The number of Americans applying for UK citizenship hit a record high last year. Over 6,100 people applied — a 26% increase from 2023. Trump’s return to power and changes in UK tax laws pushed more US citizens to seek British passports.
Applications spiked by 40% in the last three months of 2024, reaching around 1,700. Immigration lawyers linked the rise to US political uncertainty and Britain’s decision to end non-dom tax status.
“Elena Hinchin, a lawyer at Farrer & Co, said US politics is driving more interest in UK citizenship. ‘We’ve seen a big increase since the election began,’ she explained.” Wealthy Americans also rushed to get passports before leaving the UK to keep future options open for themselves and their children.
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People can get UK citizenship by meeting certain rules, such as living in the UK for a set period, having British parents, or marrying a British citizen. Home Office data shows that US applications have steadily risen since 2022.
Madeleine Sumption, from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, noted that personal reasons often play a more significant role in seeking citizenship than politics. However, politics can still influence decisions.
British citizenship searches surged the day after the US election. Americans who moved to the UK during Trump’s first term (2016–2020) are now eligible to apply.
Meanwhile, applications for Irish citizenship from North Americans with Irish roots rose by 46% last year.
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