A record number of Americans applied for UK citizenship as Trump began his second term

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Business

Published 10:03 AM EDT, Fri May 23, 2025


London CNN — A record number of Americans applied for British citizenship between January and March, according to the first set of data covering the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term.

Some 1,931 Americans put in an application, the most since records began in 2004 and a jump of 12% on the previous quarter, figures from the UK Home Office showed Thursday. Applications had already soared during the October-December period, which coincided with Trump’s re-election.

Successful applications by US citizens to settle permanently in the United Kingdom, rather than just move there initially, also hit a record high last year, the latest period for which official data is available. Settlement comes with the right to live, work and study in Britain indefinitely and can be used to apply for citizenship. More than 5,500 Americans were granted settled status in 2024, a fifth more than in 2023.

The last time American applications for British citizenship spiked was in 2020, during Trump’s first presidential term and at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/23/business/record-americans-uk-citizenship-trump-intl

[pfitz59]

1. My kids are all dual US and EU citizens

I can ride their coat-tails if need be.

[HarryM]

8. EU citizens?

I live in the Netherlands, and as far as I know, there is no EU specific passport. There are passports for countries within the EU. Even though there is an understanding between EU members, countries are still checking passports. N a venture to Italy last week, we were stopped at both the French and German borders, and had to show ID. It was just a check and go, no big deal, but it still exists.
Therefore your kids have to have a passport from a specific country. Just so people know.

[Crowman2009]

2. Given the risk of UK Reform gaining more seats, I wouldn't go.

[mwooldri]

6. British citizenship does have one perk.

Right to live and work in Ireland. Live there for 5 years, and naturalise as Irish.

Depending on how bad the Tories implode... They might end up doing an electoral pact with Reform. Though Keir has a lot of bad will and has made plenty of missteps with middle of the road Brits.

[Warpy]

3. A second Dubya term caused cousins to claim the Irish right to return

although none of them actually went there. They hold dual citizenship now.

I thought about it but the Irish weather, even in the south where my family hailed from, is a disincentive. I'm too used to the high desert. It suits me.

I fully expect emails saying "surprise! Guess where I am!" as the administration continues to descend into total farce.

I'm just wondering how long entrenched old money is going to allow new money to make such arses of themselves. My guess is that it will last until some sort of billionaire tax cut passes and then the boom will be lowered, the riot act will be read and we'll hear a lot less about things like spite tariffs against countries King Pillock doesn't like.

[DENVERPOPS]

4. Last year I read

where the IRS was saying that the Uber Richl and wealthy in the U.S. were leaving for Dubai and the Scandinavian countries in large numbers, and the number was increasing dramatically every year........

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin gave up his citizenship

and moved to Singapore with his billions.

But speaking of Facebook, Zuckerberg attended Harvard (but didn't graduate unlike Saverin), and am wondering what his take is on the attack of his former college.

[PSPS]

7. My grandmother was born in Liverpool. Is that a route to citizenship for me?

[Hekate]

9. Let us know when you find out

[travelingthrulife]

10. Not sure the UK is a better choice. They seem to be Trump lite.

[Kaleva]

11. Which means 99.9999999999% of Americans didn't apply

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. I'd be more inclined to go to Canada if I did leave

Haven't got that desperate yet.