Instead, alternative has become a practical planning tool as families seek greater security, stability and long-term opportunities in an increasingly uncertain world, according to the World Citizenship Report 2026.
The report found that 71.6% of mass affluent individuals are now more likely to consider acquiring an additional citizenship in response to global events, while just 2.7% said they are less likely to do so.
The findings point to a significant shift in mindset, with citizenship increasingly viewed as a form of long-term risk management rather than simply a means of international mobility.
Global uncertainty is driving demand
The data suggests that geopolitical fragmentation, shifting regulations, economic divergence and regional conflicts are fundamentally changing how affluent individuals plan for the future.
Rather than reacting to individual crises, families are increasingly preparing for prolonged uncertainty by diversifying where they can live, work, educate their children and protect their assets.
The report is based on a survey of 546 mass affluent respondents and evaluates 188 jurisdictions, combining behavioural research with official data from international institutions to assess how people value citizenship in today’s global environment.
Family security overtakes financial considerations
One of the report’s strongest findings is that family protection has overtaken financial incentives as the primary reason for seeking an additional citizenship.
When HNWIs ranked the strategic benefits of alternative citizenship, family security and generational protection emerged as the top priority. Emergency and contingency planning ranked second, followed by asset and estate protection, highlighting a growing focus on resilience over wealth generation.
Researchers note that alternative citizenship planning has evolved beyond travel convenience, becoming an integral part of long-term family planning.
Quality of life remains the biggest priority
While security dominates future planning, quality of life remains the single most important factor influencing citizenship decisions.
According to the survey, 27.3% of respondents identified quality of life as their highest priority when evaluating citizenship options. Better financial, business and career opportunities followed at 18.9%, closely followed by greater global mobility at 18.7%.
The findings indicate that access to quality healthcare, education, environmental standards and public services increasingly outweigh purely financial considerations.
Healthcare and education concerns shape decisions
HNWIs also expressed concerns about the quality of public services in their home countries.
Nearly 42.7% identified healthcare as one of the biggest shortcomings of their government, while 39.9% pointed to education. These concerns are increasingly influencing decisions to obtain an alternative citizenship that provides access to stronger healthcare systems and educational opportunities.
The report argues that citizenship is no longer viewed solely as a legal status but as a pathway to improving long-term living conditions.
Families planning for future generations
The behavioural data also highlights how citizenship planning is becoming increasingly family-focused.
Among those surveyed, 73% have children and 72% are married, suggesting that decisions around citizenship are due to the desire to create opportunities for future generations.
Although nearly 80% of respondents currently hold only one citizenship, approximately 15% already possess dual citizenship, while another 5% hold three or more nationalities.
Researchers describe this trend as a form of “portfolio diversification”, where citizenship becomes another asset used to reduce exposure to political, economic and regulatory risks.
Confidence in existing citizenship weakens
The report also found growing uncertainty about whether a single citizenship will continue providing long-term stability.
Only 33.5% of respondents said they were very confident that their current citizenship would offer the same level of security and opportunity over the next decade. A further 39.2% were only somewhat confident, while almost 27% expressed uncertainty or a lack of confidence.
These findings suggest that many affluent individuals no longer assume their existing nationality alone will be sufficient in an increasingly volatile global environment.
Alternative Citizenship becoming part of wealth planning
According to the report, citizenship is for the broader wealth and legacy planning.
Respondents cited business and professional opportunities (29.9%) as the leading motivation for acquiring a second citizenship, followed by investment diversification (24.5%). However, these financial considerations ranked behind family security when respondents answered for future scenarios.
The report concludes that citizenship has evolved into a strategic asset, offering families greater flexibility, resilience and access to opportunities across multiple jurisdictions.
As geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation and regulatory uncertainty continue to reshape the global landscape, researchers suggest that second citizenship is no longer viewed as an exclusive privilege, but as an increasingly essential component of long-term planning for globally minded families.
