American citizens seek Irish passports amid political unease and potential policy changes following recent events.
Foreign birth registrations also jumped by half compared to the registrations in 2023. Ireland’s RTE shared these findings, looking into U.S. emigration patterns closely.
Irish law allows passport applications for anyone with an Irish-born grandparent. The passport lets people live and work in the EU, making it quite valuable.
About 9.5% of Americans have Irish roots, which is roughly 31.5 million people. They still need a grandparent born in Ireland for eligibility. Ireland welcomes many immigrants each year.
Many U.S. applications came after Trump’s 2024 win. RTE says applying is now easier as much can be done online, and it’s easier to trace ancestry.
Online searches for “move to Canada” went way up then too, rising by 68 percent. Trump’s policies concern some Americans already as he wants to reduce immigration into the U.S. This may make more Americans look to Ireland.
