American travelers looking for a permanent home away from home may be surprised to learn that some of the world’s most beloved destinations are also the easiest countries to get citizenship.
While the US government has no official data on the number of Americans who hold dual citizenship or are actively applying for second citizenships, recent reports from private advisory firms have highlighted the rising trend of Americans seeking residency and second passports abroad. “Affluent Americans seek international diversification in unprecedented numbers,” reads a new report from residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley and Partners. According to the report, the number of US applications for golden visas or golden passports (residence-by-investment programs) doubled in 2025 and remain elevated this year. In another report from Arton Capital, the number of American applications the firm processes ballooned by roughly 2,400% over the past decade.
If you find yourself pursuing a second passport or permanent residence abroad, there are several paths forward. One option is to obtain citizenship by ancestry in a country where your parent or grandparent was born. Alternatively, the aforementioned “golden passport” provides citizenship in exchange for a significant donation or investment in the country.
The easiest countries to get citizenship are by and large located in Europe and the Caribbean where the lion’s share of golden passport schemes are offered. Elsewhere, new legislation such as Canada’s Bill C-3 passed in December 2025 have opened up new possibilities of second citizenship by ending the first-generation limit to claiming citizenship by descent.
The reasons for seeking citizenship abroad are sundry, ranging from travelers eager to take advantage of remote work policies to retirees seeking more affordable locales to enjoy their next chapter of life. Whatever your own reasons may be for seeking dual citizenship, here’s 10 countries with comparatively streamlined processes for obtaining a second passport or permanent residency status.
