Political and social division is driving interest in ‘golden visas’
CNN
Europe could soon be welcoming a wave of well-heeled Americans, as Democratic voters facing the prospect of another Donald Trump presidency eye refuges abroad.
Europe could soon be welcoming a wave of well-heeled Americans, as Democratic voters facing the prospect of another Donald Trump presidency eye refuges abroad. Interest in so-called “golden visas” has skyrocketed among US citizens since the election, according to consultants that help the wealthy migrate. Golden visas allow people to effectively buy foreign citizenship or residence through sizable investments, including in real estate, government bonds or startups. Henley & Partners, which claims to have invented the concept of citizenship-by-investment in the 1990s, said inquiries by US nationals via its website spiked almost 400% the week of the election compared with the prior week. Many of these individuals don’t plan on permanently relocating to a new country, however. “The main focus for most Americans is just having the optionality… like an insurance policy,” said Dominic Volek, head of private clients at Henley & Partners. Arton Capital, another investment migration consultancy, said it received well over 100 inquiries the day after Trump’s decisive victory was called, five times the typical daily average. “A very small percentage of these people are actually relocating, but they all want to have the option as a Plan B,” CEO Armand Arton told CNN. “We will definitely be very busy (over) the next six months with the US market.”
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What is Corporate America so afraid of?