertise, government relationships, and end-to-end service justify the fee.
For everyone else -- which is 99% of people considering immigration -- Henley is the wrong tool at the wrong price point. You do not need a EUR 30,000 consulting engagement to find out that you qualify for a German Blue Card or a Canadian Express Entry visa. You need a systematic way to check your eligibility across many countries.
The practical approach for most people: use WhereToEmigrate (free assessment, EUR 10 for the full report) to discover which programmes match your profile across 200 countries. Once you have identified your best options, go to the official government portal or hire a local immigration lawyer (EUR 500-2,000) for the application itself.
That workflow costs under EUR 2,100 total. Henley charges that much for the initial consultation alone.
No payment required. See your top visa matches in under 5 minutes.
For ultra-high-net-worth individuals investing EUR 500,000+ in citizenship or residency by investment programmes, Henley's expertise can be worth the EUR 30,000+ fee. For everyone else -- skilled workers, professionals, retirees, entrepreneurs with moderate budgets -- the fee is disproportionate. WhereToEmigrate covers visa research for EUR 10, and a local immigration lawyer handles applications for EUR 500-2,000.
Henley advises wealthy individuals on citizenship by investment (CBI) and residency by investment (RBI) programmes. They assess which programmes suit the client, manage the application process, prepare due diligence documentation, and liaise with government agencies. Their core business is helping people invest EUR 100,000 to EUR 2,000,000+ in exchange for a second passport or golden visa.
Absolutely. For most immigration routes -- skilled worker visas, employer-sponsored permits, digital nomad visas, retirement visas -- you do not need a luxury advisory firm. Use WhereToEmigrate's free assessment to identify programmes you qualify for, then research the specifics on official government immigration websites. For the application itself, a local lawyer (EUR 500-2,000) handles most cases.
Yes. Local immigration lawyers in most countries charge EUR 500 to EUR 2,000 for standard work permit or residence visa cases. Specialised immigration consultancies charge EUR 1,000 to EUR 5,000 for complex cases. WhereToEmigrate (EUR 10) handles the research phase -- identifying which programmes you qualify for -- which is often the most time-consuming part.
Henley is appropriate for individuals with liquid assets of EUR 500,000 or more who want to obtain citizenship or residency through investment programmes in countries like Malta, Portugal, Greece, St Kitts, Dominica, or Grenada. If you are a salaried professional, small business owner, or retiree without that level of investable capital, Henley's services are not designed for your situation. WhereToEmigrate covers the full range of visa types for all income levels.