The number of Americans who decided to secure a “plan B” by requesting British citizenship reached a historic record last year, driven by Donald Trump’s reelection.
A total of 6,131 US citizens applied to obtain UK citizenship in 2024, an increase of 26% compared to 2023, according to data from the British Interior Ministry released last week.
The number fired in the last quarter of the year, coinciding with Trump’s victory in the elections and the British government’s announcement on tax changes that may have encouraged Americans to seek their citizenship faster.
“A significant portion of these Americans probably had the right to British citizenship for years. But in the face of the political scenario, some may have felt that it is time to guarantee this right, ”said Ed Wanambwa, partner at Russell-Cooke law firm, specializing in United Kingdom immigration to Fortune magazine.
Political escape and search for stability
In addition to American citizens who were already entitled to citizenship, Wanambwa highlights a new phenomenon: a growing interest of Americans who, without direct eligibility, now seek alternative ways to move to the UK. “They at least want to enter the country and leave the US,” he said.
The United Kingdom has always been an attractive destination for Americans because of its shared history and the prestige of its educational system. However, political factors may be boosting this new migratory wave.
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While many initially saw this movement as an impulsive reaction to Trump’s reelection, the numbers indicate that interest has remained stable.
British government data show constant growth in the requests for citizenship by Americans since the end of 2022. This trend was evident from November, when Google searches and legal appointments about emigration fired.
A study by Casino.org pointed out that the three most sought after destinations for Americans for emigration were Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan.
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The trend was also reflected in Europe, where popular countries between digital nomads and tourists recorded a significant increase in consultations viewed shortly after Trump’s victory. According to CNN, the Spanish immigration company Bureaucracy.es recorded an increase of over 300% in visa process consultations.
Trump’s rigid stance on immigration has been one of the pillars of his political discourse. He defends mass deportations and hardening against illegal immigration. In addition, he promised to end automatic citizenship for children of US -born immigrants – although the measure has been blocked by three federal judges so far.
Attraction to the United Kingdom
The process of obtaining British citizenship depends on several factors, such as the time of residence in the country.
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Although the number of Americans requesting citizenship was uncommon in the last year, they did not lead the ranking of more frequent nationalities among the applicants.
In 2024, requests for citizenship of all nationalities in the UK reached a historical record, growing 6% and exceeding 251,000 requests. The Pakistani were the group with the most approved requests.
UK policies may have contributed to the increase in American interest. The British government announced the end of the “Non -dom” fiscal residence system, which benefited rich foreigners with permanent domicile abroad.
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The structure will be extinguished in April, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested that she can extend the transition to up to three years. The change may have led some rich Americans to seek citizenship to ensure tax advantages.
According to Wanambwa, there are different ways that Americans can follow to settle in the UK, from student visas to work permissions.
Until three years ago, the “Tier 1” investor visa allowed rich Americans to invest £ 2 million or more in the country to get residence. However, this visa was eliminated on suspicion of abuse.
Now, with Trump proposing a “gold card visa” that offers permanent US residence in exchange for an investment of $ 5 million, the return of this type of program in the UK can no longer just an idea of the past.
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