The survey was conducted by Portugalist.com, from 17 to 18 March 2026, enquiring “200 US citizens who are either considering, actively moving to, or already living in Portugal.”
In a press release sent to The Portugal News, 49% of the US citizens enquired “would consider renouncing their US citizenship after securing Portuguese citizenship.” The data shows that out of the 200 respondents, “29,5% said ‘Yes’ and 19,5% said ‘ Maybe’”. 45% of respondents answered negatively, while 6% remain unsure of their decision.
Reason for renouncing
81,3% of those who answered “Yes” to renouncing US citizenship cited political reasons for their decision. 38,5% of those who already live in Portugal “list the complexity and cost of the US global tax filing system as a critical reason for severing ties.”
The same date shows that 35.5% of the respondents stated they do not expect to return to the US. The figure “jumps to 44,2% for those who have already settled in Portugal.
Getting Portuguese citizenship
Data from AIMA reveal that, in 2024, there were 19,258 US citizens living in Portugal, mainly due to “Portugal offering some of the most attainable residency visas in the EU, such as the D7, Digital Nomad Visa, and Golden Visa.”
However, the main issue for US citizens is not renouncing US citizenship, but obtaining Portuguese citizenship.
James Cave, founder of Portugalist.com, quoted in the press release, reveals that “a staggering number of Americans are ready to adopt Portuguese citizenship and that shows a serious level of commitment to Portugal. “But they can’t make this commitment until they get Portuguese citizenship, something which looks increasingly harder due to backlogs and the government’s attempts to increase the naturalisation timeline from five to 10 years. More than ever, it’s now vital that expats know where they stand when it comes to obtaining Portuguese citizenship.”
Fees reduction
Portugalist.com also mentions that, besides the US government efforts “to lower the administrative fee for renouncing citizenship from $2,350 to $450”, the survey highlights that, for the respondents, the “money isn’t the issue.”
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They were never Americans to begin with. Their nanny-state, social nursery, and high taxation ideologies ruined a once great nation steeped in liberty and self-reliance. I wouldn't be too quick about naturalizing them because with sufficient numbers and allies, they will ruin Portugal also. I have no doubt that they view most Portuguese as quaint little creatures who must be taught the right path so long as it's their path.
By Tony from USA on 19 Mar 2026, 22:03
They can say it all they want, but they won't do it because they would lose their Social Security benefits.
By J C from USA on 19 Mar 2026, 23:44
About 5000 U.S. citizens renounce their citizenship a year. Out of over 300 million citizens. So renouncing citizenship is much talked about but very rarely real
By Bruno from Lisbon on 20 Mar 2026, 09:22
There is no mention of the most important factor for retirees, taxes. Most of us would be subject to a 48% income tax in Portugal rather than a much lower rate in the US.
By Barry S Glassman from Lisbon on 20 Mar 2026, 09:58
Many US citizens would prefer to pay Portuguese taxes, since we are grateful for what Portugal has given us, rather than pay the US government. If my family could get fast-tracked citizenship in Portugal, we'd gladly renounce and pay everything to Portugal. We are very fortunate to be here.
By Philip P from Other on 20 Mar 2026, 11:49
That is incorrect. If you have paid into Social Security for at least 10 years, you do not need to be a US citizen to collect benefits. You can even collect if you were never a US citizen, but worked the required amount of time in the US.
By USARefugee from Lisbon on 21 Mar 2026, 09:04
JC from USA That is incorrect. You do not lose social security benefits upon renouncing US citizenship as long as your country has a totalization agreement with the US. These include the European countries, Australia, Canada etc.
By Scott Sorenson from Lisbon on 21 Mar 2026, 10:05
Ah, Tony from USA, who can always be counted on to come here to regurgitate the propaganda he absorbs on Newsmax. Some people just aren't clever enough to realize when they have drank too much Kool-aid.
By Woody from Algarve on 23 Mar 2026, 10:30
I am a first generation American of Portuguese descent with dual citizenship. I am proud of my heritage, but will never give up my American citizenship.
By Joe from USA on 23 Mar 2026, 12:22
@Tony from the USA. Whew! Quite harsh. Since when has the US been a nanny state? No universal health care, no paid maternity leave, the poor and middle class pay higher taxes than the billionaires and corporations, no free higher education, terrible infrastructure and public transportation, high housing costs, and on and on. The only "nanny" benefit we have is Social Security which we have paid in to all our working lives, and it does not cover dentistry, glasses, and hearing aids. Plus we are paying over $200 per month out of our Social Security to pay for Medicare after paying for Medicare all of our working lives. The US is defnitely not a nanny state. Seems what you have noted does not really apply to the subject of the article anyway.
By Jeannette Kortz from Lisbon on 23 Mar 2026, 13:12
There can be severe tax implications of renouncing your citizenship.
Half the Americans say they will do it until they find out the real cost.
I would bet that # drops to about 10%.
You are living a good life,and so am I, in Portugal because the money you were able to earn in the US.
It is nice coming here with a pension, 401k distributions, monies you have saved that enable you to lead a great life.
You got that opportunity by living in the US.
By j from Algarve on 24 Mar 2026, 18:25
19,258 in Portugal is a very small sampling of Americans. My wife and I love Portugal, and if we can would love to live there. We will NEVER renounce our American citizenship.
By Thomas Masanotti from USA on 25 Mar 2026, 15:20