From roots to residency: Why more Americans are reclaiming their UK heritage in 2025
A growing number of Americans are looking beyond the Atlantic to reconnect with their ancestral roots, and many are finding that the path to UK citizenship is already written in their family trees.
John Dunn ● Apr 25, 2025
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In 2024, a record-breaking 6,100 Americans applied to become British citizens, according to the UK Home Office, marking a 26% increase from the previous year. At the same time, over 170,000 American expats now call the UK home through visas, drawn by everything from heritage rights to quality of life.
Join us for one-on-one consultations in New York and Austin, Texas this May.
Why Americans are considering the UK
Several factors are driving this transatlantic trend. For starters, the cost of living in major US cities, particularly New York, is reaching breaking point. Many American expats cite the city’s rising taxes and living expenses as making it increasingly unaffordable and unsustainable.
Meanwhile, London has become the top choice for many wealthy Americans, especially those in search of stability, education and healthcare. According to Knight Frank, US nationals were the largest group of foreign buyers in central London’s prime property market in the last quarter of 2024, accounting for 11.6% of sales.
For many parents, school safety is a key factor in the decision to relocate. Families are drawn to the UK for its sense of security, where concerns about school lockdowns and gun violence are far less common. American expats in London often express feeling a greater peace of mind when it comes to their children's safety.
Even the cost of private education is more appealing. UK school fees average around £21,800 per year, significantly lower than the £38,000 average in the US, making a move not just emotionally appealing, but financially practical.
Beyond nostalgia and heritage, there’s a rising sense of strategy. Many Americans are securing UK property or citizenship as a “Plan B”, a safeguard against uncertainty at home.
The abolition of the UK’s non-dom tax regime has also prompted wealthy American residents to apply for UK citizenship, creating tax certainty and solidifying their long-term future in Britain.
Fortunately, the UK and the US both allow dual nationality, so Americans don’t have to choose one passport over another.
Heritage: The hidden citizenship route
While some Americans explore investment-based citizenship programmes in Europe, others are discovering a more affordable and personal route – citizenship by descent. If you have a UK-born parent or grandparent, you may already be eligible for British citizenship.
This isn’t just legal theory, it’s a growing movement. With over 200 million Americans tracing their ancestry to Europe, including over 60 million with British heritage, it’s estimated that millions of Americans could qualify for UK citizenship through their lineage.
At its core, this pathway is rooted in the ancient legal concept of jus sanguinis – the “right of blood.” Unlike the American approach of jus soli, which grants citizenship based on birthplace, many European countries, including the UK, pass citizenship through family lines.
Pursuing citizenship by descent in the UK doesn’t require learning a new language or investing hundreds of thousands of dollars. In most cases, it’s about providing birth and marriage records that prove your family’s connection to the UK.
A future rooted in the past
For many Americans, the path to a British passport lies not in drastic legal manoeuvres or costly investments, but in something far more personal – their own family history. Whether driven by economic anxiety, political uncertainty or a desire for a safer and more balanced life, an increasing number are choosing to rediscover their roots.
In 2025, the journey to UK citizenship isn’t just about relocation. It’s about reconnection – with ancestry, with history and with a future that feels a little more secure.
Thinking about making the move?
At Sable International, our UK citizenship and immigration team specialises in citizenship by descent. We’ll help you uncover your eligibility and guide you through every step of the process.
We will be in New York City on 22 May, and Austin, Texas on 27 and 28 May for one-on-one consultations to explore your UK nationality options and help you take the first step on your journey to the UK.
Our New York City sessions are fully booked, but there’s still availability in Austin, Texas and we will be back in the US in August.