Record number of Americans apply for UK citizenship following Trump re-election

A surge in American applications for UK citizenship marked 2024, with a record number of US citizens seeking to become British nationals, particularly in the final quarter of the year, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s re-election.

According to data from the UK’s Home Office, quoted by CNN, more than 6,100 Americans applied for UK citizenship in 2024, the highest since records began in 2004 when fewer than 3,000 applications were submitted, per Caliber.Az.

This represents a significant rise from 2023, which saw under 5,000 applications from US citizens.

The final quarter of 2024 saw the steepest increase, with over 1,700 Americans applying for UK citizenship — marking the highest quarterly total in two decades.

This spike mirrors a similar rise in the first half of 2020, when over 5,800 Americans renounced their citizenship, nearly tripling the total from 2019. At the time, the surge was attributed to the aftermath of Trump’s first presidency and changes in tax policies, with many applicants having lived in the UK for extended periods.

Analysts have noted that in addition to dissatisfaction with the political climate in the US, many individuals who renounced their citizenship cited tax-related concerns. Alistair Bambridge, a partner at Bambridge Accountants, remarked in 2020 that “taxes were often a driving factor” for many.

Trump himself could apply for British citizenship through his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in Scotland before moving to the US in 1930.

As more Americans rush to secure UK passports, some British citizens have been seeking their own “backup” options. Following the UK’s 2016 Brexit referendum, applications for Irish passports surged as Britons sought the right to live, work, and travel freely across the European Union.

The trend of seeking alternative citizenship options appears to have intensified following Trump’s re-election, as some Americans, particularly those worried about the next four years under his leadership, look to relocate.

In response, an Italian village launched a website targeting potential American expats, offering cheap homes in hopes of revitalizing the area after years of population decline. The website invites individuals disillusioned by global politics to explore a “more balanced lifestyle” in Sardinia, highlighting the opportunity to secure a new future in the picturesque Mediterranean region.

By Tamilla Hasanova