A surge of Americans are exploring options to move abroad, as visa inquiries and applications hit record levels in the wake of Donald Trump's election victory, according to a visa website.
On November 6th, La Vida recorded an unprecedented 2,300 percent jump in U.S. traffic on their website. That is five times more than the spike in traffic on the La Vida website after the 2020 election, when there was a 4.5-fold spike in site visitors.
La Vida said in a statement they expected heightened demand for visas following the election, but the sheer scale of interest this time took them "by surprise."
"This surge highlights a growing recognition among Americans: without a viable Plan B, the ballot box might be their only lever—one that leaves half the electorate unfulfilled. Many now see second residency and citizenship as the first step toward greater autonomy, protecting their wealth, lifestyle, and future generations from the uncertainties of shifting government policies," the statement said.
"Whatever the outcome, our consultants at La Vida are ready to advise our American clients on the most appropriate solution to meet their concerns in the years ahead," the statement continued.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump campaign for comment via email.
U.S. demand for visa programs has surged in recent years. From 2016 to 2023, La Vida witnessed a 100-fold increase in American investors and applicants, making the U.S. their largest market for customers.
In a March poll by Monmouth University, 34 percent of U.S. citizens said they would consider settling abroad if given the opportunity, up from just 12 percent in 1995. Monmouth polling officials suggest that the sharp increase may be driven in part by the heightened political tensions of recent years.
One place in particular that Americans have their eye on is neighboring Canada. In 2016, Americans despairing over Trump's first presidential victory crashed the Canadian government's federal immigration site with their queries. Meanwhile, this year, searches for "moving to Canada" peaked on Google Trends on the evening of Tuesday, November 5, and the next day.
Additionally, Google Trends reported a surge in breakout search terms like "how to legally move to Canada," "moving to Canada from U.S.," and "moving to Canada requirements," with the highest search volumes coming from states that strongly supported Harris, including Oregon, Washington, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Ironically, under a Trump administration, living abroad could become easier and cheaper for millions of Americans. In October, now President-elect Trump said he would end the "double taxation" of millions of American citizens living abroad if he returns to the White House.
"I support ENDING the double-taxation of overseas Americans!" Trump said in a statement.
Currently, Americans living abroad must file tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which can result in them paying taxes in both the U.S. and their country of residence.
Trump's statement did not provide specific details of his proposal on double taxation.
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