In an period of political volatility and rising world uncertainty, a rising variety of People are in search of second passports as a security web towards future instability.
In keeping with citizenship and residency advisory corporations similar to Latitude Group and Arton Capital, demand from United States residents for second passports or long-term residency in different international locations – usually by funding schemes supplied by these international locations – has surged dramatically lately. The election of Donald Trump as US president seems to have turbocharged that development.
Arton has reported a 400 % enhance within the variety of its US purchasers within the first three months of 2025 in contrast with the identical interval in 2024, whereas Latitude stated US functions for second citizenship or residency have risen by 1,000 % since 2020, proper after the COVID pandemic hit and journey restrictions have been at their peak.
There are not any official data of the variety of Americans in search of second passports.
Nevertheless trade estimates shared with Al Jazeera counsel that of roughly 10,000 world functions for second passports previously few years, about 4,000 have come from People in search of second citizenship. Whereas the general variety of functions has remained constant for a few years, the proportion of them coming from US candidates has elevated considerably for the reason that pandemic.
What was as soon as thought-about the area of billionaires and enterprise house owners is now more and more attracting professionals and politically involved residents in search of a “Plan B” – an exit route if, as they worry, they discover it more durable to dwell within the US.
“It’s higher to have it and never want it than want it and never have it,” stated Christopher Willis, managing associate on the Latitude Group, which helps purchasers safe second citizenship and residency by funding schemes.
What are passport-for-investment schemes?
These programmes, usually referred to as “golden visas” or “citizenship-by-investment” schemes, enable people to acquire long-term residency and even citizenship in alternate for a monetary contribution – normally by way of actual property funding, a donation to a nationwide improvement fund or the acquisition of presidency bonds.
Funding necessities range by programme and site, starting from as little as 10,000 euros ($10,700) to a couple of million euros ($1.2m).
Not all programmes essentially result in full citizenship or a passport, however do provide the precise to residency.
Residency-by-investment schemes, similar to Portugal’s Golden Visa or Greece’s equal scheme, provide long-term residence and the precise to freedom of journey inside the EU’s Schengen Zone however don’t grant citizenship instantly. In Portugal, nevertheless, the programme does present a five-year pathway to citizenship with minimal residency necessities – a median of 14 days each two years.
Citizenship-by-investment schemes, supplied by Malta and a number of other Caribbean international locations, can result in full passports in as little as 16 months.
In keeping with Latitude, 50 % of its US purchasers now select Portugal’s Golden Visa as their prime decide, adopted by Malta (25 %) and Caribbean nations (15 %). About 80 % of these purchasers say they haven’t any rapid plans to relocate; they merely need the consolation of understanding they’ve the choice to.
Most international locations that present citizenship even have choices to switch this to subsequent generations of youngsters, in addition to grandchildren.
Who’s making use of for second passports?
Second passports are actually being sought from a wider vary of society than simply billionaires and high-net-worth enterprise house owners.
David Lesperance, a Poland-based worldwide tax and immigration adviser, stated his American purchasers embrace LGBTQ people, main political donors and other people involved by what they understand as authoritarian developments in US governance.
“I’ve by no means been busier,” he informed Al Jazeera, including that individuals who have by no means thought of leaving the US earlier than are all of a sudden considering “very severely” about it.
Professor Kristin Surak, a political sociologist on the London College of Economics and writer of The Golden Passport, stated she has seen an increase within the variety of what she calls “Armageddon People” – those that really feel that the nation’s course is so unsure {that a} second citizenship is a rational safeguard.
Willis stated People now rank amongst Latitude’s prime three consumer teams, after China and India. Arton Capital additionally confirmed a pointy uptick from US nationals – together with each high-net-worth people and professionals who’re anxious in regards to the present political local weather.
What are the primary causes that folks need second passports?
The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency in 2025, together with a wave of government orders concentrating on civil liberties, immigration protections and minority rights have sparked concern amongst many teams.
“I received 9 candidates in seven days after a type of orders,” Lesperance stated, citing a wave of worry amongst LGBTQ purchasers particularly following an government order associated to “gender ideology”, recognising female and male as the one two sexes, and reversing a number of protections for transgender individuals.
Some individuals, says Lesperance, fear about being added to political watchlists compiled by allies of the president similar to Kash Patel, Trump’s decide to guide the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Others, similar to supporters of final yr’s student-led pro-Palestine protests, say they really feel more and more susceptible amid the Trump administration’s try to crack down on pro-Palestine actions on US campuses and deport a number of college students concerned.
Lesperance additionally factors to the rise within the frequency of pure disasters such because the current California wildfires, mass shootings and deepening ideological divides as extra drivers of hysteria.
“The US is turning into a wildfire zone,” he stated. “Mass shootings, a dramatic enhance in … racism. And when you’re politically lively, it means half the nation doesn’t such as you,” Lesperance added.
For some households, second citizenship is a monetary determination. Some select actual property investments in Caribbean nations together with Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda that include passports in as little as six months.
One among Latitude’s purchasers opted to speculate $300,000 in property in Antigua and Barbuda as a substitute of buying a trip dwelling in Florida, gaining a second passport within the course of.
International mobility is one other attraction. Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital, stated his purchasers usually mix “bundle” residencies. As an example, pairing a UAE Golden Visa with a European one to make sure broader journey entry.
To acquire a Golden Visa within the UAE, people usually want to speculate about $545,000, both by buying actual property or making a deposit in an accredited monetary establishment.
One other key issue for some high-net-worth people is taxation.
The US is likely one of the solely international locations on the earth that taxes its residents and everlasting residents – also called inexperienced card holders – on their worldwide earnings, no matter the place they’re dwelling. This technique, generally known as citizenship-based taxation, signifies that even People dwelling overseas should file US tax returns and will owe taxes on their world revenue.
This technique has led some high-net-worth People to contemplate renouncing their US citizenship altogether, and inexperienced card holders to relinquish their residency standing.
Whereas it stays uncommon for individuals to take that step, it’s turning into a critical consideration for some purchasers.
“I’ve had a number of hundred purchasers over the last decade do that,” Lesperance stated. “We nonetheless consider there shall be a pointy enhance within the numbers of renouncing residents,” he stated, citing financial, political and social uncertainty.
Arton, whose purchasers are primarily high-net-worth people, famous that even earlier than the 2024 US election, 53 % of American millionaires have been actively exploring choices overseas.
Are extra People additionally making use of for citizenship by descent?
Sure. US functions for citizenship by descent – usually a extra reasonably priced path – have additionally surged by 500 % since 2023, with 80 % concentrating on Italian ancestry, in line with corporations facilitating the method.
This path is pretty new within the trade however is “rising so quick”, Willis stated, particularly as a result of it doesn’t require any investments to be made.
These functions enable people to reclaim citizenship in international locations the place they’ve ancestral ties. Italy, as an illustration, permits individuals to use if they’ll show descent from an Italian citizen, usually going again a number of generations, offered the ancestor didn’t resign their very own Italian citizenship earlier than their baby’s beginning.
Eire, Poland and Germany have comparable legal guidelines.
Every nation has its personal guidelines – Italy locations no restrict on how far again you possibly can hint your ancestry to say citizenship, whereas Eire usually permits candidates to return as much as three generations.
Not like some investment-based programmes, these citizenships can usually be taken up by descendants pretty simply, making them a pretty possibility for households who can show descent. Candidates should usually present beginning certificates, marriage certificates in addition to different paperwork together with a household tree.
Will the demand for second passports proceed to rise?
Most consultants consider the development is way from peaking.
“People are future-proofing their lives,” stated Willis. Shoppers are promoting belongings, restructuring funds, and making “daring way of life selections” all to safe a second citizenship.
Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing associate at Henley and Companions, a residence and citizenship-by-investment specialist, stated US nationals are additionally considering generationally. “When a citizenship is obtained, it usually passes down by descent,” he stated. “That creates a Plan B not only for the consumer, however for his or her kids and grandchildren.”
