Amid ongoing political instability and increasing global unpredictability, more Americans are pursuing second passports as a protective measure against potential future disruptions.
As reported by advisory firms specializing in citizenship and residency like Latitude Group and Arton Capital, the demand for second passports or long-term residency in foreign nations—often via investment opportunities—has skyrocketed among U.S. citizens in recent years. The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States seems to have accelerated this shift.
Arton Capital has noted a staggering 400% rise in the number of U.S. clients during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same timeframe in 2024, while Latitude indicates a 1,000% increase in U.S. applications for second citizenship or residency since 2020, shortly after the COVID pandemic began and travel constraints peaked.
There are no official statistics regarding the number of American citizens seeking second passports.
Yet, industry estimates provided to Al Jazeera suggest that out of approximately 10,000 global applications for second passports in recent years, around 4,000 originated from Americans aiming for second citizenship. Although the total number of applications has remained steady for many years, the share coming from U.S. applicants has seen a considerable uptick since the pandemic.
What was historically seen as a pursuit for billionaires and business moguls is now drawing in professionals and politically concerned individuals in search of a “Plan B”—a backup option should they find life in the U.S. increasingly challenging.
“It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it,” remarked Christopher Willis, managing partner at Latitude Group, which assists clients in obtaining second citizenship and residency through investment programs.
What are passport-for-investment schemes?
These programs, commonly referred to as “golden visas” or “citizenship-by-investment” schemes, provide individuals with the opportunity to gain long-term residency or even citizenship in exchange for a financial investment—typically through real estate, contributions to a national development fund, or purchasing government bonds.
Investment requirements differ by program and location, ranging from about 10,000 euros ($10,700) to more than one million euros ($1.2 million).
Not all programs guarantee full citizenship or a passport, but they do offer residency rights.
Residency-by-investment programs, such as Portugal’s Golden Visa or Greece’s equivalent, offer long-term residence and the right to travel freely within the EU’s Schengen Zone, though they don’t provide immediate citizenship. In Portugal, however, the program does offer a pathway to citizenship within five years, requiring minimal residency of just 14 days every two years.
Citizenship-by-investment schemes, offered by countries like Malta along with several Caribbean nations, can lead to full passports in as little as 16 months.
According to Latitude, now 50% of its U.S. clients prefer Portugal’s Golden Visa, followed by Malta (25%) and Caribbean nations (15%). Approximately 80% of these clients indicate they have no immediate plans to relocate, merely wanting the reassurance of having that option available.
Most nations offering citizenship also provide pathways for transferring citizenship to descendants, including children and grandchildren.
Who is applying for second passports?
The pursuit of second passports is now being seen among a wider demographic than just billionaires and affluent business owners.
David Lesperance, an international tax and immigration advisor based in Poland, noted that his American clients include LGBTQ individuals, significant political donors, and individuals concerned about perceived authoritarian trends in U.S. governance.
“I’ve never been busier,” he shared with Al Jazeera, stating that individuals who previously had no interest in leaving the country are now contemplating it “very seriously.”
Professor Kristin Surak, a political sociologist at the London School of Economics and author of The Golden Passport, has observed an increase in what she terms “Armageddon Americans”—those who view the country’s trajectory as so uncertain that obtaining a second citizenship seems a logical safeguard.
Willis reported that Americans currently rank within the top three client demographics at Latitude, following China and India. Arton Capital has also acknowledged a substantial rise in inquiries from U.S. nationals, spanning both high-net-worth individuals and professionals anxious about the prevailing political landscape.
What are the main reasons that people want second passports?
The return of Donald Trump to the presidency in 2025, coupled with a wave of executive orders impacting civil liberties, immigration protections, and minority rights has instigated concern among various groups.
“I received nine applications in seven days after one of those orders,” Lesperance stated, indicating a surge of anxiety among his LGBTQ clients, particularly following an executive order relating to “gender ideology”, which classifies male and female as the only two genders while reversing multiple protections for transgender individuals.
Some fear being included on political watchlists maintained by allies of the president, such as Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI.
Others, such as supporters of last year’s student-led pro-Palestine movements, express feelings of vulnerability amid the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress pro-Palestine activities on U.S. campuses and deport students involved.
Lesperance also highlights the rise in frequency of natural disasters, including recent wildfires in California, mass shootings, and increasing ideological polarization as additional sources of unease.
“The U.S. is becoming a wildfire zone,” he remarked. “Mass shootings and a significant rise in racism are alarming. And if you’re politically active, it often means half the country is against you,” he added.
For some families, acquiring second citizenship is also a strategic financial decision. Some opt for property investments in Caribbean nations like Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda, yielding passports in as little as six months.
One client of Latitude chose to invest $300,000 in real estate in Antigua and Barbuda rather than buying a vacation home in Florida, acquiring a second passport in the process.
Global mobility is another significant motivator. Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital, states that clients often seek to combine several “bundle” residencies. For example, pairing a UAE Golden Visa with a European residency to enhance travel flexibility.
To secure a Golden Visa in the UAE, individuals typically must invest approximately $545,000, either through real estate purchase or a deposit in an approved financial institution.
Another crucial element for some high-net-worth individuals is taxation.
The U.S. remains one of the few countries in the world that taxes its citizens and permanent residents—commonly known as green card holders—on their worldwide income, irrespective of their residency. This practice, known as citizenship-based taxation, obligates even Americans living abroad to file U.S. tax returns and potentially pay taxes on their global earnings.
This policy has prompted some affluent Americans to contemplate renouncing their U.S. citizenship entirely, while green card holders consider relinguishing their residency status.
Though it is still uncommon for people to take that drastic step, it’s increasingly becoming a serious reflection for some clients.
“I have had hundreds of clients over the last decade make this decision,” Lesperance elaborated. “We anticipate a notable increase in the number of individuals considering renunciation,” citing economic, political, and social uncertainties as contributing factors.
Arton, whose clientele mainly consists of high-net-worth individuals, revealed that even before the 2024 U.S. election, 53% of American millionaires were actively exploring international options.
Are more Americans also applying for citizenship by descent?
Indeed. U.S. applications for citizenship by descent—which are often a more affordable alternative—have surged by 500% since 2023, with 80% targeting Italian ancestry, according to firms that facilitate the process.
This pathway is relatively new in the sector but is “growing rapidly,” according to Willis, particularly since it requires no investments.
These applications enable individuals to reclaim citizenship in nations where they have ancestral ties. Italy, for example, allows individuals to apply if they can establish descent from an Italian citizen, often going back several generations, provided the ancestor didn’t renounce their Italian citizenship before their descendant’s birth.
Similar laws exist in Ireland, Poland, and Germany.
Each country has unique regulations—Italy does not impose limits on how far back applicants may trace their ancestry to claim citizenship, while Ireland typically allows tracing back up to three generations.
Unlike some investment-based programs, these citizenship options can be seized by descendants with relative ease, making them an appealing choice for families who can demonstrate their lineage. Applicants usually need to provide birth certificates, marriage licenses, and other documents, including a family tree.
Will the demand for second passports continue to rise?
Most experts believe this trend is far from reaching its peak.
“Americans are future-proofing their lives,” stated Willis. Clients are liquidating assets, restructuring their finances, and making “bold lifestyle choices” to attain a second citizenship.
Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing partner at Henley and Partners, a firm specializing in residence and citizenship by investment, noted that U.S. nationals are also thinking with future generations in mind. “When a citizenship is obtained, it often can be passed down by descent,” he explained. “This creates a Plan B not just for the client, but for their children and grandchildren.”
