Americans Turn to Caribbean and South American Citizenship-by-Investment as Backup Plan
U.S. citizens unable to claim ancestry-based passports are increasingly applying for golden-visa and citizenship-by-investment programs in the Caribbean and, soon, South America.
Amid heightened political and economic uncertainty after Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, a rising number of Americans are exploring golden-visa and citizenship-by-investment routes, especially those who cannot rely on ancestry laws. Firms that advise on such programs say U.S. clients now represent 17 percent of their workload, with an increasing proportion of middle-class professionals and retirees seeking residency permits or dual passports.
Caribbean nations such as Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia offer citizenship in exchange for investments ranging from $200,000 to $250,000, while Argentina is set to launch a similar scheme. Henley & Partners reports that Americans made up almost one-third of all citizenship-by-investment applications worldwide in the first quarter of 2026, and half of the applications for Antigua & Barbuda this year. These programs are marketed as a way to secure a foothold abroad and mitigate perceived risks in the United States.
Why it matters
The trend shows growing concern among Americans about political and economic stability, prompting them to secure alternative residency or citizenship options.
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