Number of US expats to climb throughout 2025

2025/08/01 2 Comments

From the citizenship-by-investment marketing firm Aston’s. Still relatively small number for a country with such a large population of millionaires and ultra wealthy:

Number of US expats set to reach 5,000 per year in 2025

The latest analysis from Astons, reveals that the number of US citizens choosing to leave the States is forecast to hit almost 5,000 by the end of this year, marking the highest annual total since 2020.

Astons’ analysis of US Federal Register data* reveals that in 2024 an estimated 4,819 US citizens chose to expatriate themselves and settle in another country.

This marked an annual increase of 47.8%.

Further data shows that following this annual increase, the number of US expats has continued to increase at an incredibly sharp rate, with the first quarter of 2025 recording a rise of 102.4% compared to the final quarter of 2024.

This means that in the first three months of this year alone, an estimated 1,285 US citizens become expatriates.

Based on these recent trends, Astons’ now estimates that by the end of 2025, the total number of US citizens expatriating themselves will reach 4,936 – based on the most conservative of forecasts.

This will be equivalent to an annual increase of 2.4%, and mark the highest number of US citizens leaving America in a single year since 2020, the height of the pandemic.

Senior Consultant for Residency and Citizenship Programs at Astons, Suzanna Uzakova, commented:

“We’re seeing a significant shift in the mindset of affluent Americans who are no longer just looking to invest their money wisely, they’re actively seeking new homes and lifestyles beyond U.S. borders. The rising cost of living, political uncertainty, and a desire for greater personal freedoms are pushing many to explore permanent residency abroad.

Europe is especially attractive thanks to its quality of life, healthcare, and cultural richness. Among all European destinations, Greece has emerged as a standout choice — not just for its beauty, but for its accessible Golden Visa programme, favourable tax incentives, and lifestyle that blends luxury with a much sought-after simplicity.

The investment required to access Greece’s Golden Visa programme starts from just €250,000 provided it goes into real estate – making it one of the most affordable residency-by-investment routes in Europe. For many Americans, Greece offers the perfect balance: EU access, property investment potential, and a relaxed pace of life that feels a world away from the rush back home.”

Data tables and sources
*US expat data sourced from the US IRS (US Federal Register)

Full data tables can be viewed online, here.

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Is Elon Musk Heading to Greece?

2025/07/03 Leave a comment

Funny appropriation of Musk’s troubles with Trump to promote a citizenship by investment program:

As Donald Trump threatens to deport Elon Musk from the US in response to the tech mogul’s criticism of the President’s ‘Big, Beautiful, Bill’ and speculation mounts and rumours swirl about Musk’s future, global mobility experts at Astons – leading specialists in Residency by Investment – are suggesting that Greece is the ideal next stop for the billionaire businessman.

While Musk’s future in the U.S. remains clouded in political uncertainty, should he be forced to relocate, Greece offers a compelling alternative for high-net-worth individuals. Astons argues that Musk would not only find a welcoming jurisdiction in Greece, but also a favourable tax regime and a Golden Visa programme uniquely suited to someone of his international business stature.

Why Greece? Tax Advantages for the Wealthy
Greece’s non-dom regime offers a fixed annual tax of €100,000 on global income for foreign investors who transfer their tax residency, regardless of actual income earned abroad. This can be extended to family members for an additional €20,000 each, allowing high-net-worth individuals to legally and efficiently manage their tax exposure.

Additionally, Greece has implemented tax exemptions for pensioners and incentives for remote workers, providing a wider ecosystem of support for internationally mobile professionals and business owners.

The Golden Visa Programme
Through a minimum real estate investment of €250,000, Greece’s Golden Visa programme grants residency rights to wealthy foreign investors and their families. The programme is immensely popular, especially among US citizens. In fact, recent research from Astons revealed that in the past year alone, the number of US applications for the Greek Golden Visa has increased by +52.6%

Greek residency also gives investors free access to the Schengen Zone and sets the groundwork for a potential upgrade to EU citizenship in the future. The program stands out as one of the most accessible and fast-moving Residency by Investment options in Europe.

A World-Class Lifestyle
Beyond financial benefits, Greece offers an enviable Mediterranean lifestyle. From the cosmopolitan allure of Athens to the island serenity of Mykonos and Crete, Greece boasts world-class cuisine, a rich cultural history, temperate climate, and excellent healthcare and education systems.

As the global elite continue to seek destinations that offer both security and opportunity, Greece has emerged as a serious contender for anyone rethinking their base of operations—Musk included.

Citizenship, residence permit, and real estate investment expert for Astons, Alena Lesina, commented:

“If Elon Musk is to leave the United States, there will be many countries happy to welcome him and his money with open arms.

There is always a chance he will choose to return to his native South Africa, but Musk is a shrewd businessman, so he’s going to want to move to a nation that respects the financial clout he brings with him and will give him space to keep growing his businesses.

Greece is the perfect destination for Elon Musk. Not only does it offer attractive tax rules for business people like him, it’s also located in the heart of the EU which will give him easy, unfettered access to the European business market.

This financial pragmatism is paired with a stunning lifestyle to rival any other destination in the world. So if Elon Musk is indeed compelled to leave America., Greece would not just welcome him—it would embrace someone of his business acumen, vision, and global influence”

Notes to Editors: –

Astons are leading international real estate experts on residency and citizenship through investment offering bespoke residence and citizenship solutions in the EU, the Caribbean, and other countries through property investment.
Astons have over 30 years of experience assisting individuals to successfully relocate their lives, lifestyles and companies through the complex world of global immigration law
Astons offer everything from residency and citizenship, to legal support and guidance on worldwide property investment.
Astons is a leading global investment migration and luxury real estate company specializing in bespoke residency, citizenship, and premium real estate solutions in more than 11 countries.
Founded in 1989, Astons provides a comprehensive suite of services for HNW clients with a worldwide footprint of offices in London, Dubai, Istanbul, Limassol, Athens, Fort Lauderdale, and Saint Julians.

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Wealthy Britons step up citizenship shopping to thwart Brexit

2020/09/26 Leave a comment

Not surprising:

The number of British entrepreneurs looking to “buy” citizenship from countries offering visa-free access to the European Union has risen sharply, investment migration firms say, as prospects of a post-Brexit trade deal between Britain and the bloc darken.

Investment immigration firm Astons said it had seen a 50% and 30% year-on-year increase in interest from clients seeking Cypriot or Greek citizenship respectively this quarter, less than four months before UK passport-holders are likely to lose their rights to freedom of movement across the EU.

Henley & Partners also reported a rise in requests for advice on investment migration applications to Malta, Portugal, Austria and several Caribbean islands, which offer a range of residency rights, visa-free travel to the EU and citizenship to investors in local business or property.

Citizens of certain Caribbean sovereign states including St. Lucia and St Kitts & Nevis also enjoy preferred access to the EU, thanks to close ties with EU members as a result of historic, diplomatic and modern trade agreements.

“This isn’t about tourists. This is the UK high net worth community that have a constant need to travel to and spend significant time in the EU,” said Henley & Partners director Paddy Blewer.

“This is investment migration as a volatility hedge and a component in a high net worth portfolio value defence strategy,” he said, adding that volumes of client engagement were higher now than immediately after the 2016 Brexit vote.

Interest in additional citizenships is rising even as the European Commission examines possible steps to curb EU states selling passports and visas to wealthy foreigners, due to concerns it can help organised crime groups.

Cypriot residency can be secured in two months with a 300,000 euro ($351,870) property purchase. Securing citizenship takes six months and requires a minimum property investment of 2 million euros.

Reuters reported in December how some donors to Britain’s ruling Conservative Party had sought Cypriot citizenship including hedge fund manager Alan Howard.

“Both Cypriot and Caribbean investments are proving very popular … primarily driven by high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) from the UK who have an eye on the future and life after Brexit,” said Astons spokesman Konstantin Kaminskiy.

CARIBBEAN DREAM

Henley & Partners said its volume of engagement with clients seeking alternative citizenship or residence by investment climbed 40% in the first quarter of 2020 versus Q1 2019, before flattening during the COVID-19 lockdown in Q2.

But interest has rallied since July 1, with a 15% year-on-year increase in engagement to Sept. 10, as the end of the Brexit transition phase nears.

Henley & Partners’ Blewer said clients were increasingly drawn to Caribbean citizenship applications – which is likely to give them better travel access to the EU than Britain – but which have a lower minimum investment and a quicker approval process.

Saint Lucia citizenship, offering visa-free travel to 146 countries, can be obtained in around four months for a minimum investment of 76,152 pounds, data supplied by Astons showed.

For less than 40,000 pounds more, investors can obtain citizenship of St. Kitts & Nevis – and visa-free travel to 156 countries – in around 60 days.

In contrast, Malta offers citizenship in exchange for around 1 million pounds of investment, but the process takes up to 14 months.

Portugal, meanwhile, typically processes investment migration applications in three months but only grants EU residency to investors and visa-fee travel to just 26 countries.

“With HNWIs, time is often more important than what is essentially a small fluctuation in cost and many are looking to secure additional citizenship as fast as possible in the pandemic landscape,” Arthur Sarkisian, managing director of Astons, said.

EU authorities are under pressure to clamp down on investment migration programmes by member states.

Sven Giegold, a member of the European Parliament from Germany’s Green party, said these kind of citizenship sales “posed a serious threat to EU security and the fight against corruption” in the bloc.

“EU passports and visas are not a commodity. Money must not be the criterion for citizenship and residence rights in the EU,” he said.

Source: Wealthy Britons step up citizenship shopping to thwart Brexit

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