U.S. nationals who cannot rely on ancestry for a “Plan B” passport are looking at so-called “golden visas” and citizenship-by-investment programs in the Caribbean—and soon in South America—as a political and economic hatch in turbulent times, experts say. A growing number of Americans have reportedly applied to be naturalized as Canadian, Irish, or Luxembourgish citizens since the end of 2024, taking advantage of ancestry laws that allow for descendants to be recognized by the countries their great-grandparents or great-great grandparents left decades before. The surge in demand has coincided with President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, which have made many concerned about increased economic volatility in the U.S. and an exacerbation of the country’s political division.
While finding the relevant documents to prove the ancestry lineage might be a lengthy and complex process, citizenship-by-descent is generally considered better, cheaper and more secure than its costly alternatives: citizenship-by-investment and “golden visas.” But for Americans who cannot claim citizenship-by-descent, either because countries have tightened their requirements or they do not have that connection in the first place, these are the only options. And while some programs remain for those who can afford them only, middle-class Americans are also showing interest. Immigrant Invest, a Malta-based company specializing in residence and citizenship by investment founded in 2006, told Newsweek that Americans are its largest client group this year, representing 17 percent of all its consultations.
And it is no longer just the ultra-wealthy who are looking to pay for a residency-by-investment permit or dual nationality. Across the company’s client base, salaried professionals and retirees drawing on savings now account for a quarter of calls, up from about 15 percent in 2025, Immigrant Invest said. These are business owners as well as physicians, pilots and IT specialists, the company said.
For most Americans seeking a “golden visa” or a second citizenship, obtaining a residency permit or another passport does not reflect a desire or intention to leave the U.S., but to establish “a foothold in Europe and an insurance policy,” Alex Razinkov of Immigrant Invest told Newsweek. For high-net-worth individuals, it is a great way to protect their assets from economic and political instability, access more business opportunities and, sometimes, pay lower taxes. Roughly 40 percent of Immigrant Invest’s U.S.-based clients cite a “Plan B” or political uncertainty as a reason to look abroad, Razinkov said.
And Argentina may be next: the government announced its terms on October 2, but the rules are not yet published.” Among those who sought a second citizenship for other reasons than financial ones, many who obtained citizenship-by-descent told Newsweek they did so because of fears of the Trump administration’s hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community and its crackdown on immigrants. There is a key difference between “golden visas” and citizenship-by-investment programs. A “golden visa” can ultimately lead to citizenship, but this is not an automatic process.
Citizenship-by-investment programs give individuals the opportunity to obtain a second passport in exchange for a financial contribution, government fund donation, or real estate purchase. Only some countries offer these programs, including Antigua and Barbuda (from $230,000), Dominica (from $200,000), Grenada (from $235,000), Saint Kitts and Nevis (from $250,000) and Saint Lucia (from $240,000) in the Caribbean. Malta terminated its previously existing citizenship-by-investment program following a 2025 ruling by the European Court of Justice and replaced it with a citizenship-by-merit one.
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