Wealthy US Citizens Are Increasingly Looking for Golden Visas to Move to Europe: Here’s Why

Following Donald Trump’s decisive victory in the recent US presidential election, there has been a significant increase in interest in Golden Visa programs among wealthy Americans. These programs offer foreign citizenship or residence permits in exchange for significant investments.

According to a CNN report, Henley & Partners, a leader in citizenship through investment, saw a staggering 400 percent increase in inquiries from U.S. citizens during election week. Dominic Volek, the company’s head of private clients, described this trend as a strategy of “optionality” and likened it to an “insurance policy.” Most applicants are looking for backup plans rather than a permanent move.

European countries remain the top destinations for those applying for a golden visa. Portugal’s Golden Residence Program is particularly valued for its affordability and accelerated path to EU citizenship, allowing residency after five years with a minimum investment of €250,000 in cultural heritage and eligibility for citizenship.

The super-rich are drawn to Malta and Austria because of their golden visa offers. Malta grants immediate citizenship in return for a non-refundable payment of €600,000, along with additional investments in real estate and charitable donations. In contrast, Austria requires a minimum investment of 3.5 million euros for citizenship, typically in local businesses.

Historically, golden visa programs have attracted people from politically unstable regions. However, according to Volek, demand from US citizens surged during the pandemic as wealthy families were affected by travel restrictions.

While these programs primarily target wealthy people, many ordinary Americans are also considering relocation, motivated by security rather than luxury concerns. Flannery Foster, an American living in Spain who helps others move, shared that she often encounters people in life-threatening situations, including women, Black people and LGBTQ+ families.

Many of these individuals want to retain their U.S. citizenship, with Foster noting, “It feels like I’m leaving because I have to, but I want to make sure my voice continues to count.”

Meanwhile, numerous US citizens were reportedly already exploring the possibility of relocating to Canada following Donald Trump’s re-election, as evidenced by a significant increase in searches for Canadian visas, according to a US Mirror report.