Nearly Half of Americans in Portugal Would Consider Renouncing U.S. Citizenship

A new survey of 200 Americans who are considering, planning, or already living in Portugal has produced a striking finding: 49% would consider renouncing their U.S. citizenship after securing Portuguese nationality. Of those, 29.5% said definitively "yes" and 19.5% said "maybe," while 45% said no.

The survey, published by Portugalist.com, captures a shift that goes beyond the usual narrative of lifestyle migration. "Most people move to Portugal for the lifestyle -- the good food, the cobbled streets, and the beautiful beaches," said James Cave, the site's founder. "But this is different. This is values-based migration."

Politics, Not Money

Among those who said they would definitely renounce, 83.1% cited "political disenchantment with the U.S." as their primary motivation. Taxation ranked second: 38.5% of those already living in Portugal pointed to the complexity and cost of the U.S. global tax filing system as a critical factor. The United States is one of only two countries in the world that taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live, creating a significant administrative and financial burden for Americans abroad.

Perhaps most telling, 75% of respondents said the recent reduction in the renunciation fee, from $2,350 to $450, had no impact on their thinking. The decision, it appears, is emotional and ideological rather than financial.

A Growing Community

Official data from AIMA shows 19,258 U.S. citizens living in Portugal in 2024, up sharply from 14,126 in 2023. Portugal's D7 passive income visa, Digital Nomad Visa, and Golden Visa programme have all contributed to making the country one of the most accessible EU destinations for American relocators. The "Moving to Portugal" show returns to London next week on March 26, reflecting sustained demand from English-speaking markets.

The survey also found that over 35.5% of all respondents do not expect to move back to the United States, a figure that rises to 44.2% among those who have already settled in Portugal. This suggests that for a significant portion of the American community, Portugal is not a temporary escape but a permanent home.

What It Means for Portugal

The growing American community brings spending power, entrepreneurial energy, and demand for services ranging from international schools to English-language healthcare. But it also contributes to the housing pressures that Portuguese citizens are feeling acutely, particularly in Lisbon, the Algarve, and increasingly in cities like Braga and Porto.

Portugal's government has been walking a tightrope on foreign residents: welcoming the economic contribution while facing domestic pressure to prioritise Portuguese housing needs. The nationality law changes proposed last year, which may affect Golden Visa holders' path to citizenship, signal that this balance is under active political negotiation.

For Americans already established here, the survey reflects a deeper integration than simple expat life. When nearly half of a community is willing to consider giving up the world's most powerful passport, it says something about both the strength of their disillusionment and the depth of their attachment to their adopted country.