Huge Increase In Enquiries For US Citizens Following Trumps Election Win

Wealthy Americans are considering golden visa programs that offer foreign citizenship or residency through significant investments. The reason? The upcoming presidency of Donald Trump. According to CNN, there was a 400 percent increase in enquiries from US citizens during election week.

Other sources indicate a fivefold rise in enquiries the day after the election results. While only a small fraction of these people are actually moving, they all want to have the option as a backup plan.

For those interested in golden visas, European countries are the top choices. Portugal's Golden Residence Permit Programme is notable for its low cost and fast track to EU citizenship. With a minimum investment of 250,000 EUR in cultural heritage or as little as 325,000 EUR into a small business or investment fund if using certain investments that pay interest upfront, applicants can obtain residency and, after five years, apply for citizenship.

The extremely wealthy often prefer Malta and Austria. Malta provides immediate citizenship for a €600,000 non-refundable payment, along with additional investments in real estate and charitable donations. Austria requires investments of at least €3.5 million, usually in local businesses, in return for citizenship.

Traditionally, golden visa programs attracted people from politically unstable nations, but US demand increased during the pandemic as travel restrictions impacted wealthy families.

Although the golden visa trend is primarily driven by the affluent, many ordinary Americans are also thinking about relocating abroad. For many, the reason is not luxury but safety. Some people believe their lives are at risk, particularly women, Black individuals, and families with LGBTQ+ members.

These individuals often wish to retain their US citizenship. There is a feeling of, ‘I'm leaving because I have to, and I want to ensure that my vote still matters.’”