American interest in securing a second passport through investment, often called a “Golden Visa,” has surged to a record high, with online searches peaking in July 2025. This unprecedented interest coincides with a complex global landscape where some traditional pathways for high-net-worth individuals are closing, while new ones emerge.
This phenomenon raises a crucial question: who is driving this surge, and where are they looking to go?
A new, comprehensive study by Argentina Expat analyzed search data across all 50 U.S. states to pinpoint the epicenters of this growing trend. The report reveals a clear and compelling pattern: the search for a “Plan B” passport is being driven by residents in the nation’s wealthiest, most educated, and politically liberal states.
But the story doesn’t end there. Our analysis also dug into which specific countries are capturing the attention of these Americans. The data shows a strong preference for established European programs, with Portugal leading as the most sought-after destination. However, a state-by-state breakdown reveals fascinating regional preferences, while emerging data points to a new list of up-and-coming hotspots that are capturing American interest.
The States Most Eager for a Second Passport
To determine which states are most interested in global mobility, we created an index based on per-capita search volume for general terms like “golden visa” and “citizenship by investment.” The results show a stark divide across the country.
The nation’s capital, Washington D.C., leads the country by a significant margin, with a search interest score nearly double that of the number two state, Washington. The top of the list is dominated by coastal, high-income states, suggesting a strong link between wealth, political affiliation, and the desire for international options.
The concentration of interest in these specific areas points to a shared set of motivations. These are states with high costs of living, globally-focused industries like tech and finance, and a highly mobile workforce. For many residents in these states, a second passport is viewed not just as a luxury but as a strategic tool for financial diversification and personal security in an uncertain world.
The Global Hotspots: Where Americans Want to Go
While dozens of countries offer investment visas, Americans have clear favorites. We analyzed nationwide search data for the most prominent programs to see which ones dominate the national conversation.
Portugal’s program is the clear leader, capturing the most search interest across the United States. Its popularity has been fueled by its relatively straightforward path to EU residency and its appeal to American expats. It is followed closely by the UAE, which has gained significant traction in recent years as a global business hub with an attractive residency program.
Spain, Greece, and Malta round out the top five, each offering unique benefits that appeal to different segments of the American market. Spain’s cultural similarities and lifestyle are a major draw, while Greece offers a lower investment threshold for EU access.
America’s Destination Hotspots: Which Country Does Each State Prefer?
While a national overview shows Portugal as the clear favorite, a state-by-state breakdown of the most-searched-for programs in the last 30 days reveals a more nuanced picture. The data confirms that Portugal’s Golden Visa program dominates the conversation, holding the top spot in the vast majority of states.
However, the analysis pinpoints several fascinating outliers where local interest diverges from the national trend. These exceptions highlight unique regional preferences for specific investment visa programs.
In Texas, the UAE’s program is the most searched-for option, making it the only state where the Middle Eastern business hub takes the lead. Spain’s Golden Visa shows pockets of strength in Nevada and Arkansas, where it is the top search. Meanwhile, New Mexico stands out as the only state where Malta’s program is the most popular.
These state-level preferences suggest that while the EU pathway offered by Portugal has the broadest appeal, the motivations for seeking a second passport can vary significantly by region.
On the Horizon: The Next Big Destinations
The world of investment migration is dynamic. As established programs become more restrictive, globally-minded Americans are constantly searching for the next opportunity. Our analysis of rising search trends reveals a new list of countries that are rapidly gaining attention.
Long-Term Rising Stars
Over the last 90 days, two destinations have shown sustained growth in interest. Searches for the UAE Golden Visa are up 250%, cementing its position as a primary alternative to European programs. More surprisingly, searches for a New Zealand Golden Visa are up 140%, indicating a growing interest in the stability and lifestyle offered by the Oceania region.
Recent Hotspots
Looking at the past 30 days, two smaller nations have seen significant spikes in popularity. Interest in Grenada’s citizenship by investment program has skyrocketed by 650%. Similarly, Malta’s program saw a 100% increase in search interest during the same period.
What’s Trending Now
The last 7 days show an even more diverse picture, suggesting Americans are casting a wider net. Paraguay saw a “breakout” surge in searches, while interest in Greece (+400%) and Spain (+140%) also spiked, often coinciding with news about program changes. The appearance of Argentina (+110%) and Thailand (+80%) on the list shows that the search for residency options is truly global.
It is important to note that search interest often reflects curiosity rather than the specifics of a program. For instance, while searches for “Paraguay citizenship by investment” have seen a breakout, the country does not currently offer a formal program of this type. This indicates that Americans are proactively searching for new pathways, regardless of their current existence.
The Full Ranking: All 50 States
The table below provides the full ranking for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, based on their overall search interest for Golden Visa programs.
| State | Median household income | Index score | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $108,210 | 100 | 1 |
| Washington | $94,605 | 51 | 2 |
| California | $95,521 | 45 | 3 |
| Colorado | $92,911 | 43 | 4 |
| Massachusetts | $99,858 | 42 | 5 |
| Vermont | $81,211 | 41 | 6 |
| Virginia | $89,931 | 40 | 7 |
| Maryland | $98,678 | 40 | 8 |
| New York | $82,095 | 38 | 9 |
| Oregon | $80,160 | 38 | 10 |
| Hawaii | $95,322 | 37 | 11 |
| New Jersey | $99,781 | 36 | 12 |
| Connecticut | $91,665 | 34 | 13 |
| Nevada | $76,364 | 33 | 14 |
| Florida | $73,311 | 31 | 15 |
| Arizona | $77,315 | 30 | 16 |
| Texas | $75,780 | 30 | 17 |
| Georgia | $74,632 | 30 | 18 |
| New Hampshire | $96,838 | 27 | 19 |
| Illinois | $80,306 | 27 | 20 |
| North Carolina | $70,804 | 27 | 21 |
| New Mexico | $62,268 | 25 | 22 |
| Minnesota | $85,086 | 24 | 23 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,824 | 24 | 24 |
| Maine | $73,733 | 23 | 25 |
| Utah | $93,421 | 22 | 26 |
| Kansas | $70,333 | 22 | 27 |
| West Virginia | $55,948 | 22 | 28 |
| South Carolina | $67,804 | 21 | 29 |
| Ohio | $67,769 | 21 | 30 |
| Tennessee | $67,631 | 21 | 31 |
| Michigan | $69,183 | 21 | 32 |
| Oklahoma | $62,138 | 21 | 33 |
| Louisiana | $58,229 | 20 | 34 |
| Wisconsin | $74,631 | 20 | 35 |
| Wyoming | $72,415 | 19 | 36 |
| Arkansas | $58,700 | 19 | 37 |
| Nebraska | $74,590 | 19 | 38 |
| Indiana | $69,477 | 19 | 39 |
| Missouri | $68,545 | 18 | 40 |
| Delaware | $82,174 | 18 | 41 |
| Iowa | $71,433 | 18 | 42 |
| Rhode Island | $84,972 | 17 | 43 |
| Alaska | $88,121 | 16 | 44 |
| Idaho | $74,942 | 16 | 45 |
| Alabama | $62,212 | 16 | 46 |
| Kentucky | $61,118 | 15 | 47 |
| Montana | $70,804 | 15 | 48 |
| Mississippi | $54,203 | 7 | 49 |
| South Dakota | $71,810 | 4 | 50 |
| North Dakota | $76,525 | 0 | 51 |
Methodology
To create this report, we analyzed Google Trends data from August 2024 to August 2025. Our primary state ranking was created by analyzing search interest for a basket of general terms, including “golden visa” and “citizenship by investment.” To determine the most popular destination countries, we analyzed and compared the search interest for the five most prominent programs: Portugal, UAE, Spain, Greece, and Malta. The “On the Horizon” section was compiled using the “Rising” and “Breakout” queries provided by Google Trends for various timeframes. All state-level data is normalized by Google Trends to account for population differences, providing a proportional measure of interest. The final index score was normalized on a 0-100 scale, where the state with the highest search volume was assigned a score of 100.