a day ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Trumpugees moving to Ireland cite housing crisis and expenses as major drawbacks
Rising numbers of Trumpugees are exploring relocation to Ireland but they are finding the country's welcoming reputation doesn't extend to its immigration laws.
While English-speaking countries likte Ireland, the UK and Canada top the list for prospective American emigrants, countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal offer far less restrictive entry pathways.
So far this year, the number of US applicants for Foreign Birth Registrations – a pathway to Irish citizenship for those with Irish grandparents – has nearly doubled compared to the same period last year.
By the end of May, more than 8,000 Americans had applied under the so-called 'granny rule,' hoping to secure the coveted Irish passport.
Jana Sanchez, a former US congressional nominee and founder of GTFO Tours, says Ireland consistently ranks high on the wish list of Americans considering emigration.
'The first countries that most Americans would think of to move to are English-speaking countries, like Canada, the UK, Ireland.'
But she added: 'They don't really want Americans. You're the hardest countries to go to, unless you're a nurse or a scientist.'
A key obstacle is Ireland's high passive income visa requirement, which she says is used by about half of American emigrants.
'They are retirees or have made enough money. For a couple, you need €100,000 a year in passive income to get a visa,' Sanchez explained. 'Compare that to Portugal, where it's about €10,000 per person – around €15,000 for a couple.'
'Ireland also has a huge housing crisis, and it's just much more expensive.'
Rosie O'Donnell – currently in the process of acquiring Irish citizenship through her Irish grandparents – credited her decision to Trump's second inauguration.
Sanchez said many of her clients are from vulnerable communities.
'A huge number of LGBTQ, especially trans people, are really scared,' she says.
'In Texas, they're debating whether to make being trans a felony punishable by two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.'
Miglena Ilieva, managing partner at ILEX Law Group, which specialises in Irish and UK immigration law, is advising a retired academic couple from Illinois hoping to relocate to Ireland.
They are currently based in Portugal while they work on qualifying for Ireland's Stamp 0 visa for people with independent means.
'They're both at a university in Illinois and were looking for a way to retire in Ireland. They want to come to Ireland because it's so culturally similar to what they're used to, and they can navigate it.
'They're in Portugal right now, and they're having a nightmare with the language. They don't want to be there, they want to be in Ireland.'
The couple is a few thousand euros a year short of the income requirement, but they are exploring investment options to close the gap.
They remain positive despite housing and cost-of-living challenges, describing Ireland as 'friendly, vibrant and gorgeous'.
Ilieva says there is growing interest from Americans, with dozens of recent inquiries but while many Americans have Irish ancestry, most don't qualify for citizenship.
Other options include a working visa which requires a job offer.
In recent weeks, the Irish Government has acknowledged the potential to attract top US researchers with its Global Talent Initiative.
Minister James Lawless said Ireland would remain open to 'the best and brightest fleeing the US university system'.
'We are committed to supporting Irish researchers at home and to welcoming exceptional global talent who might now be questioning where they can further their work,' he said.
He pledged €9 million in annual support for researchers in key fields like AI, semiconductors, digital healthcare, and food security.
The UK already operates a Global Talent Visa that allows researchers and academics to move without a job offer, provided they are endorsed by an approved body.
Ilieva believes something similar could help Ireland attract top global talent.
Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, a US-born migration expert and academic coach who studied at Georgetown and Harvard, says Ireland isn't widely known in the US as an academic haven – yet.
In her role as a coach to people in career transition or who wish to move out of the US, she sees 'huge interest in Ireland'. She added: 'It's English speaking. It's part of the EU. A number of people are actively trying to apply for jobs and in order to get an employer-sponsored visa.
'What I'm finding, though, is that not everybody has a really strong knowledge of what even visas are, what the European Union is.
'It's not something they've ever had to think about before.'
Klekowski von Koppenfels has worked with everyone from climate scientists to psychotherapists and journalists considering a move to Ireland. Often, they're professionals seeking a less stressful life. She said: 'Ireland is progressive, and since we have so many Irish in the United States, it's a bit of a known quantity.'
In terms of people considering Ireland, it is in the 'dozens ' or 'possibly in the hundreds|', and from areas such as the east coast to Ohio.
She estimates 1% to 2% of Americans – potentially 3 to 6 million people – are seriously considering leaving the US.
'Certainly, people are applying for Irish passports and getting those recognised. It's something I do hear quite a lot of.'
