For years, the idea of leaving France as a high-net-worth individual (HNWI) was something you might consider but rarely act on. It wasn’t common. It wasn’t necessary. Most people built their lives and businesses locally, navigated the tax code as best they could, and got on with things.
But that’s no longer the case.
Take one of our clients: a 49-year-old French entrepreneur who recently relocated with his family. After years in Paris, he concluded that France no longer aligned with the lifestyle or the long-term future he wanted. With €5 million in liquid assets and €3 million in real estate, he wasn’t looking for an escape, he was looking for a plan.
We helped him obtain citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis through their Citizenship by Investment programme. His application was approved in five months, with no physical residency requirement. The move gave him something crucial: an exit strategy from Europe and a safety net in case of political instability.
To formally end his French tax residency, we helped him eliminate his ties to France, restructured his holdings under a Luxembourg-based entity, and established him as a non-tax resident in France.
For our client, this wasn’t about avoiding tax, it was about ensuring clarity and control in an increasingly uncertain environment.
The broader shift
This case isn’t unusual. At Savory & Partners, we’ve supported over 180 French clients through second residency or citizenship planning since 2016. The recent spike in interest hasn’t been driven by panic or politics, but by a quiet recalibration. People are planning more seriously for what lies ahead.
This year alone, France is projected to see a 6.7% increase in millionaire outflows. On its own, that’s a modest figure. But taken in the context of the last three years, it reflects a growing pattern of reconsideration.
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Featured Photo: Nice, French seaside city and France’s most expensive one © Arno Smit Inda/Unsplash
