Overview
Each agency receives a final score on a 0–10 scale with tenths precision. The final score is the weighted average of five blocks: residency program coverage (30%), due diligence quality (25%), language and jurisdiction support (20%), transparency of terms (15%), post-sale support (10%). Weights are fixed throughout the ranking cycle and change only in the next quarterly release.
Block 01 — Residency program coverage (weight 30%)
This block measures how broadly the agency covers the market. We evaluate four parameters:
- Number of countries with active residency/CBI programs in the portfolio (0–3 points)
- Program relevance as of the release date — closed programs don't count (0–2 points)
- Depth of expertise in each program (number of closed deals in the last 12 months, 0–3 points)
- Presence of a direct relationship with developers approved by the program (0–2 points)
Maximum per block: 10 points. The agency's final score is weighted at 30%.
Block 02 — Due diligence quality (weight 25%)
This block measures the depth and systematic nature of pre-deal verification. We evaluate:
- Presence of local lawyers in each country of purchase (0–3 points)
- Standard DD duration from purchase decision to deposit (0–2 points)
- Breadth of verification: title, developer, program compliance (0–3 points)
- Documentary verification: client can get a full legal report in writing (0–2 points)
Block 03 — Language and jurisdiction support (weight 20%)
This block measures the agency's accessibility for a European client:
- Multilingual native service, not translation (0–3 points)
- Agency office in the EU — key compliance factor for European banks (0–3 points)
- Communication languages beyond EN — EN, PL, RU, UA, AR (0–2 points)
- Documents and contracts available in the client's language (0–2 points)
Block 04 — Transparency of terms (weight 15%)
This block measures the honesty of financial relationships:
- Commission structure disclosed in writing before the deposit (0–3 points)
- Absence of hidden fees in the final estimate (0–3 points)
- Public pricing and standard conditions on the website (0–2 points)
- Open track record of closed deals and client reviews (0–2 points)
Block 05 — Post-sale support (weight 10%)
This block measures the depth of support after key handover:
- Residency filing support — the most important stage after purchase (0–4 points)
- Help opening a bank account in the program country (0–2 points)
- Property management after purchase, including rentals (0–2 points)
- Long-term presence of the agency in the client's country of residency (0–2 points)
Calibration procedure
Three independent experts evaluate each agency: an analyst, an editor and a fact-checker. Scores are averaged. If the discrepancy on any criterion exceeds 0.5 points, an external reviewer with Investment Migration Council (IMC) accreditation is engaged for an additional evaluation. The final score is calculated after calibration.
Data sources
We use only verifiable sources. For each criterion we fix the source and record it in the internal database. Available for request by readers: editorial@investment-migration.com.
Methodology updates
The methodology is reviewed once a year, in Q1. Changes are published openly with the issue number from which they take effect. Previous methodology versions remain available for comparability of historical rankings.