The number of Americans applying for UK citizenship reached an all-time high last year, driven by factors such as the potential return of Donald Trump to power and recent changes in UK tax policy.

More than 6,100 US citizens applied for UK citizenship in 2024, marking the highest figure in the last two decades and a 26% increase from the previous year. Overall, the UK saw around 251,000 applications for citizenship, a 6% rise compared to 2023, also setting a new record.

The surge in applications was evident in the final quarter of 2024, where US applications rose by 40% year-on-year, reaching approximately 1,700, according to the Home Office data.

Immigration lawyers suggest that Trump’s bid for a second presidential term and his victory in November played a significant role in driving this rise, alongside UK tax changes that encouraged Americans to secure British passports before exiting the country.

Elena Hinchin, a partner at law firm Farrer & Co, noted that the US political climate had become a “serious driver” for increased interest in UK residency. “We’ve seen a marked rise in interest in citizenship from the US since the election campaign began,” she said. “There’s definitely more interest compared to the previous Trump administration.”

The UK’s recent abolition of the non-domicile (non-dom) tax status also contributed to this spike, particularly among wealthy Americans in the UK. “Some high-net-worth individuals are contemplating leaving the UK because of the tax changes,” Hinchin added. “Many are applying for citizenship now to preserve their right to do so, keeping the door open for themselves and offering more flexibility for their children.”

To qualify for UK citizenship, applicants must meet several criteria, such as the length of their residence in the UK, having British parents, or being married to a UK citizen. Home Office data reveals that applications from Americans have steadily increased since late 2022.

Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, noted that while the data shows a marked rise in interest, factors driving citizenship applications are more often personal, and political considerations are not always the primary motivator. “For people moving from stable countries, politics is usually a secondary or tertiary factor, not the main reason for relocating,” she explained.

However, Ono Okeregha, director of the Immigration Advice Service, observed a sharp uptick in British citizenship searches the day after the US election in November, with continued interest through Trump’s second term. He also noted that US applications started rising a few years ago, driven by the “aftermath of the first Donald Dash,” referring to the period when Americans who moved to the UK during Trump’s first term became eligible for citizenship.

In addition to the UK, there has been a notable rise in applications for Irish citizenship, with a 46% increase in requests from North Americans with Irish ancestry last year.