American Demand for Dual Citizenship Is Up 1,000% Since 2020

Dual Citizenship Is the New American Dream

Americans are lining up for second passports in numbers nobody has seen before.

Applications for citizenship through investment programs have jumped 1,000% since 2020, and one major firm now has more American clients than Turkish, Indian, Chinese, and British applicants combined.

The reason is simple: the U.S. passport just dropped out of the world’s top 10 for the first time in 20 years. Once ranked number one, it now sits at 12th place, tied with Malaysia.

For wealthy families and nervous professionals alike, a backup passport has become the new insurance policy.

The U.S. Passport Hits a 20-Year Low

The Henley Passport Index has ranked the world’s passports since 2005. In 2014, the American passport sat at the top, opening more doors than any other.

By October 2025, it had fallen to 12th place with visa-free access to just 180 destinations. Singapore now holds the top spot with access to 193 countries.

South Korea and Japan take second and third.

The drop marks the first time in the index’s history that the U.S. has fallen outside the top 10, and experts say the slide reflects a broader shift in global power.

Brazil, China, and Vietnam All Said No

The passport didn’t lose power overnight. Brazil ended visa-free travel for Americans in April 2025, citing a lack of reciprocity.

China expanded its visa-free list to dozens of countries but left the U.S. off entirely. Vietnam did the same when it released its own visa-free list.

Meanwhile, the U.S. allows only 46 nationalities to enter without a visa, ranking it 77th on the Henley Openness Index.

Countries that welcome visitors are gaining passport power. Countries that don’t are falling behind.

Applications Have Jumped 1,000% Since 2020

The pandemic started it.

Americans stuck at home realized they could work from anywhere, and some began asking what else was possible.

Then came January 6, 2021, and interest spiked again.

After the 2024 election, it surged once more. By the end of Q3 2025, applications from U.S. nationals were already 67% higher than the entire previous year.

One firm reported a 400% increase in American clients in Q1 2025 alone. Another said inquiries for second citizenship jumped 183% year over year.

Political Fears Top the List of Reasons

A survey of more than 10,000 American clients found that 85% cited political concerns as their primary reason for seeking a second passport.

Some said the country no longer represented their values.

Others worried about what they called the end of democracy. Parents of transgender children expressed concern about their families’ futures.

Same-sex couples questioned whether their marriages would remain recognized. Only 39% cited healthcare and 36% cited cost of living as major factors.

Politics led by a wide margin.

Most Want a Backup, Not an Exit

About 76% of applicants said they were looking for a “Plan B” rather than planning to leave immediately.

The idea is to have options if things get worse. A second passport means a second place to go, a second banking system, a second set of rights.

For high-net-worth families, it’s becoming a standard part of wealth planning, treated the same as diversifying investments or buying insurance.

One adviser called it “geopolitical arbitrage,” using citizenship to hedge against risk.

Ancestry Is the Cheapest Path to Europe

Americans with a parent or grandparent born in Ireland can register for citizenship through the Foreign Births Register.

The process takes about nine months and costs under $2,000. Poland offers similar access with no generational limit, as long as the citizenship chain was never broken.

Until recently, Italy allowed claims going back to great-great-grandparents and beyond.

For those who qualify, ancestry-based citizenship opens the door to the entire European Union without spending a dime on investment.

Italy Just Cut Off Millions of Applicants

In March 2025, Italy passed a law that ended eligibility for anyone whose Italian ancestor was more than two generations back.

Before the change, Americans could claim citizenship through great-grandparents or even further. Now only those with a parent or grandparent born in Italy qualify.

Millions of Americans who had been planning to apply lost their chance overnight. Some consulates had three-year wait times for appointments.

Those who filed before the deadline are still being processed under the old rules. Everyone else is out of luck.

Caribbean Citizenship Starts at $100,000

For those without European ancestry, the Caribbean offers a faster route.

Dominica and St. Lucia both have citizenship-by-investment programs starting at $100,000 in donations to a government fund. St. Kitts and Nevis, which launched the world’s first such program in 1984, requires $250,000.

Passports arrive in three to six months. These Caribbean passports provide visa-free access to more than 140 countries, including the U.K. and the entire Schengen Area.

Grenada adds one more benefit: eligibility for the U.S. E-2 investor visa.

Portugal Offers a Path to the EU

Portugal’s Golden Visa program allows non-EU nationals to invest $500,000 in approved funds and receive residency. After five years, they can apply for citizenship.

The program requires only about seven days per year in Portugal, so investors can keep living and working in the U.S. while their clock runs.

The catch: Portugal’s parliament recently voted to extend the residency requirement from five years to ten. The change is awaiting final approval.

Those who apply soon may still qualify under the current rules.

More Countries Are Tightening the Rules

Italy’s March 2025 change was just the beginning. Multiple EU countries have announced plans to restrict ancestry-based citizenship by the end of 2026.

Malta’s citizenship program was ruled “incompatible” with EU law in April 2025. Portugal is extending its timeline.

Caribbean nations are adding stricter residency requirements. The message from governments is clear: the era of easy second passports is ending.

Advisers are telling clients to act now rather than wait for more doors to close.

A Second Passport Is No Longer a Luxury

A decade ago, second citizenship was something for the ultra-wealthy or the deeply paranoid. Now it’s going mainstream.

Firms that once served a niche market are hiring staff to handle the flood of American inquiries.

Law practices specializing in ancestry research have doubled as travel agencies, helping clients spend the required time abroad.

Whether driven by politics, taxes, or simple peace of mind, Americans are treating citizenship the way they once treated real estate: as something to collect, protect, and pass on to their children.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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