Desk:U.S. President Donald Trump returned to power for a second term promising to “Make America Great Again” during his election campaign. Upon taking office, Trump took several significant measures on tariffs and illegal immigration. However, despite these policies, many Americans are reportedly leaving the country. According to official data released by the UK Home Office, a record 6,618 American citizens applied for British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain in the UK over the past 12 months. This is the highest number since records began in 2004. This surge is particularly linked to the start of Trump’s second term in January 2025.
Why Are Americans Leaving the U.S.?
Data shows a 40% increase in American applications during the last quarter of 2024, with nearly 1,700 applications submitted between October and December. This period coincides with the U.S. presidential election in November 2024 and Trump’s victory. Immigration lawyers say the re-election of Trump and his policies—especially on immigration and social issues—have prompted many American citizens to seek alternative residency options in the UK.
Muhunthan Parameswaran, an immigration lawyer at Wilsons Solicitors in London, told the New York Times, “Since the election results and various announcements by Trump, we have seen a notable increase in inquiries from American citizens about applications.” He added that many Americans already residing in the UK are now seeking dual citizenship to secure an option if they no longer wish to return to the U.S. in the future.
Laura Divine Immigration partner Gina Luchova attributed the rise to the political climate in the U.S., particularly concerns among LGBTQ+ communities and other marginalized groups about Trump administration policies. Immigration lawyer Dina Modi said, “Many people have expressed that their views do not align with the current U.S. government, and they are worried about the well-being of themselves and their families. Particularly, same-sex couples feel fearful due to growing concerns about potential bans on same-sex marriage in several U.S. states.”
Impact of Tax Reforms
Another factor behind the surge in applications is changes in British tax policies. In 2024, the UK government abolished the non-domiciled (non-dom) tax status, which allowed high-net-worth foreign residents to be exempt from taxes on overseas income. This reform encouraged many wealthy Americans to apply for British citizenship to keep their options open for living in the UK or leaving in the future.
Immigration experts find this situation contradictory—some affluent Americans are planning to leave the UK due to tax reforms but still want citizenship to retain the option to return later.
Additional Statistics and Trends
Home Office data also reveals that in 2024, 5,521 American citizens were granted permanent residency in the UK—a 20% increase compared to 2023. Most of these applications were based on spousal or family ties, while a significant portion came from skilled workers initially arriving on work visas.
Furthermore, total citizenship applications in the UK increased by 6%, reaching a record 251,000 in 2024. Besides Americans, Ireland also saw a rise in citizenship applications, with a 46% increase in ancestry-based applications from North American residents.