How to Move to Europe: An American’s Guide to Becoming an Expat

Call it the Great Continental Drift: professionals are yearning to trade the chaos and costs of life in the US for Europe’s perceived calm and social safety nets.

Countries’ official immigration records indicate surging citizenship applications and naturalizations everywhere from Britain to Austria. Firms that help Americans get second passports and residencies say they’re seeing heightened interest as well.

“More Americans are thinking about moving,” said Morgan Bailey, a former senior official in US Citizenship and Immigration Services and a partner at the law firm Mayer Brown. “The perception is that Europe offers what some Americans feel they ...