he trend, highlighted in reporting from Business Standard, reflects how high-net-worth individuals are reassessing their global mobility options in the face of rising economic uncertainty.

The UK is a notable driver of this shift. With the upcoming Budget expected to introduce higher wealth-related taxes and stricter rules for non-domiciled residents, more affluent individuals are exploring alternatives.

Portugal’s Golden Visa stands out, with search interest rising by 189.8% year-on-year.

Data from Google Trends shows just how dramatic the broader surge has been. Searches for the term ‘Investment Visa’ climbed from a score of 6.75 in October 2024 to 32.25 in October 2025, more than tripling.

Interest in ‘Residency by Investment’ increased from 11.75 to 39.75, with much of the acceleration occurring during the late summer months.

These figures collectively indicate that wealthy individuals are actively researching new residency options as they anticipate fiscal tightening across major Western economies.

Paul Stannard, CEO of Portugal Pathways, said: “It’s fair to say this data backs up what we’ve already seen ourselves. We’ve seen record levels of interest in Portugal’s Golden Visa with no signs of it slowing down.


“Families, investors, and entrepreneurs all ultimately want the same thing: security. Uncertainty in the UK, North America, and other major economies is resulting in affluent people wanting a way out or, at the very least, a ‘plan B’.


“Portugal is perfectly positioned to take full advantage of this trend, giving people the flexibility they need and the knowledge that if things go wrong in their home country, they can move to a more stable destination.”

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client; Search activity for Portugal’s Golden Visa programme alone rose by 189.8% year-on-year

The Portugal Golden Visa requires an investment of €500,000 into one or more eligible alternative investment funds.

Successful applicants benefit from freedom of movement across the 29 EU Schengen countries, the option to include eligible family members in a single application, and a clear route to dual citizenship and an EU passport once the qualifying residency period has been fulfilled.

Importantly, the programme only requires investors to spend seven days per year in Portugal to maintain their residency status.

Those seeking further guidance can arrange a free discovery call with specialists at Portugal Pathways.

External assessments continue to reinforce Portugal’s strong position.

The Global Peace Index 2024, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, ranks Portugal among the ten most peaceful countries in the world.

In addition, the latest Global Passport Power and Appeal Index places Portuguese citizenship among the strongest globally in terms of international travel access.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client; Families, investors, and entrepreneurs are increasingly drawn to Portugal's Golden Visa as a flexible 'plan B'

Tax considerations further enhance Portugal’s appeal. Although the previously popular NHR regime has closed to new applicants, the recently introduced IFICI (NHR 2.0) framework continues to offer advantageous treatment of certain types of foreign-sourced income.

When compared with the UK’s anticipated tightening of non-dom rules, Portugal provides a more favourable environment for individuals looking to reorganise their financial affairs while maintaining a high standard of living.

Looking ahead, demand for EU-based residency pathways is expected to rise through 2026. As many countries scale back citizenship-by-investment programmes, residency-led models are forecast to become the primary route for global mobility planning.

Continued migration from high-tax jurisdictions—including the UK, parts of Western Europe, and the United States—is likely to sustain strong interest, particularly in programmes that offer long-term stability and a reliable route to citizenship.