The UK welcomed 132.3 million arrivals in 2024—a combination of British nationals (55%) and non-British nationals—and the country may welcome even more this year as a record number of Americans are applying for UK citizenship.
How can non-nationals live in the UK?
There are a multitude of ways to obtain a UK visa, including work, study, family, and so on that will permit non-nationals to live in the UK and potentially make them eligible for citizenship down the road.
UK citizenship can be acquired by living a certain amount of years in the UK, or having a spouse or parents that are UK citizens.
How many Americans are applying for UK citizenship?
According to Home Office Data, 6,100 Americans applied for UK citizenship in 2024, up 26% since 2023. That’s the largest amount of applications on record for one year—more than double the amount submitted in 2004, when data was first being tracked.
A particular spike in applications was observed in the last three months of 2024, with 1,708 applications submitted.
Why are so many Americans applying for UK citizenship?
If you look at the data, 28% of all the applications in the last year occurred around the time of the election. In addition to the re-election of Donald Trump, changes in the UK tax laws are also contributing factors to the rise in citizenship applications for Americans, specifically those already living in the UK.
The new tax laws will go into effect in April, confronting foreign residents with higher tax bills on their global earnings thanks to the abolition of the non-domiciled tax status.
You also can’t forget that London, the biggest city by population in the UK, has been crowned the best city in the world for 10 consecutive years. Not only is it a global financial hub, but it’s home to thriving hospitality, cultural offerings and more.
Visiting the UK?
American citizens just looking to visit the UK will now need to obtain an ETA to enter the country. This travel authorization went into effect this January, and remains valid for two years or until passport expiration.