A Snob’s Guide to Second Passports

On a recent afternoon at a beach club in St. Bart's, a group of revelers were engaged in a spirited discussion on the topic of second passports. To summarize, scoring one was something akin to landing a rare Picasso—another classic example of how the harder something is to get, the more you want it.

Of course the desirability of an alternate citizenship is nothing new. We were having these same conversations ten years ago (we'll let you connect the dots). But given all that is going on, citizenships hold a currency far more valuable than gold these days—and the subject warrants a fresh visit.

"Our clients have been extremely frustrated with a feeling of claustrophobia coupled with a startling realization that America is no longer the center of the world," says Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of Embark Beyond, which launched its Dual Citizenship Program in the midst of Covid. "They're not used to being held back or told no."

Henley & Partners, a global leader in residence and citizenship planning, has seen a 77 percent surge in applications since last year from U.S. nationals, making it their largest single-source market for investment migration applications by a striking 35 percent (followed by Turkey, India, and China).

"In terms of motivation, most of our U.S. clients are looking for a Plan B, almost like an insurance policy," explains Judi Galst, Henley & Partners's managing director of private clients. "Most are not thinking about a relocation, they are feeling unsettled and want to put in place options for themselves and their families to protect generational wealth, legacy, and their global mobility."

So where is everyone going? The four M's—Malta, Mexico City, Madrid, and Milan—are good indicators, but there's a catch. We asked the experts on the best places to aim for—and the most effective ways to skip to the front of the passport line.

View in Browser  A Snob's Guide to Second Passports On a recent afternoon at a beach club in St. Bart's, a group of revelers were engaged in a spirited discussion on the topic of second passports. To summarize, scoring one was something akin to landing a rare Picasso—another classic example of how the harder something is to get, the more you want it. Of course the desirability of an alternate citizenship is nothing new. We were having these same conversations ten years ago (we'll let you connect the dots). But given all that is going on, citizenships hold a currency far more valuable than gold these days—and the subject warrants a fresh visit. "Our clients have been extremely frustrated with a feeling of claustrophobia coupled with a startling realization that America is no longer the center of the world," says Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of Embark Beyond, which launched its Dual Citizenship Program in the midst of Covid. "They're not used to being held back or told no." Henley & Partners, a global leader in residence and citizenship planning, has seen a 77 percent surge in applications since last year from U.S. nationals, making it their largest single-source market for investment migration applications by a striking 35 percent (followed by Turkey, India, and China). "In terms of motivation, most of our U.S. clients are looking for a Plan B, almost like an insurance policy," explains Judi Galst, Henley & Partners's managing director of private clients. "Most are not thinking about a relocation, they are feeling unsettled and want to put in place options for themselves and their families to protect generational wealth, legacy, and their global mobility." So where is everyone going? The four M's—Malta, Mexico City, Madrid, and Milan—are good indicators, but there's a catch. We asked the experts on the best places to aim for—and the most effective ways to skip to the front of the passport line. Read More Is the New Series Ponies Based a True Story? The creators of the addictive new Peacock series—about two accidental spies in 1970s Moscow—on how much of the show's highly classified international espionage really happened. Read More Mia McKenna-Bruce Steps Into an Agatha Christie Classic The actress, who leads Netflix's lavish new adaptation of The Seven Dials, reflects on the joyful escapism of murder mysteries. Read More T&C Horoscopes: January 16—30 A bi-monthly look at what's to come for your sign courtesy of T&C's master astrologer, Katharine Merlin. Read More In St. Bart's, Is Facial Chlamydia the New Bedbugs? We'd prefer neither, if at all possible. Read More T&C Exclusive: Tommy Paul and Paige Lorenze Launch a Foundation Together Kids Outdoors will work to support access to sports with high barriers to entry such as tennis and skiing. Read More Follow Us Unsubscribe | Manage Preferences | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Town & Country is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2026 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779