Record number of requests by Americans to obtain citizenship in a country in Europe, after Donald Trump became president
More and more Americans choose to apply for permanent citizenship and residence in a European state, after Donald Trump has won the US elections and began to put his aggressive politics into practice.
Record number of Americans who want to settle in Europe. Photo: Archive
A record number of people have submitted requests for citizenship and the right of permanent residence in the United Kingdom in the first three months of this year, according to official data.
Over 6,000 Americans have submitted in 2024 applications for obtaining British citizenship or the right of residence and work in the United Kingdom, the highest level since 2004. This year, over 1,900 were deposited only in the first quarter, setting a new quarter record, according to The New York Times.
Immigration lawyers say that the interest in relocation has increased significantly from the result of the US presidential elections. Muhuthan Paramesvaran, a lawyer at Wilsons Applicors in London, said the request wave started immediately after the poll and the political statements that followed him. “There was certainly an increase in requests from American citizens after elections. Those who were already here may have thought:” I want the option of double citizenship if I do not want to return to the USA “”explained the British official.
This trend is part of a global phenomenon: the requests for obtaining another citizen increased worldwide by 9.5% compared to the previous year, but in the case of US applicants, the advance was 30%.
Zeena Luchowa, a partner at Laura becomes Immigration, says she is expecting an even greater increase in the next period, fueled by the unstable political context in America. She points out that interest does not come only from American citizens, but also other residents temporarily in the US who analyze the opportunity to move to the United Kingdom.
“We have noticed increases in requests and applications not only from US citizens, but also US residents from other nationalities in the US, but analyzes the option to settle in the United Kingdom. The requests we see are not necessarily for British citizenship, it is rather relocating,” she explained.
In parallel, the official figures show that a record number of people received in 2024 permission to live and work permanently in the United Kingdom, a mandatory step on the way to citizenship.
Of the 5,521 approvals for establishment granted last year, most were for people eligible by family ties, and a significant part included qualified workers who want to extend their stay after the expiration of temporary visas. This represents an increase of 20% compared to 2023, setting a new historical maximum for this group.
Muhunthan Paramesvaran believes that the number of requests will continue to increase, especially after the Government has announced an important change: the minimum stay required to apply for permanent establishment will increase from 5 to 10 years. “Many people want to apply as long as the current rules are still valid,” he explained.
