California Golden Visa demand is rapidly growing among wealthy residents who are investing large sums to secure residency or citizenship abroad.
Rather than preparing to leave the United States immediately, many are buying themselves a Plan B — the ability to relocate if political or economic conditions worsen.
Jae Kim, a Korean American AI architect at Microsoft, is among them.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Kim, who lives in San Francisco, and his wife, Annie Aiken, are pursuing Portuguese residency for themselves and their 4-year-old son. After completing steps such as notarizing birth certificates and submitting fingerprints, the family plans to invest €500,000, or about $580,000, in an investment fund.
Even if they obtain residency, the family has no immediate plans to move to Portugal. Instead, concerns about the U.S. political climate and the possibility of future conflict have led them to secure another country where they could relocate if necessary.
Their son’s future is also part of the calculation. Residency or citizenship abroad could give him access to relatively affordable European universities and expand his employment opportunities in Europe.
“One of the best things money can buy is optionality,” Kim said.
California Golden Visa Interest Reflects a Broader U.S. Trend
The trend is spreading quickly among wealthy Americans.
According to investment migration firm Henley & Partners, inquiries from Americans seeking foreign residency or citizenship jumped 183% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier — nearly tripling. Americans accounted for more than 30% of all inquiries during that period, while the number of U.S. clients in 2024 was more than 1,000% higher than in 2019.
Interest is particularly strong among wealthy Californians. Industry firms say California residents account for as many as one in five clients worldwide seeking residency abroad.
Tech billionaire and former California resident Peter Thiel is also pursuing foreign citizenship. The New York Times reported that Thiel is seeking Argentine citizenship amid concerns about the future of the United States. A proposed California wealth tax targeting billionaires, which is expected to go before voters later this year, has also been cited as a factor.
Eric Major, CEO of investment migration firm Latitude, said about 85% of his American clients cite political concerns as a reason for seeking foreign residency or citizenship. Anxiety over the country’s future, including policy shifts following changes in presidential administrations, is a major driver.
New Zealand Draws Wealthy Americans
New Zealand has also seen a sharp rise in applications from affluent Americans.
According to New Zealand immigration authorities, 277 Americans applied for the country’s investor visa between the program’s overhaul in April 2025 and July 23, 2026, more than applicants from any other country. Including accompanying family members, the total reaches 838 people.
The Financial Times reported on Aug. 5 that wealthy Californians have been flocking to New Zealand’s investor visa program. Industry insiders say New Zealand residency has become something of a status symbol among Silicon Valley’s wealthy.
But for many applicants, the goal is not an immediate departure from the United States. Instead, they are using their wealth to secure flexibility — a place to go if circumstances change.
For affluent Californians, a golden visa is increasingly less about immigration today than about preserving the option to immigrate tomorrow.
