Best Golden Visa's For US Citizens Seeking A Plan B
- World CBI
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
For years, a U.S. passport represented freedom, but as nations tighten entry requirements and reciprocity changes visa policies amidst growing political instability, more Americans are discreetly considering backup plans abroad. New indices from Henley & Partners highlight the most reputable programs in 2026.
More Americans Are Seeking New Passports
In 2025, the landscape of second passports and citizenship-by-investment shifted, and for the first time, residents of advanced economies, particularly Americans, began searching for a second passport.
Henley & Partners noted a 183% increase in inquiries between the first quarters of 2024 and 2025, leading to more applications. 2024 was a record year, but by September 2025, applications had risen by 67%, with Americans making up 30% of the company's applicants.
New Indices On Golden Visas Rank Greece, Italy, and Portugal Highly
In Europe, Portugal's golden visa program was a major draw. Portugal’s immigration agency AIMA reports a 50% increase in American residents in 2024 compared to 2023. Other European hotspots include Greece and Italy, with applications doubling in Italy over the past two years. Greece is also appealing due to its lack of the administrative backlog for which Portugal's program is known.
Henley & Partners recently released its 2026 edition of the Residence and Citizenship Programs report, featuring two indices for Americans looking for the best golden visa and citizenship programs abroad.
The Global Residence Program Index confirms these trends, ranking Greece first, with Italy, Switzerland, and the UAE in second, and Portugal third.
Regarding citizenship programs, Henley's Global Citizenship Program Index ranks Malta first, Austria second, and Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis tied for third.
New Zealand and Panama are also popular with Americans. In New Zealand, Americans make up 40% of all applications to its golden visa program, while Panama has long been favored by American retirees for its dollar-friendly economy and proximity to the U.S.
Americans Are Seeking Second Passports For Political Stability, Affordable Healthcare, and Travel Freedoms
Americans are pursuing political stability, affordable healthcare, and increased travel freedom. There are also indications that this sentiment is strong among LGBTQ+ Americans concerned about their safety and rights, impacting their future planning.
A 2025 Harris poll revealed that nearly half of Americans and two-thirds of Gen Z and Millennial respondents are interested in dual citizenship. It's no longer just the super-rich or high-net-worth individuals.
A recent Wall Street Journal article discusses how, in its 250th year, America is celebrating its negative net migration due to deportations and new visa restrictions, but it’s also true that Americans are leaving in record numbers, relocating to countries they find more affordable and safe.
The proposed Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 would require Americans to give up any additional citizenships within a year, and sources suggest it’s paradoxically speeding up rather than deterring applications. While it’s unlikely to become law, it highlights how out of sync some U.S. policies are with global trends, as per the MACIMIDE Global Expatriate Dual Citizenship Dataset from Maastricht University, which shows 75% of countries allow dual nationality without sacrificing the original.
The U.S. doesn’t track dual citizenship. Unofficial estimates range from 500,000 to 10 million dual U.S. citizens, often cited at 7-10 million (about 2-3% of the U.S. population). Up to 30 million U.S. citizens may qualify for ancestry passports in other countries, though obtaining them involves complex paperwork and strict eligibility criteria.
The U.S. Passport Is Losing Its Power
CNTraveler reports that U.S. travel restrictions are affecting the country, noting that ‘over the past year, the U.S. has lost visa-free access to seven nations.’ Brazil is among them, reinstating visa requirements for Americans in response to U.S. restrictions, signaling a decline in the U.S. passport’s power.
In the Henley Passport Index 2026, the U.S. passport ranks as the 10th most powerful globally, behind 38 other countries, including Malaysia, Lithuania, Iceland, Slovakia, Canada, and the UAE. Last year, it was at its lowest historical rank, number 12, a drop from the top ten positions it held for 20 years.
The declining power of the U.S. passport and the growing interest in dual citizenship reflect a change in how some Americans view their global position. Once characterized by dominance and mobility, the U.S. is increasingly seen as restrictive for both incoming and outgoing travelers.
Globally, more countries are embracing multiple citizenships, and people are seeking broader freedoms, partly through golden visa programs. As global connectivity increases and political instability rises, some Americans find that holding just one passport feels more like a constraint than a privilege.
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