La Vida Golden Visa Survey – US Investor Insight

Survey Results Reveal Growing Concern Among American Investors

Our recent survey run for American clients shows the scale of concern in the US currently which is underpinning the surge in golden visa enquiries that La Vida has witnessed recently.

Accelerating Interest in 2025

In the last five years the American market has awoken to the potential of residency and citizenship through investment. La Vida has been at the forefront of that development with a strong market presence and helping assist thousands of clients with their golden visa investment plans. In the last 12 months this interest has accelerated further and our survey, run in mid October 2025, reveals many of the reasons behind this.

La Vida invited over 10,000 US clients to express their reasons behind looking at alternatives to the USA. A place where more than 80% of all survey respondents had been born and 96% were still residing. What we found was surprising and highlighted many of the concerns people are feeling in the USA today and the political division within US society.

Key Motivations for US Investors Seeking Second Residency or Citizenship

When asked “What are your main goals when considering a second residency or citizenship”  a massive 76.4% of US respondents cited a Plan B Back Up Option as one of the reasons. Respondents could choose more than one reason and Relocation came in at 52%. Suggesting nearly half of respondents were less inclined to relocate immediately but wanted that option should it ever be needed. Respondents were less concerned about Visa Free Travel (38.4%), Education (17.4%), Reducing Tax (12.0%) or increasing Business Opportunities(9.8%).

Main Concerns Driving US Investors Decisions

When asked “What concerns are influencing your decision to consider a second residency or citizenship?” a staggering 85.1% cited political reasons driving their decision. More than double the number of respondents for the next most influential reason Healthcare at 39.1%. Cost of Living 35.9% and Crime & Security at 33.3% which were also significant concerns.

Just over 80% of all respondents were actually born in the USA which perhaps for a survey covering migration through investment is a surprising statistic in itself. Our experience is that clients are often already internationally mobile and perhaps living in a country different to that of their birth. Not so in the case of the USA it seems.

Political and Demographic Insights

On the political front there were more than four times as many Democrats participating in the survey (46.0%) as there were Republican voters at 10.1%, with Independents at 28.6% and with 20.7% either having no preference or preferring not to say. In the population one would expect an even balance of around 33% Democrat to 32% Republican. So for investment migration and golden visas in general, there was a strong bias towards Democrat voters considering options outside the USA. This is consistent with our earlier analysis of client searches for golden visa options in the USA after the November 2024 elections. In the month following the election 14 of the top 15 states, adjusted for population size, were Democratic leaning when exploring investment migration.

Deeper Insights from Respondent Comments

The survey also allowed respondents to leave additional comments explaining the concerns driving their decisions. Around 17.3% chose to provide more detailed feedback. The majority of these comments were political in nature, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the current government and concern about the growing influence of the political right. Several respondents also highlighted gun violence and the frequency of school shootings as major factors motivating them to seek a Plan B outside the United States. Cultural issues and the desire for a better work-life balance were also recurring themes, reflecting a deeper lifestyle shift among affluent Americans re-evaluating what “quality of life” means for their families.

Wealth Profile of Respondents

In wealth terms the largest cohort of respondents in the survey was in the $1m-$5m bracket at 44.2%. Over 34% of voters identified their net wealth at significantly more than $5m. 14.1% preferred not to say.

Most Popular Golden Visa Destinations

In the last 12 months Portugal has been the most popular European choice for Americans where investors are required to invest €500,000 ($575,000) into qualifying Private Equity Funds. Interest in Italy’s new golden visa programme is accelerating and Greece offers a potentially cheaper option investing in real estate from €250,000. For US clients seeking immediate citizenship, Grenada has proven to be the most popular choice with a real estate option for a family of four costing less than $400,000.

At La Vida, we understand that securing a safe and flexible future has never been more important for American investors. Whether you’re exploring a Golden Visa in Europe or seeking a second passport for greater global mobility, our team can guide you through every step of the process. Contact La Vida today to discuss your options and take the first step toward your Plan B

 Get in Touch

Tags: Analysis, Citizenship Invest, Europe, Golden Visa 2025, Greece, Grenada, Italy, Passport, Portugal, Portugal Golden Visa News, USA