Wealthy Americans Seeking Alternative Citizenship

While the USA Wealth Report 2025 shows the U.S. remains one of the top destinations for global wealth migration, an increasing number of affluent Americans are actively seeking alternative residence and citizenship options abroad as a safeguard to protect wealth.

So far in 2025, U.S. citizens account for over 30% of all investment migration applications submitted through Henley & Partners—nearly double the combined total of the next five investor nationalities, which include Turkish, Indian, and British.

“We’re witnessing a new level of sophistication in how affluent Americans manage and diversify their wealth,” said Basil Mohr-Elzeki, Managing Partner at Henley & Partners North America. “Securing alternative residences and citizenships is now a strategic form of risk management—a thoughtful ‘Plan B’ that enhances family resilience, unlocks global opportunities, and safeguards multigenerational legacies.”

Prof. Peter J. Spiro, of Temple University Law School, observes in the report that “more Americans are confronting a stark reality: U.S. citizenship alone no longer feels like a sufficient safeguard. The enduring value of an American passport is now paired with a growing desire for a backup plan. Dual citizenship, once a luxury, is becoming the new American dream. In an era of rising uncertainty, many are seeking not just the right to stay, but the right to leave.”

Next page: Huge wealth transfer on tap