Published On 4/28/2026
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Last update: 19:14 (Mecca time)
The Guardian newspaper revealed today, Tuesday, the increasing phenomenon of renunciation of citizenship among Americans residing in several European countries, due to feelings of dissatisfaction and frustration as a result of the policies of the administration of President Donald Trump, in addition to American tax measures.
In reference to the large number of requests to renounce citizenship, the newspaper said that this caused delays in appointments and increased waiting periods, noting that in the London consulate they exceed 14 months. The same applies to Sydney and most major Canadian cities, while in many European cities, the waiting period currently exceeds 6 months.
According to the British newspaper, it is expected that this year will be exceptional, in terms of the number of Americans who renounce their citizenship, as it is estimated to be similar to the year 2020, in which more than 6,000 Americans were recorded to renounce their country’s identity, noting that the number was estimated at hundreds annually in the first decade of the second millennium.
The growth of the phenomenon is due to a number of reasons, according to the Guardian report, which dealt with the testimonies and motives of a number of Americans who took this step.
Reasons for renouncing citizenship
According to the newspaper, Americans have long joked about pretending to be Canadians when they are abroad, just because they feel embarrassed about belonging to a country characterized by “arrogance.”
But recent developments in the United States, represented by the negative political climate, internal divisions, and the foreign policy of the Trump administration, have prompted thousands of Americans to renounce their citizenship.
The newspaper quoted American Paul (55 years old), who renounced his citizenship, as saying, “My gift to myself was freedom from political dependency,” while Joseph (36 years old) said, “I do not want to be a citizen under a dictatorial regime.”
Complex challenges
The Guardian noted that the US government could reject the citizenship waiver request outright, which would turn applicants into becoming “taxable expatriates,” a tax classification and financial disaster, according to the newspaper.
She explained that the aforementioned classification lasts for life, and may result in a ban on entry into the United States again or interrogation at the border.
The newspaper pointed to the legislation that will come into effect next December, which makes the registration of Americans for compulsory conscription automatic, adding that it did not cause a major uproar in the United States when it was passed, but “if you have an 18-year-old child whom you raised in Europe, for example, and you read about the American war in Iran, you may feel very concerned about that,” according to the report.
Tax policies
One of the main reasons for renouncing citizenship – according to the newspaper – is American tax policies, as the United States is the only country in the world, with the exception of Eritrea, that imposes taxes on citizenship and not on residency.
She said the previous procedure produces some unusual subtleties, such that if an American residing abroad divorces his non-American spouse and their property is divided, the American pays tax on his ex-wife’s share.
Under Obama’s Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, foreign banks must know the identity of their American customers and hand over their information.
