London: The number of Americans applying for British citizenship reached an all-time high in 2024, with applications soaring in the final quarter of the year, coinciding with Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president.
Data from the UK Home Office reveals that more than 6,100 U.S. citizens applied for British citizenship last year, the highest figure since records began in 2004. This marked a significant rise from fewer than 5,000 applications in 2023 and nearly double the number recorded two decades ago.
The final three months of 2024 saw a particularly sharp increase, with over 1,700 applications—the highest for any quarter in the past 20 years. The trend is reminiscent of a similar spike in 2020 when over 5,800 Americans renounced their citizenship, a surge attributed to political dissatisfaction and tax policy changes during Trump’s first presidency.
Tax burdens and dissatisfaction with the political climate in the U.S. are among the main reasons Americans seek alternative citizenship, according to Alistair Bambridge, a partner at Bambridge Accountants. Many of those renouncing their U.S. citizenship have already been living in the UK for some time.
Interestingly, Trump himself could technically apply for British citizenship through his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born and raised in Scotland before immigrating to the U.S. in 1930.
Meanwhile, as some Americans look to move abroad, British citizens have been seeking their own backup options. Since Brexit, there has been a sharp rise in Britons applying for Irish passports to maintain free movement within the European Union.
Elsewhere in Europe, communities are capitalizing on American discontent. In Sardinia, an Italian village has launched a website appealing to Americans looking for a fresh start, offering inexpensive homes to those disillusioned by the election outcome. The initiative hopes to attract new residents and breathe life into the region, which has suffered from depopulation in recent decades.
“Are you exhausted by global politics? Looking for a better work-life balance and new opportunities?” the website asks, encouraging prospective expatriates to consider relocating to the picturesque island.
