From deepening political polarisation to economic uncertainty, rising debt ceilings, and global unrest, an increasing number of high-net-worth Americans are reassessing their long-term futures. For many, this means taking a proactive step to secure residency or second citizenship abroad, not mainly as an escape, but as a strategic safeguard for mobility, wealth protection, and legacy planning.
What was once considered fringe is now mainstream. Investors, entrepreneurs, and families alike are embracing global investment migration as a reliable path to freedom, flexibility, and peace of mind.
The rise of the global exit strategy
The U.S. remains the global epicentre of wealth, home to over six million high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) with USD 1 million+ in investable wealth, and accounting for 37% of the world’s millionaires, 36% of centi-millionaires, and 33% of billionaires, according to the USA Wealth Report 2025.
Despite this dominance, affluent Americans are looking outward. Searches for “Portugal Golden Visa” hit historic highs following the 2024 election, as U.S. citizens increasingly explore backup residency options. The surge is undeniable. Enquiries from U.S. citizens surged by 183% between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, with Americans now accounting for over 30% of all global applications. This shift reflects a growing belief that “just having a U.S. passport is no longer enough”.
This trend is not driven solely by fear, discomfort and uncertainty but by strategic optionality. From tax diversification and geopolitical hedging to access better healthcare, education, and global business environments, Americans are increasingly seeing value in expanding their sovereign footprint.
What’s driving the interest?
Multiple forces are converging. Firstly, there is political instability and market volatility. The return of aggressive tariff policies and growing deficit concerns have triggered sharp US Dollar Index volatility, prompting advisors to recommend non-U.S. asset exposure.
In June 2025, Trump issued a new travel ban affecting nationals of 12 countries and signalled openness to further restrictions. While the ban doesn’t target Americans directly, the climate of isolationism has prompted many citizens to secure options that preserve their global mobility, especially if diplomatic tensions rise and reciprocal restrictions emerge in return.
Also, American businesses and HNWIs are increasingly investing in countries with strong cultural, political, and economic ties to the U.S., a trend that benefits destinations like Greece, Turkey, Paraguay, and Saint Kitts & Nevis, which offer both strategic and lifestyle advantages.
Where are Americans investing their futures in 2025?
Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes remain a value-driven option are attracting U.S. investors in 2025 due to their speed, flexibility, and global mobility benefits. The Caribbean nations of St. Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Lucia offers citizenship in around 4-6 months with visa-free access to 140+ countries. The minimum investment is USD 200,000 depending on the country and size of application, costs vary.
For U.S. citizens, these programmes offer a strategic hedge against political volatility, smoother international mobility, and greater flexibility in global tax, lifestyle, and legacy planning.
Europe is also drawing interest. Portugal, Italy and Greece offer equally strategic options for U.S. citizens seeking European mobility and lifestyle diversification. Portugal’s Golden Visa, processed in 8–10 months with a minimum EUR 200,000 capital transfer, and includes spouses, children under 18, and financially dependent adult children and parents. Greece’s Golden Visa offers residency in 3–6 months. It requires a EUR 250,000 real estate investment, and covers spouses, children under 21, and both sets of parents. Italy’s Residency Programme completes processing in 2-3 months and requires a EUR 250,000 investment in start-ups, covering a broad range of dependents, including spouses, children under 18, parents over 65, and other financially dependent family members.
Why a second passport is more than a travel perk
A second passport is not about abandoning America, it iss about building strategic options. For wealthy Americans, it offers a vital hedge against domestic political and financial uncertainty while enabling access to world-class healthcare, education, and secure global relocation pathways. It also unlocks diversified banking, friendly tax regimes, investment structuring across stable jurisdictions, and enhanced flexibility in legacy and estate planning. Increasingly, high-net-worth individuals are assembling diversified sovereign portfolios, not necessarily to relocate or have visa-free access, but to protect, future-proof, and globalise their assets and families.
At Citizenship Invest, we help American investors turn global uncertainty into opportunity. From selecting the right program to securing second citizenship or EU residency, our team ensures a discreet, efficient, and fully compliant experience. Reach out to us today.
