Record Number of Americans Apply for UK Citizenship Following Trump’s Re-Election
Surge in Applications Coincides with Political Uncertainty
A record number of Americans applied for UK citizenship in 2024, with a sharp increase in applications in the months following Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president.
Record-Breaking Numbers
- Over 6,100 U.S. citizens applied for UK citizenship in 2024—the highest number since records began in 2004.
- This marks a significant rise from 2023, which saw fewer than 5,000 applications.
- The final quarter of 2024 recorded more than 1,700 applications, the highest number in any three-month period over the past two decades.
Historical Comparisons and Trends
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The surge mirrors a similar trend from early 2020 when over 5,800 Americans renounced their U.S. citizenship, a figure nearly three times higher than the total for 2019.
- Analysts attribute these spikes to political dissatisfaction and tax policy changes.
Trump’s Potential UK Citizenship
- Donald Trump himself is eligible for British citizenship through his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in Scotland before immigrating to the U.S. in 1930.
Broader European Migration Trends
- The rise in American applications mirrors a previous surge among British citizens seeking Irish passports after the UK’s Brexit referendum in 2016.
- European towns and villages, such as one in Sardinia, have begun marketing themselves as havens for Americans seeking an “escape” from political turmoil.
The sharp increase in U.S. applications for UK citizenship underscores growing political and economic anxieties among Americans. While many are motivated by uncertainty over Trump’s policies, others are seeking tax benefits or dual-nationality advantages. The trend reflects a broader global shift, as individuals look for alternative residency and citizenship options in response to political change.
