The market is shifting
Buying a second passport once was a privilege of the ultra-wealthy, but now an investment immigration consulting firm says that's changing as more middle-class Americans purchase second passports. Data from Immigrant Invest, one of the largest consulting firms in the industry, shows a clear shift: professionals and retirees now account for 25% of consultations, up from 15% in 2025.
This is no accident. The company's traditional client base — including ultra-high-net-worth investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners — has declined from roughly 50% in 2026 to 40% in 2025 among the firm's U.S. consultations. In other words, the market is being "democratized" — not because programs are cheaper, but because needs are changing.
Why do ordinary Americans want a second passport?
More and more affluent Americans are seeking a "Plan B" amid rising political division and growing global geopolitical instability. This is not an impulsive decision. This group includes doctors, tech workers, academics, real estate brokers, and lawyers, as well as retirees with personal savings.
An advisor at Immigrant Invest notes that the cost of citizenship programs has remained relatively stable in recent years. This means programs aren't cheaper, but American sentiment is shifting. They want options — not necessarily to leave America, but to have an exit if needed.
Caution points
However, for wealthy Americans, acquiring additional citizenship generally does not eliminate their U.S. tax obligations, but grants freedom to live, travel, and work abroad. This applies to all Americans, not just the wealthy. A U.S. citizen with dual citizenship still bears full responsibility for U.S. federal income tax, requirements to report foreign bank accounts, and all other obligations applicable to Americans.
Moreover, Americans with dual citizenship may face barriers to certain employment, military service requirements in another country, double taxation, and limited support abroad. A second passport is not a "golden ticket" — it is a tool with its own costs and risks.
Popular options
In most cases, it takes approximately 2—10 months and $90,000—400,000. Countries offering citizenship by investment include St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, São Tomé and Príncipe, Nauru, Vanuatu, Turkey, and Egypt. These are the programs that advisors at Immigrant Invest report are most popular among U.S. clients.
This trend shows that the investment passport market is no longer a game for the ultra-wealthy. But it also means you need to understand clearly what you're buying — and what you'll have to deal with afterward.