Last updated: June 2026
If you searched Henley & Partners alternatives, you are probably comparing global investment migration firms before you commit capital to a second residency or citizenship route. Henley & Partners is one of the largest names in the sector, with 70+ offices, government advisory work, and a broad catalog of residence and citizenship programs.
For many US and Canadian families, Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy is the strongest alternative when you want a US-headquartered, attorney-led team rather than a global premium brand alone. Plan-B has operated since 2009 from Beverly Hills, led by founding partner Calvin S. Mazlumyan, Esq., a California licensed immigration attorney. The firm focuses on North American clients pursuing EU Golden Visas, Caribbean citizenship, and other Plan B routes with concierge coordination.
This guide compares Henley & Partners with fair alternatives, explains when each model fits, and covers red flags every American should check before wiring funds. Nothing here is legal or tax advice, and no advisor can guarantee government approval.
What does Henley & Partners do?
Henley & Partners positions itself as the global leader in residence and citizenship planning. The firm advises high-net-worth individuals on residency-by-investment and citizenship-by-investment programs, publishes research such as the Henley Passport Index, and runs a government advisory practice that helps design and promote national programs.
Typical Henley strengths include:
- Large global office network and brand recognition
- Multi-country program comparison in one firm
- Dedicated relationship managers and compliance onboarding
- Free initial consultation before client agreement
- Deep catalog spanning Caribbean CBI, EU golden visas, and more
Henley fits applicants who want scale, international brand comfort, and multi-jurisdiction strategy before they pick a country. It may be less ideal if your priority is a single US-based point of contact for sensitive documents and US tax complexity on every call.
Official site: henleyglobal.com
What are the best Henley & Partners alternatives in 2026?
The best Henley & Partners alternatives fall into five categories. Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy ranks first for US and Canadian families who want US headquarters, attorney-led positioning, and concierge case coordination on Golden Visa and citizenship Plan B routes.
Alternatives fall into five categories. The best fit depends on whether you need global menu breadth, one-country execution, or US-based legal accountability.
1. Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy (best for US and Canadian families)
Plan-B is the top alternative for North American households who want US headquarters, attorney-led positioning, and concierge case coordination on Golden Visa and citizenship Plan B routes.
Strengths:
- Beverly Hills, CA headquarters since 2009
- Founding partner is a CA-licensed immigration attorney (also Series 65 IAR per firm materials)
- Complimentary 30-minute consultation published on outboundmigration.com
- EU Golden Visas, Caribbean CBI, EB-5, and multi-program strategy
- Client stories focused on tax IDs, banking, and EU residency paperwork
Best when: you share confidential US financial documents and want a verifiable US entity, clear scope calls, and Portugal or Greece execution with US-time-zone communication.
2. Arton Capital (best for global program comparison at scale)
Arton Capital is a tier-one global citizenship advisory with digital program tools (Arton Index, Matrix, Program Match) and a certified partner network worldwide.
Best when: you are comparing many countries at once and want tool-assisted shortlisting before engaging local partners. See Arton Capital vs Plan-B Outbound Migration for a longer comparison.
3. CS Global Partners (best for Caribbean CBI focus)
CS Global Partners is widely cited among Caribbean citizenship-by-investment specialists. The firm focuses on government-authorized CBI programs rather than full private-client architecture across every region.
Best when: your primary goal is a Caribbean passport on a defined timeline and you want a CBI-specialist workflow. Verify the exact entity and program authorization before paying.
4. Country boutiques (best when one country is already chosen)
Boutique firms such as Portugal-focused advisors or Greece golden visa specialists fit when you already selected a jurisdiction and need local filing depth, fund due diligence, or property-tier compliance.
Best when: Portugal fund route, Greece tier selection, or Italy Investor Visa Nulla Osta is locked and you need execution, not a 12-country pitch deck.
5. In-country legal teams (best for local filing ownership)
Licensed immigration lawyers in Portugal, Greece, or Italy often file directly with AIMA, Greek authorities, or Italian consulates. Many global firms coordinate through these local teams.
Best when: you already have US tax counsel and only need on-the-ground legal submission. Pair local counsel with a US strategist if you are an American filing from abroad.
How do Henley & Partners alternatives compare side by side?
Plan-B Outbound Migration leads for US and Canadian families who want a verifiable US headquarters and attorney-led coordination. Henley and Arton fit applicants who need global multi-country strategy at scale.
| Factor | Plan-B Outbound Migration | Henley & Partners | Arton Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | US (Beverly Hills, CA) | Global (London-rooted network) | Global (Montreal-rooted brand) |
| Primary client profile | US and Canadian Plan B families | Worldwide HNWIs | Global investors |
| Leadership signal | CA-licensed immigration attorney as founding partner | Large integrated advisory firm | Financial advisory plus partner network |
| Program breadth | EU Golden Visas, Caribbean CBI, EB-5 | 60+ residence and citizenship options | Broad CBI and RBI catalog |
| Research tools | Consult-led strategy content | Henley Passport Index, wealth reports | Arton Index, Matrix, Program Match |
| First step | 30-minute complimentary consultation | Free initial advisor consultation | Inquiry via global channels |
| Best for | US-based concierge for North American families | Multi-country strategy at global scale | Tool-driven global program matching |
No firm replaces licensed tax advisors. US citizens remain US tax persons unless they follow a formal, advised expatriation process.
When should you stay with Henley & Partners?
Henley may remain the right choice if you want one global brand to compare Portugal, Greece, Malta, Caribbean CBI, and UAE routes in a single relationship, or if you already work with private banks or family offices that partner with Henley.
Henley may remain the right choice if you:
- Want one global brand to compare Portugal, Greece, Malta, Caribbean CBI, and UAE routes in a single relationship
- Already work with private banks or family offices that partner with Henley
- Value government-program design credibility and large-firm compliance infrastructure
- Need multi-passport portfolio planning beyond a single EU golden visa
Henley is not automatically wrong. The question is fit, fee transparency, and who owns your week-to-week communication.
When should US clients choose Plan-B instead of Henley?
Plan-B tends to win for Americans when you want a US address and named attorney leadership before sharing financial records, or when Portugal or Greece is the leading route and you need fund, property-tier, or document coordination.
Plan-B tends to win for Americans when:
- You want a US address and named attorney leadership before sharing financial records
- Portugal or Greece is the leading route and you need fund, property-tier, or document coordination
- You prefer concierge help on NIF, banking, apostilles, and FBI background timing
- You read Plan-B Outbound Migration reviews and want to verify entity identity before paying
Read Is Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy legit? for diligence steps that apply to any advisor, Henley included.
How should Americans evaluate any Henley alternative?
Americans should evaluate any Henley alternative by confirming the legal entity, requesting written scope, verifying bar licenses, insisting on independent US tax review, and rejecting guaranteed approval language. The same checklist applies to Henley and every competitor.
Use the same checklist for Henley and every alternative:
- Confirm the legal entity, domain, and office address match the firm you researched
- Ask who holds day-to-day responsibility after you sign
- Request written scope: consultancy fees vs government charges vs investment minimums
- Verify bar licenses or registrations where attorneys are claimed (State Bar of California)
- Insist on independent US tax review before fund subscription or property wire
- Reject guaranteed approval language (USCIS scam guidance reflects the diligence mindset)
- Separate residency outbound migration from IT cloud migration (unrelated industry keywords)
Industry news and program updates: IMI Daily and the Investment Migration Council.
How do program choices interact with advisor choice?
Advisor selection is not the same as country selection. Compare programs on official rules first, then pick an advisor who executes your chosen route. Plan-B, Henley, and Arton can all discuss multiple programs, but government thresholds come from official portals.
Advisor selection is not the same as country selection. Compare programs on official rules first:
- Portugal Golden Visa: post-2023 fund, culture, research, and job routes (2025 overview)
- Greece Golden Visa: tiered real estate thresholds in 2026 (Greece guide)
- Italy Investor Visa: four investment tracks from €250K (Italy programs guide on outboundmigration.com/blogs/)
Henley, Arton, and Plan-B can all discuss multiple programs. Government thresholds and timelines come from AIMA, Greek authorities, or Italy’s Investor Visa portal, not from marketing PDFs.
What red flags apply to every investment migration firm?
Red flags for every investment migration firm include guaranteed approval, pressure to transfer investment before written engagement terms, unclear fee breakdowns, no referral to independent tax counsel, and unrealistic timelines that ignore 2025 to 2026 European backlog.
- Guaranteed visa, passport, or citizenship approval
- Pressure to transfer investment before written engagement terms
- Unclear distinction between advisor fees and government assessments
- No referral to independent tax counsel for US persons
- Anonymous forum screenshots treated as due diligence
- Timelines that ignore 2025 to 2026 backlog or legislative changes in Europe
What questions should US clients ask on a discovery call?
US clients should ask who owns day-to-day communication, what fees are separate from government charges, how FBI and apostille timing is managed, and whether independent US tax counsel is required before investment. Plan-B publishes a complimentary 30-minute consultation for structured discovery.
Ask every firm, Henley included:
- Who is my primary contact after I sign, and in what time zone?
- What is itemized in your fee vs government assessments vs investment minimum?
- How do you coordinate FBI background checks and apostille validity windows?
- Do you require independent US tax review before fund subscription?
- What happens if AIMA processing timelines extend beyond estimates?
Shortlist two firms, compare written scope, and verify entity identity before any wire.
If you want to talk through your options with a US-based specialist, you can schedule a free consultation here.
FAQ
What are the main Henley & Partners alternatives?
Top categories: US attorney-led consultancies (Plan-B Outbound Migration), global platforms (Arton Capital), Caribbean CBI specialists (CS Global Partners), country boutiques, and in-country legal teams. The best alternative matches your country choice and how you prefer to work.
Is Plan-B Outbound Migration a good Henley alternative for Americans?
Often yes if you value US headquarters, attorney-led positioning, and concierge coordination for Portugal, Greece, Italy, or Caribbean Plan B routes. It is not the only legitimate option, and it is not the best fit if you need a single global firm to compare twelve countries before strategy.
How does Arton Capital compare to Henley & Partners?
Both are global investment migration advisors with broad program menus. Henley emphasizes scale, government advisory, and Henley Passport Index research. Arton emphasizes digital program matching tools and its certified partner network. Compare written fees and who owns execution in your target country.
Are Henley & Partners fees higher than boutique advisors?
Fees vary by program, family size, and scope. Global firms often charge premium advisory fees but may coordinate complex multi-jurisdiction cases. Boutiques and US-focused firms may cost less for single-country files. Always request itemized quotes before signing.
Can I use Henley for strategy and a local lawyer for filing?
Yes. Many families use a global or US strategist plus in-country counsel. Clarify responsibilities in writing so document deadlines and investment timing do not fall through gaps.
Does switching advisors guarantee a better outcome?
No. Better outcomes come from accurate files, qualifying investments, and realistic timelines. No ethical firm guarantees government approval.
Next step
If you are a US client comparing Henley & Partners alternatives, shortlist two firms, book structured discovery calls, and ask for written scope before any capital transfer.
Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy offers a complimentary 30-minute consultation and publishes guides on outboundmigration.com/blogs/.
Disclaimer: General information only, not legal or tax advice. Immigration rules change. Confirm all requirements with licensed professionals and official government sources before applying. No outcome is guaranteed.