In an age of political volatility and increased global uncertainty, a growing number of North -Americans seeks the second passport as a security network against future instability.
According to citizenship advisory companies and residence, such as Latitude Group and Arton Capital, the demand of US citizens’ citizens for second -term passports in other countries, often through investment schemes offered by these countries, has increased significantly in recent years. The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States seems to have turbochaised this trend.
Arton has reported an increase of 400 percent in the number of North -American clients in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, while Latitude said that North -American applications for the second citizenship or residence have increased by 1,000 percent since 2020, just after the Covida Pandemia and travel restrictions.
There are no official records of the number of North citizens -Americans seeking second passports.
However, the estimates of the industry shared with Jazeera suggest that from approximately 10,000 world applications for the second passports in recent years, about 4,000 are from North -Americans seeking the second citizenship. Although the overall number of applications has been consistent for many years, the proportion of them from North -Americans have increased significantly from the pandemic.
What was once considered the dominance of billionaires and business owners attracts more and more professionals and politically worried citizens who are looking for a « B » plan: a departure route if they fear, it is more difficult for them to live in the United States.
« It is better to have it and do not need it to need it and do not have it, » said Christopher Willis, a member of the Latitude group, who helps clients secure the second citizenship and the residence through investment schemes.
What are passport schemes for investment?
These programs, often called « golden visa » or « investment » schemes, allow individuals to obtain long -term residence or even citizens in exchange for a financial contribution, usually through real estate investments, a donation to a national development fund or the purchase of bonds.
Investment requirements vary by program and location, ranging from € 10,000 ($ 10,700) to more than one million euros ($ 1.2 million).
Not all programs necessarily lead to complete citizenship or a passport, but offer the right to residence.
Investment residence schemes, such as the Golden Visa of Portugal or the equivalent regime of Greece, offer long -term residence and the right to freedom of travel within the EU Schengen area, but do not give citizens immediately. However, in Portugal, the program provides a five -year way to the citizenry with minimal residence requirements, an average of 14 days every two years.
Investment citizenship schemes, offered by Malta and various Caribbean countries, can lead to full passports in a minimum of 16 months.
According to Latitude, 50 percent of their North customers -now choose the Golden Visa of Portugal as the highest election, followed by Malta (25 percent) and the Caribbean nations (15 percent). About 80 percent of these customers say they do not have immediate plans to move; They just want the comfort of knowing that they have the option.
Most countries that provide citizens also have options to transfer it to the next generations of children, as well as grandchildren.
Who requests the second passport?
Currently, passports are sought in a much wider range of society than only billionaires and business owners.
David Les Termerance, an international prosecutor and immigration advisor to Poland, said that its American clients include LGBTQ individuals, major political donors and people concerned about what they perceive as authoritarian tendencies in the United States government.
« I have never been more busy, » he told Al Jazeera, adding that people who have never thought of leaving the United States suddenly think « very seriously ».
Professor Kristin Surak, a political sociologist at the London School of Economics and author of the Golden Passport, said that she has seen an increase in what she calls « American Amargeddon » – those who feel that the country’s leadership is so uncertain that a second citizenry is a rational safeguard.
Willis said that the North -Americans are now ranking among the first three groups of latitude clients, after China and India. Arton Capital also confirmed a sharp rise of American nationals, including both people and professionals of great net value current political climate.
What are the main reasons why people want the second passport?
Donald Trump’s return to United States Presidency by 2025, along with a wave of directed executive orders civil libertiesimmigration protections and minority rights They have aroused the concern among many groups.
« I had nine applicants in seven days after one of these orders, » Les Delrence said, citing a wave of fear among LGBTQ customers in particular after an executive order related to « gender ideology », acknowledging masculine and female as the only two sexes and investing various protections for transgender people.
Some people, Les Delrence, are concerned about being added to the policies’ surveillance lists collected by the President’s Allies such as Kash Patel, the Trump selection to run the Federal Research Office (FBI).
Others, such as supporters of pro-palestine protests led by last year’s students, say they feel more and more vulnerable in the midst of the Trump Administration attempt. crack about pro-palestine activities on the United States campuses and Sport several students involved.
Les Leserrance also points to the increase in the frequency of natural disasters such as the recent California Forest Fire, shots in mass and deepen ideological divisions as additional anxiety engines.
« The United States is becoming a fire area, » he said. « The massive traits, a dramatic increase in racism. And if you are politically active, it means that half of the country does not like it, » said Les Delrence.
For some families, the second citizenship is a financial decision. Some choose real estate investments in the Caribbean nations, such as Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda, which include passports in a minimum of six months.
One of the Latitude clients chose to invest $ 300,000 owned in Antigua and Barbuda instead of buying a holiday home in Florida, winning a second passport in the process.
Global mobility is another resource. Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital, said that their customers often combine « packages » residences. For example, combine a golden visa from the Arab Emirates with a European to ensure wider access to the trip.
To get a golden visa to the United Arab Emirates, individuals usually need to invest about $ 545,000, either by buying real estate or making a deposit at a approved financial institution.
Another key factor for some people of great net value is taxation.
The United States is one of the only countries in the world to impose its permanent citizens and residents, also known as green card holders, on their world income, regardless of the place they live. This system, known as citizenship-based taxation, means that even Americans who live abroad must submit US tax statements and can devote taxes on their global revenue.
This system has led some Americans of great value to resigning their citizenship of the United States and to the holders of green cards to resign their state of residence.
Although it is rare for people to take this step, it is a serious consideration for some customers.
« I have had several hundred customers during the decade, » said Les Delrence. « We still believe that there will be a sharp increase in the number of resigned citizens, » he said, citing economic, political and social uncertainty.
Arton, whose clients are mainly net-value individuals, said that even before the 2024 United States election, 53 percent of American millionaires actively explored abroad options.
Are there north -Americans who request citizenship by offspring?
Yes. United States requests for offspring for offspring, often a more affordable path, have also increased by 500 percent from 2023, with 80 percent aimed at Italian ancestry, according to companies that facilitate the process.
This road is quite new in the industry, but it is « growing so fast, » Willis said, especially because it does not require investments.
These applications allow individuals to recover citizenship in countries where they have ancient bonds. Italy, for example, allows people to request if they can demonstrate offspring of an Italian citizen, often going up several generations, provided that the ancestor did not give up their own Italian citizenship before the birth of their son.
Ireland, Poland and Germany have similar laws.
Each country has its own rules: Italy is no limit in the distance you can trace your ancestry to claim citizenship, while Ireland usually allows applicants to return to three generations.
Unlike some investment -based programs, citizens can often be easily assumed, which makes them an attractive option for families who can demonstrate offspring. Applicants must normally provide birth certificates, marriage certificates and other documents, including a family tree.
Will you continue to increase your passport demand of the second?
Most experts believe that the trend is far from setting up.
« Americans are proof of their lives, » Willis said. Customers are active, restructuring finance and making « daring life decisions » to achieve a second citizenry.
Basil Mohr-Elzeki, Managing Partner of Henley and Partners, a residence and citizenship specialist for investment, said that American nationals also generally think. « When a citizen is obtained, he often goes through offspring, » he said. « This creates a B plan not only for the client, but also for their children and grandchildren. »
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