News and data on Americans abroad, in your inbox weekly. Subscribe.

News and data on Americans abroad, in your inbox weekly. Subscribe.

Policy Changes

Tracking the legal shifts impacting Americans abroad. Analysis of visa laws, tax rules, and international residency requirements.

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A fast‑tracked constitutional amendment stripping most Nicaraguans of the right to dual nationality threatens exiles, complicates U.S. ties, and turns citizenship into a new tool of political control. A constitutional change with immediate effect On January 14, 2026, Nicaragua’s National Assembly—dominated by the ruling Sandinista Front—voted to modify the Constitution to eliminate the right to […]

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New Zealand’s revamped Active Investor Plus visa asks global investors to choose between risk and residency speed, offering a structured path to permanent residence, tax efficiency, and a credible “Plan B” for families willing to commit serious capital. A Golden Visa Built for Serious Capital New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa is deliberately pitched at […]

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From sole proprietors to corporations, the way Americans abroad set up their businesses can dramatically reshape their tax bill, reporting load, and personal risk exposure. Running a business as a U.S. citizen overseas opens doors to new markets and international clients, but it also locks you into one of the world’s most complex tax systems. […]

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Foreigners eyeing a move to Mexico in 2026 will face higher financial hurdles and significantly steeper government fees as new immigration rules take effect.​ Mexico has seen a surge of residency applications in recent years, driven largely by aging American retirees and mid-career professionals relocating with portable incomes and skills. Historically, relatively low income thresholds […]

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Summary:A Financial Times article published on March 24, 2025, reports a notable surge in wealthy Americans transferring assets to Switzerland in response to rising uncertainty around the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. Private banks, wealth managers, and family offices in Switzerland are seeing increased demand from U.S. clients seeking to diversify […]

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Summary: Newly released figures from France’s national statistics agency, Insee, show that approximately 25% of U.S.-born residents living in France reside in Paris — France’s largest city, and home to some 2.1 million inhabitants. A February 20, 2025, article from The Connexion provides insights into the distribution of Americans across France and explores factors behind their settlement patterns. […]

Summary:A New York Times article published on July 6, 2024, explores the growing influx of Americans into Mexico City, where U.S. citizens are increasingly drawn by culture, affordability, lifestyle, and remote work flexibility. The piece focuses on how everyday Mexican life—particularly its food, music, and social energy—is being experienced, and in some cases reinterpreted, by […]

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Summary: A Semafor article published on March 23, 2025, reports that a growing number of Americans are actively pursuing second passports, motivated by political instability. While many Americans are not yet moving, affluent Americans are seeking the option.  Half the world’s countries offer visas or passport pathways based on investments or  financial contributions  so many affluent Americans […]

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From tougher financial thresholds to doubled government fees and stricter on-the-ground checks, Mexico’s once-accessible residency path is entering a new, more selective era in 2026.​ A new era for residency Mexico’s lawmakers have ushered in 2026 with reforms that make it both more difficult and more expensive for foreigners to obtain or renew legal residency. […]

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From federal application fees to provincial income-based surcharges and hidden paperwork expenses, Austria’s path to citizenship comes with wildly uneven financial hurdles. Becoming an Austrian citizen is more than a paperwork challenge—it’s a financial obstacle course shaped not only by federal law but also by where you live. While national fees are consistent across the […]

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Governments do not simply sort people into citizens and foreigners; they manage a layered hierarchy of settlement rights that determines who may enter, who may stay, who may belong—and on what terms. The invisible hierarchy of “who may stay” Modern states operate less like gatekeepers of a simple border and more like managers of a […]

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A sharp fall in skilled worker and health visas, combined with surging emigration among under‑45s, is testing Rachel Reeves’ fiscal plans and stoking fears of a looming labour and tax base crunch. Visa rules tighten, applications collapse Skilled worker visa applications have dropped to 2,500 in December, down from a peak of 10,100 in April […]

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Higher German proficiency, mandatory integration courses, and simpler procedures are at the heart of Austria’s upcoming citizenship overhaul. Austria is preparing to roll out one of its most sweeping citizenship reforms in decades, aiming to balance stricter integration standards with a more accessible and transparent application process. The planned revamp of the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz (Citizenship Act) is expected […]

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Judges scrapped four key nationality provisions and an attached penal rule but upheld the 10-year naturalization timeline, deepening uncertainty for Golden Visa holders and thousands stuck in AIMA backlogs. Portugal’s Constitutional Court has struck down four controversial provisions of the country’s revised nationality law while preserving a 10-year naturalization horizon for most non‑EU, non‑CPLP applicants, […]

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From joint accounts to sukuk and end‑of‑service benefits, Gulf-based Americans face unique FATCA traps—not more tax, but more reporting, higher thresholds, and plenty of room for costly mistakes. Why FATCA Matters In The Gulf FATCA is a U.S. law that compels Americans to report certain foreign financial assets, mainly through Form 8938, when balances exceed […]

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After pitching a sweeping ban that would force millions of Americans to choose a single passport, Sen. Bernie Moreno now insists his proposal only targets future immigrants — a claim flatly contradicted by his bill’s text and his earlier interviews.​ A Senator Shifts His Story Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio has begun describing his Exclusive […]

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