A record number of Americans applied for British citizenship in the first quarter of 2025, coinciding with the start of Donald Trump’s second term as US President, according to new data from the UK Home Office.
Between January and March, 1,931 US citizens submitted applications for UK citizenship, marking the highest quarterly total since records began in 2004 and a 12% rise on the previous quarter. The surge follows a similar uptick during the final three months of 2024, which aligned with Trump’s re-election.
The figures point to growing interest among Americans in establishing long-term residence in Britain, with a record 5,500 US nationals granted settled status in 2024 — up 20% on the previous year. Settled status grants the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely and can serve as a pathway to citizenship.
The last comparable spike in US-to-UK migration came in 2020, during Trump’s first term and at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when discontent over the US political climate, public health response, and cross-border tax burdens drove many Americans abroad.
That year also saw a record number of Americans formally renounce their US citizenship, with more than 5,800 giving up their passports in the first half of 2020 alone — nearly triple the number for all of 2019, according to figures compiled by Bambridge Accountants, a firm specialising in international tax.
“These are mainly people who already left the US and just decided they’ve had enough of everything,” said Alistair Bambridge, a partner at the firm, in a 2020 interview.
“While political and pandemic-related frustrations were key factors, the complexity of the US tax system for expats is often the final straw.”
While more Americans appear to be eyeing life in the UK and Europe, pathways to citizenship are becoming more limited. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced last week that the government will introduce tougher requirements for legal migrants, including longer wait times before newcomers can apply for citizenship.
Meanwhile, Italy introduced new legislation this week that removes the right to citizenship through great-grandparents, closing a popular route for Americans with Italian ancestry. Italy has also tightened visa requirements for non-EU nationals in recent months, aligning with a broader European trend of stricter migration controls.
Despite the changing legal landscape, Britain’s status as a culturally familiar, English-speaking destination with strong institutions and healthcare continues to make it an attractive option for US expats seeking greater stability or a permanent move abroad.
As Trump’s second term unfolds, immigration and citizenship professionals will be watching closely to see whether this early spike in applications represents a sustained migration trend — or a short-term reaction to political uncertainty at home.
Jamie Young
Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.
When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.