The UK is the number one destination for the world's super-rich ahead of the US, Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong
- 1. United Kingdom
- 2. USA
- 3. Singapore
- 4. Australia
- 5. Hong Kong
Millionaires from around the world want to move to Britain over any other country, a new survey has discovered. The lure of good universities and schools, the ease of buying property and moving money, and the ability to travel freely within the European Union means increasing numbers of the super-rich from Russia, China and India want to become citizens in the UK. Analysts New World Wealth and resettlement advisers Lio Global carried out the research, which showed the USA and Singapore trailed behind Britain as the top destination for so-call 'high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs).
Britain also received a high number of millionaires from Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Since 2000 more super-rich people are seeking second citizenship to help them make more money.
Nadia Read, head of world residence and citizenship platform LIO Global said: 'The main reason people apply for a second residence or citizenship is to ensure freedom of global mobility and access, as well as security and wealth protection for their families.'
She added: 'The majority of investors are typically looking towards the EU. Cyprus and Malta, in particular, are very popular as they offer direct citizenship without long waiting or residence periods.
TOP DESTINATIONS FOR SUPER RICH:
The market will take some time to absorb a sudden increase in transaction costs and buyers are taking longer to consider their position. However, new registrations have risen since the election and we now have a more stable and predictable market than has been the case for several years.
In fact, for properties below £1 million, where stamp duty liabilities were reduced after the reforms, the market is surprisingly robust, driven by domestic buyers and buy-to-let investors.
'Portugal's Golden Residence Visa, as well as the Hungarian Residence Bond program, have also seen significant interest, as they offer investors residence in exchange for a smaller investment (in comparison to Malta or Cyprus).
'The Caribbean has also recently seen strong demand as countries such as Antigua and Barbuda or Grenada offer direct citizenship in under six months.'
The study revealed that more millionaires left China over the past 14 years than anywhere else.
Across the world the USA still has the most HNWIs, with 4.1million people listed as millionaires in 2014. Japan came second with 1.3million, while the UK has 840,000, making it in third place.
Date: 26/07/2015 | Source: Daily Mail
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