Golden Visas are increasingly being used as a planning tool by Americans seeking greater international mobility before making any permanent relocation decision. Leaving the US is rarely an immediate step, as it requires housing, taxes, financial planning, and family planning, all of which can take months or even years. Against this backdrop, internal Get Golden Visa data suggests Americans are driving stronger demand for Golden Visa programs in the first half of 2026, with inquiries nearly doubling compared with the previous year.
The Current Landscape: More Americans Are Looking Abroad
Recent data points suggest growing interest among Americans in living, working, retiring, or establishing residency abroad. Alongside migration forecasts and rising numbers of Americans living overseas, Golden Visa programs are increasingly becoming part of the planning process long before relocation occurs.
Accordingly, recent studies suggest that net migration in the US will be between -295,000 and -10,000 in 2025. This is the first time in at least half a century in US history that the numbers turned negative. The same data is expected to be around –925,000 and 185,000 in 2026. In addition to this, nearly 5,000 Americans renounced their citizenship according to the latest data from the Internal Revenue Service.
Moving permanently, on the other hand, requires comprehensive planning rather than making a sudden move. That’s why many are directing their interest in Golden Visa programs, granting legal residency rights first and keeping them as a means of future mobility in case things change.
Americans Moving Overseas: Where Are They Heading?
The American migration trend is evident in the official data, indicating that the increase will continue. Supporting that, the latest Gallup Poll report found that 40% of women aged 15 to 44 said they would move abroad permanently if given the opportunity, while only 19% of men said the same, highlighting a significant gender gap.
While not everyone who expresses a desire to move abroad ultimately does so, an estimated 5 to 6 million Americans currently live outside the United States. Their destinations tend to reflect practical considerations such as geographic proximity, existing cultural and economic ties, affordable cost of living, international business opportunities, and accessible residency or dual citizenship pathways.
Mexico is the first destination for total Americans living abroad, particularly retirees and digital nomads. The latest SSA (Social Security Administration) data show that over 34,936 American retirees receive Social Security benefits while living in Mexico. The second destination Americans prefer to move to is Canada. Official data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show a consistent flow of Americans obtaining Permanent Residency, with 7,510 granted PR status in 2025.
Additionally, the UK keeps its main position for American professionals and students. The latest data from the Home Office reports that Americans were among the top nationalities in skilled worker and student categories. There is also a growing interest in European countries, including Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, and Malta. They are mainly preferred for international business opportunities, affordable living, and the ease of residency through Golden Visa programs or dual citizenship.
A Smaller but Notable Signal: US Citizenship Renunciation
While renunciation of citizenship remains a relatively rare and extreme step, it is another signal of growing interest in international mobility among Americans.
IRS data shows that 4,889 Americans renounced their citizenship in the latest reporting period, the highest figure since 2020. The increase in the numbers is generally attributed to the tax and financial burdens, politics, recent policies affecting specific groups, and personal decisions.
Even among those who have not taken such a step, search interest in renouncing citizenship has risen considerably in recent years. Google Trends data shows the rising interest in the practical aspects of renouncing citizenship:
| Signal | Data |
|---|---|
| “How to renounce citizenship” | +20% |
| “Can I renounce my US citizenship” | +70% |
| “How do you renounce US citizenship” | +80% |
| “Do you have to pay to renounce US citizenship” | +160% |
| “If you renounce US citizenship do you still pay taxes” | +250% |
| “How much does it cost to renounce your US citizenship” | +550% |
For most Americans exploring life abroad, however, the more common path is not renunciation, but optionality: securing a legal residency route before deciding whether to relocate permanently.
An Inside Look at How Americans Plan to Relocate Overseas Long Before the Move
For Americans moving out of the US, the decision is rarely immediate. The process requires a comprehensive preparation, taking months or even years to complete. This includes mostly financial and tax planning, housing arrangements, and family-related considerations. As a result, Americans create optionality through Golden Visa programs.
This is where the rise in “Golden Visa” inquiries becomes particularly significant. Golden Visa programs, offered by countries such as Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Malta, provide residency rights in exchange for investment. They are considered as structured, predictable legal routes for relocation.
According to Get Golden Visa’s latest observations, during our May roadshows in Los Angeles and New York, we saw nearly twice as many meetings and inquiries as the previous year. The growing volume of searches and consultations among US-based applicants reflects early-stage planning before a move becomes necessary.
“As a result, interest in structured residency pathways such as Golden Visas tends to appear early in the decision-making process, long before an actual departure takes place,” said Werner Gruner, partner at Get Golden Visa. “People often assume that moving abroad begins when they buy a plane ticket. In reality, securing residency through Golden Visas first gives families time to prepare and creates an option for the future.”
Securing a Golden Visa Before Making a Permanent Move
Rather than making an abrupt move, Americans leaving the US often begin by establishing optionality through residency by investment programs. This is to ensure they have a stable legal ground if circumstances change.
One such case comes from Get Golden Visa’s latest research, The Great American Retirement Exodus Report. Nancy, a retired American lawyer. She obtained a long-term residency pathway through the Portugal Golden Visa by investing in a qualifying investment fund. She describes the decision less as a sudden relocation move and more as a form of long-term planning:
“It’s very reassuring to know there’s a place we can go if things here get really bad.”
Her case reflects a broader pattern among Americans who use residency by investment programs as a way to secure time for better planning before making a permanent move.
