📊 DATA CONFIRMED. FEBRUARY 2026
More People Left the US in 2025 Than Arrived —
For the First Time Since the Great Depression
The Brookings Institution confirmed net negative migration of approximately 150,000 people in 2025, a reversal not seen since 1935. A Wall Street Journal analysis of 15 countries found at least 180,000 Americans relocated abroad in 2025 alone. The outflow is projected to increase in 2026. This is not a trend. It is a structural shift, and it is accelerating.
Sources: Brookings Institution January 2026 Update · Wall Street Journal analysis of 50+ countries · US Census Bureau data
For nearly a century, the story of American migration ran in one direction. People came to the United States seeking opportunity, safety and a better life. In 2025, that story reversed for the first time since the Great Depression. More people left than arrived. And the fastest-growing segment of those leaving are not foreign nationals being deported; they are American citizens making a deliberate choice to build their lives somewhere else.
This is not a fringe phenomenon driven by celebrities making political statements. It is a broad-based, data-confirmed shift driven by a convergence of economic pressures, political concerns, quality-of-life recalculations, and the simple realisation that in 2026, moving abroad has become more accessible than at any point in history. This guide covers exactly what the data shows, where Americans are going, what visa routes they are using, and the practical steps involved, starting with what you need to know today.
150,000
net migration loss from the US in 2025 — first time since 1935
Brookings Institution, January 2026
180,000+
Americans confirmed relocated to other countries in 2025 — number expected far higher
Wall Street Journal analysis of 15 countries
49%
of American expats surveyed are now considering permanent renunciation of US citizenship
VisaVerge survey data, 2025
5,000
Americans formally renounced citizenship in 2025 — highest since 2020; 2026 on track to exceed it
VisaVerge / US government records
40,000
Americans secured Irish passports in 2025 — record high
Wall Street Journal / Irish government data
96%
surge in US citizens relocating to Ireland in 2025 vs year prior
Ireland Central Statistics Office
"Net migration was likely close to zero or negative over calendar year 2025 for the first time in at least half a century. For 2026, we project net migration is likely to remain in negative territory."
— Brookings Institution, Macroeconomic Implications of Immigration Flows, January 2026
Why Americans Are Leaving: The Data Behind the Decision
The Brookings Institution's January 2026 analysis identifies this shift as driven by two converging forces simultaneously. Immigration into the United States dropped sharply, total in-migration fell from a peak of nearly 6 million in 2023 to between 2.6 and 2.7 million in 2025. At the same time, emigration of US citizens surged to levels not recorded since at least the 1950s. The result is the first net population loss through migration since the Great Depression.
Among those leaving, the motivations are varied but consistent in theme. The VisaVerge analysis of the data identifies five primary drivers:
Cost of living and housing. The NerdWallet Travel Inflation Report (April 2026) confirms US travel costs are up 7% year-over-year, with food away from home up 50.5% over the past decade. In Lisbon, a single person can live comfortably on $700–$1,000 per month. In Medellín, on $600–$900. The arithmetic of living on a US salary in a lower-cost country is compelling for remote workers and retirees alike.
Political and social polarisation. Only 21% of Americans under 30 now believe in the American Dream, down from 56% in 2010, according to VisaVerge's analysis of survey data. Political estrangement from both major parties is pushing a growing number of Americans to seek stability and predictability in countries with different political climates.
Healthcare access and cost. Countries like Portugal (ranked 7th in the Global Peace Index, with universal healthcare), Ireland, and Canada offer public healthcare systems that many Americans find both financially and practically superior to the US model. More than 100,000 elderly Americans have turned to nursing homes across the Mexican border for low-cost care, according to Wall Street Journal reporting.
Educational affordability. Over 100,000 young Americans are enrolled in foreign universities, where degree costs are dramatically lower than in the US. Germany offers tuition-free university education to non-EU students at many institutions. The Netherlands, France, and Portugal offer full degrees for €1,000–€3,000 per year.
Remote work enabling the move. The structural shift to remote work since 2020 has made location irrelevant for millions of American workers. If you can work from your apartment in Austin, you can work from an apartment in Lisbon or Tbilisi or Bangkok, at a fraction of the cost, with equivalent or better quality of life.
📊 The scale of the shift in context: The Brookings Institution's January 2026 projection shows that for 2026, net migration could range from −925,000 to +185,000 depending on enforcement and policy scenarios. In the most likely scenario, the US will lose more people through migration than it gains for the second consecutive year, something not seen since the 1930s. This has direct implications for the US labour force, GDP growth, and the economies of receiving countries.
Where Americans Are Going: The Top Destinations by Data
| Country |
2025 American arrivals / change |
Primary draw |
Main visa route |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland |
10,000 — up 96% vs 2024 |
English language, EU access, Irish ancestry pathways, tech jobs |
Ancestry passport, Critical Skills Work Permit, Stamp 0 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany |
More Americans than Germans moving in reverse |
Tech job market, tuition-free universities, healthcare, stability |
EU Blue Card, Skilled Immigration Act, Job Seeker Visa |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal |
Lisbon housing up; large American community growing |
Affordable cost, warm climate, EU access, Golden Visa, D7 Visa |
D7 Visa (€920/month income), Digital Nomad D8 Visa, Golden Visa |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
6,600 Americans applied for British passports in 2025 — record |
English language, familiar legal system, ancestry routes |
Ancestry visa (grandparent born in UK), Skilled Worker Visa |
| 🇨🇦 Canada |
Surging; Canada opened 2 new PR streams for US H-1B holders in 2026 |
Proximity, English, universal healthcare, Express Entry |
Express Entry (6 months to PR), new H-1B fast-track stream |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Large established expat communities; housing pressures in CDMX |
Proximity, low cost, warm climate, healthcare affordability |
Temporary Resident Visa (income proof), Permanent Residency after 4 years |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia (Bali) |
Significant US remote worker community; local protests over prices |
Low cost, lifestyle, remote work culture, warm climate |
Digital Nomad Visa (60-day, extendable), KITAS for longer stays |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Medellín particularly popular; infrastructure protests in tourist areas |
Low cost, safety improvements, modern amenities, visa accessibility |
Digital Nomad Visa, Migrant Visa (pensioner/investor route) |
💡 The Lisbon effect: In some of Lisbon's historic districts, home prices have doubled in the past five years as American (and other international) arrivals compete for housing. The Wall Street Journal reports that in Dublin's Grand Canal Dock district, 1 in 15 residents was born in the US, a higher concentration than during the 19th-century Irish Famine emigration flow in reverse. This concentration is reshaping local housing markets and prompting policy responses from receiving governments.
The Top Visa Routes Americans Are Using in 2026
Understanding which visa to apply for is the most critical practical decision in any relocation. The good news for American applicants is that US citizens, with strong documentation standards, financial credibility and internationally recognised qualifications, are among the most straightforwardly processed applicants in the world's major residency programmes. Here are the specific routes generating the most applications in 2026:
🇵🇹
Portugal — D7 Passive Income Visa
Most popular European visa for American retirees and passive income earners · #1 Retirement Index ranking
From €920/month income
Portugal consistently ranks as the easiest European country for Americans to obtain residency, according to Global Citizen Solutions' 2026 analysis. Its three-visa structure covers almost every American applicant profile, retirees and investors with passive income (D7), remote workers and freelancers (D8 Digital Nomad), and those with capital to invest (Golden Visa). Portugal ranked 1st in the Global Retirement Index and 2nd specifically for US citizens as a retirement destination.
D7 Visa — income required
€920/month (~$1,000)
D8 Digital Nomad income
€3,680/month (~$4,000)
Golden Visa investment
From €250,000
Processing time (D7)
2–3 months
Path to permanent residency
5 years legal residency
Path to citizenship
5 years (currently — extension to 7–10 years proposed)
Monthly cost of living (single)
$700–$1,400
Healthcare
Universal public system, ranked among Europe's best
Why it matters: The D7 Visa is the most accessible European residency programme for Americans, the income requirement of €920/month is achievable for anyone drawing Social Security, a pension, rental income, dividends, or a modest remote salary. The application process is entirely documented and transparent, with processing times of 2–3 months in most cases. Portugal's Golden Visa saw 567 approved applications from Americans in 2023 alone, according to Immigrant Invest data.
⚠️ Important 2026 update: The Portuguese government has proposed extending the naturalisation route from 5 years to potentially 7–10 years of residency. This change has not yet been enacted into law, but applicants should monitor developments. The D7 and D8 visas themselves are unaffected by this proposal.
🇮🇪
Ireland — Ancestry Passport and Critical Skills Permit
US arrivals up 96% in 2025 · 40,000 Americans secured Irish passports in 2025 — record
Free if Irish grandparent
Ireland is the single fastest-growing destination for American emigrants in 2025–2026, and the explanation is largely genetic. An estimated 32–35 million Americans have Irish ancestry, and if you have a grandparent born in Ireland, you can claim Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register at no immigration cost beyond the registration fee. Irish citizenship is EU citizenship, which grants you the right to live and work in all 27 EU member states. A record 40,000 Americans secured Irish passports in 2025, and Ireland's Central Statistics Office confirmed that the number of US citizens relocating to Ireland surged 96% year-on-year.
Ancestry route
Irish grandparent — citizenship by descent, no residency required
FBR registration fee
€278 (one-time)
Processing time
18–36 months (FBR backlog)
What you get
Irish + EU citizenship, Irish passport, right to live and work in 27 EU countries
Critical Skills Permit
For professionals in shortage occupations — fast-track to residency
Stamp 0 / Stamp 4
For financially independent applicants — requires €50,000+ in savings
Monthly cost Dublin
$2,000–$3,500 (one of the most expensive EU capitals)
Healthcare
Public HSE system — free for all residents after one year
💡 Ancestry check: The Irish route is far broader than most Americans realise. If a grandparent, not just a parent, was born in the Republic of Ireland (or Northern Ireland in some specific circumstances), you qualify. You do not need to speak Irish. You do not need to live in Ireland before applying. Start by checking baptismal or birth records from Ireland's civil registration or church archives. The General Register Office of Ireland (irishgenealogy.ie) provides free online access to historical records.
🇨🇦
Canada — Express Entry and New H-1B Fast-Track
Canada opened 2 new PR streams specifically targeting US H-1B holders in 2026
PR in as little as 6 months
Canada has moved aggressively to capitalise on the US immigration disruption. Starting in 2026, Canada opened two new permanent-residency channels, including a fast-track stream specifically designed for US H-1B visa holders who are unable or unwilling to navigate the new H-1B fee structure (which now includes a $100,000 application fee under recent US policy changes). VisaVerge data shows that eligible unique H-1B beneficiaries for the FY 2026 US cap fell 23% from 442,000 to 339,000, and Canada is actively targeting the displaced talent.
Express Entry
Points-based — skilled workers, 6 months to PR in strong draws
New H-1B stream (2026)
Specific fast-track for US H-1B holders — details at ircc.canada.ca
Federal Skilled Worker
For professionals with skilled work experience and language ability
Quebec Investor Program
CAD $2M net worth + $1M investment — citizenship after 3 years
Path to citizenship
3 years of physical presence out of 5 after PR
Monthly cost (Toronto)
$2,500–$4,000
Healthcare
Universal public system after waiting period (typically 3 months)
Language
English or French required for Express Entry scoring
Canada's proximity, shared language, cultural familiarity and universal healthcare make it the most psychologically accessible option for most Americans. The Greenback expat tax service identifies Canada as consistently the first country Americans consider when moving abroad. The critical advantage in 2026 is the new PR channels, Americans with tech, healthcare, engineering, or trades qualifications should review the current Express Entry draws and the specific H-1B stream at ircc.canada.ca.
🇩🇪
Germany — EU Blue Card and Skilled Immigration Act
More Americans moved to Germany in 2025 than Germans to the US — a historic reversal
Tuition-free universities
Germany needs workers — and that fact shapes its entire immigration system. Healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, and IT all face severe shortages. Germany's Skilled Immigration Act, expanded in 2023, created one of the most employer-friendly immigration frameworks in Europe. The EU Blue Card — available to non-EU professionals earning above a salary threshold, is the primary route for American professionals moving to Germany. In 2025, more Americans moved to Germany than Germans moved to the United States, a reversal that would have been unimaginable a decade ago.
EU Blue Card income
€48,400/year (general) · €37,752 for shortage occupations
Job Seeker Visa
6-month visa to find employment — no job offer required to enter
Path to PR
21 months (EU Blue Card) or 5 years (standard work permit)
Citizenship timeline
5 years legal residency (recently reduced from 8 in 2024 reform)
University tuition
Free at public universities for all nationalities at most states
Monthly cost (Berlin)
$1,800–$3,000 (more affordable than London/Paris/Amsterdam)
Language
German for citizenship; English sufficient for many tech roles
Healthcare
Statutory health insurance (mandatory, employer co-funded)
🇪🇸
Spain — Non-Lucrative Visa and Digital Nomad Visa
Americans make up 13% of Spain's foreign population · #1 Digital Nomad destination 2025
From €2,400/month income
Spain ranked first in the Global Citizen Solutions Digital Nomad Report 2025 as the best country for digital nomads, combining a warm climate, affordable healthcare, family-friendly systems, and two strong visa routes for Americans. Americans already account for 13% of Spain's entire foreign population, and that number is growing. The Non-Lucrative Visa allows financially independent people to live in Spain without working locally, while the Digital Nomad Visa permits remote workers to maintain their existing income.
Non-Lucrative Visa income
€2,400/month (~$2,600) per applicant
Digital Nomad Visa income
€2,849/month (~$3,100)
Processing time
1–3 months at Spanish consulate in the US
Path to permanent residency
5 years legal residency
Citizenship
10 years (or 2 years for Latin American nationals)
Beckham Law tax benefit
Flat 24% income tax rate for first 6 years for qualifying new residents
Monthly cost (Barcelona)
$1,500–$2,800
Monthly cost (smaller cities)
$900–$1,500
💡 The Beckham Law: Named after the footballer who famously used it, Spain's Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Desplazados allows new tax residents to pay a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-source income for their first six years, instead of the standard progressive rate of up to 47%. This is particularly valuable for high-earning remote workers and tech professionals moving from the US, where combined federal and state tax often exceeds 40%.
What Every American Moving Abroad Must Know About US Taxes
This is the most important practical reality that every American relocating abroad must understand before making any decision: the United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live. You are legally required to file a US federal tax return for as long as you hold US citizenship, even if you live permanently in Portugal, Germany or New Zealand and have no US-source income whatsoever.
This makes the US one of only two countries in the world (the other is Eritrea) that imposes citizenship-based taxation. The practical implications are:
- 1File Form 1040 annually even from abroad. The foreign filing deadline is automatically extended to June 15 (vs April 15 in the US), with further extension available to October 15.
- 2Use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) — Form 2555 — to exclude up to $130,000 (2026 figure, adjusted annually) of foreign-source earned income from US taxation. This applies only to earned income (wages, self-employment) — not passive income like dividends or rental income.
- 3Use the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) — Form 1116 — to credit taxes paid to your new country's government against your US tax liability. In most cases, this eliminates double taxation entirely for countries with higher-than-US tax rates.
- 4File FinCEN 114 (FBAR) annually if your foreign bank accounts held more than $10,000 at any point during the year. This is a separate filing from your tax return and carries significant penalties for non-compliance.
- 5Work with a specialist expat tax accountant. Greenback, Bright!Tax, and Taxes for Expats are US-based firms specialising in Americans abroad. General US accountants often lack knowledge of expat-specific rules. Errors cost significantly more than professional advice.
📊 The renunciation surge: The complexity of US worldwide taxation is a primary driver of the citizenship renunciation trend. The share of American expats considering renunciation jumped 63% between 2024 and 2025, rising from 30% to 49% of those surveyed. Nearly 5,000 people formally renounced in 2025. The $2,350 renunciation fee is the highest in the world, and the global queue now exceeds 30,000 people. Renunciation is an irreversible decision that requires careful legal advice and is typically appropriate only after establishing citizenship elsewhere.
The Tech Talent Relocation: A Separate Trend Within the Trend
While retirees, remote workers and families are choosing Europe and Latin America, a parallel and equally significant migration is happening in the technology sector. The new $100,000 H-1B visa fee and lottery reforms in the US have caused a sharp decline in H-1B applicants, down 23% in one year. The response from US tech companies has been to move jobs, not workers.
According to VisaVerge's analysis, Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Netflix collectively added more than 32,000 jobs in India in 2025 alone, an 18% year-on-year increase. This is not traditional outsourcing. These are full-time, senior-level positions in engineering, AI, and product development that would previously have been filled by H-1B workers in Silicon Valley. Canada's new H-1B fast-track stream is designed to capture exactly this displaced talent before it disperses globally.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really true that more Americans left the US than arrived in 2025?
Yes — this is confirmed by the Brookings Institution's January 2026 analysis of available government data. Net migration was estimated at between −295,000 and −10,000 for calendar year 2025, with the central estimate approximately −150,000. This represents the first net negative migration for the United States since at least the Great Depression, and possibly since 1935. The Brookings analysis was widely reported by the Wall Street Journal and covers both the decline in inbound immigration and the rise in American citizens emigrating abroad. The data comes with uncertainty because the US does not systematically collect outbound migration statistics — Brookings reconstructed the estimate from residence permits, home purchases, student enrolments and other indicators across 50+ countries.
What is the easiest country for an American to get residency in 2026?
Portugal's D7 Visa is consistently ranked the easiest European pathway for Americans, with a monthly income requirement of €920 (~$1,000) and processing times of 2–3 months. For Americans with Irish heritage (grandparent born in Ireland), Irish citizenship by descent is free beyond the registration fee and grants EU citizenship. For those wanting to stay in the Americas, Mexico's Temporary Resident Visa has minimal documentation requirements and a straightforward process. Canada's Express Entry is the most structured and predictable points-based system, offering permanent residency in as little as 6 months for qualified applicants.
Do Americans still have to pay US taxes if they live abroad permanently?
Yes — the US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residency. You must file a federal tax return annually as long as you hold US citizenship. However, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) allows you to exclude up to approximately $130,000 of foreign-source earned income from US tax (2026 figure), and the Foreign Tax Credit typically eliminates double taxation for income taxed by your new country. The practical impact for most Americans living abroad is filing a US return every year with zero additional US tax liability, once proper forms are filed. Working with a specialist expat accountant is strongly recommended.
Can I keep my US passport if I get residency or citizenship elsewhere?
Yes — the US generally allows dual citizenship and does not require you to renounce your US passport when you obtain citizenship in another country. You can hold both a US passport and, for example, an Irish, Portuguese or German passport simultaneously. This means you can enter the EU freely on your European passport while maintaining all US citizen rights. The only time you lose US citizenship is through a formal voluntary act of renunciation — a separate, irreversible legal process that requires deliberate intent.
How do I know if I qualify for Irish citizenship through ancestry?
If one of your grandparents was born in the Republic of Ireland (or in some cases Northern Ireland), you may qualify for Irish citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register (FBR). You do not need to live in Ireland, speak Irish, or meet any income threshold. The process requires gathering your grandparent's Irish birth certificate, your parent's birth certificate, your own birth certificate, and completing the FBR application. Current processing times are 18–36 months due to high demand. Start at ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship. If a parent (not just grandparent) was born in Ireland, you automatically qualify as an Irish citizen and can apply for a passport immediately at any Irish consulate.
What should I do first if I am seriously considering moving abroad?
Three immediate steps before anything else: First, check your ancestry — Irish, Italian, German, Polish, Portuguese and many other European citizenships can be claimed through descent, often eliminating the need for a visa entirely. Second, contact your nearest consulate of your target country and request their current residency application checklist — requirements change regularly. Third, speak with a specialist expat tax accountant before making any financial moves — understanding your US tax obligations abroad is essential before establishing foreign bank accounts, purchasing property, or formalising residency anywhere. Decisions made without this information can create costly complications later.
📋 Get a Free Guide to Your Specific Immigration Options
Every situation is different, your nationality, income source, family situation and destination all affect which route is right for you. Explore our guides for specific countries, visa types and situations at Immigration Opportunity, or use our resources to start your research with accurate, up-to-date information. Visit ImmigrationOpportunity.com →
📚 Data sources referenced — all original reporting, no text copied:
Brookings Institution — "Macroeconomic Implications of Immigration Flows in 2025 and 2026," January 2026 ·
Wall Street Journal — analysis of residence permit, home purchase and enrolment data from 50+ countries, February 2026 ·
VisaVerge — "The Slow Death of the American Dream in 2026," citing US Census Bureau, Brookings, DHS data ·
Ireland Central Statistics Office — US citizen arrivals statistics, 2025 ·
The Mirror US / Daily Beast — "Americans Leaving the US in Record Numbers Under Trump," February 26 2026 ·
Global Citizen Solutions — "Easiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026," March 2026 ·
Global Citizen Solutions — "Best Countries to Move to from USA in 2026" ·
Global Citizen Solutions — "16 Easiest Countries to Get Residency in 2026" ·
Greenback Tax Services — "Best Countries for Americans to Move to in 2026" ·
Immigrant Invest — "Easiest Countries for Americans to Move to" (2026 data) ·
NerdWallet Travel Inflation Report, April 2026 — Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data ·
CS Global Partners — "US Expat Numbers Double in 2025," August 2025 ·
UNO Capital — "10 Best Countries to Immigrate to in 2026" ·
Harvey Law Corporation — "Immigration Predictions 2026: A Global Policy Analysis"
⚠️ Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Immigration laws, visa requirements, income thresholds and processing times change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the official immigration authority of your target country and consult a licensed immigration attorney and qualified expat tax accountant before making any relocation or legal decisions.
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