Australia is among the top ten destinations for Americans fleeing the uncertainty and chaos created by the second Trump administration. 

There have been several stories of prominent Americans from showbiz finding refuge from Trump in places like France, Ireland and England’s Cotswolds. 

But ordinary Americans, many of them digital nomads, are also leaving in droves. 

A survey by US firm Expatsi, which helps Americans move abroad, found Portugal top of a list of destinations for US emigrees. 

It found a majority of American remote workers are heading to Europe, with 60 per cent of Europe-focused clients preferring to base themselves in Portugal. 

Spain was second, Italy third, followed by Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand and Greece. 

Americans can access several visas for Portugal. 

The D2, or ‘Immigrant Entrepreneur Visa’, is for people who want to start a business in Portugal. 

The D7, the most popular, requires about $US1,000 per month in passive income, such as pensions or rental income. 

The D8 visa, also known as the ‘Digital Nomad Visa’, requires a monthly income of approximately $US4,000. 

All three have various benefits and all offer a legal pathway to residency in Portugal and freedom of movement around the European Union. 

Americans keen on relocating to Spain, ranked second, can apply for the ‘Spanish Digital Nomad Visa’. 

Spain recently made it possible for both employees and contractors to apply for this visa, which is initially granted for one year and puts holders on the road to residency and gives them the right to roam Europe visa-free. 

Australia, ranked 8, does not have a digital nomad visa but does have a ‘Working Holiday Visa’ for digital nomads under 31 that is valid for a year. 

Canada, ranked 4, allows Americans to work remotely as tourists, while Mexico, ranked 5, has a ‘Temporary Resident Visa’ for American remote workers that allows people to stay four years without the need for ‘visa runs”’ where holders must leave the country every six months to renew their legal status. 

In recent months, a number of US celebrities have located overseas. 

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have settled in England’s Cotswolds, a picturesque region in the English countryside that offers luxury and privacy. 

Actor, comedian and former talk show host Rosie O’Donnell has moved to Dublin after pledging to leave the US if Donald Trump regained office. 

‘Game of Thrones’ actress Sophie Turner announced in October 2024 that she would be returning home to the UK. 

She initially said she was homesick, but the political climate in the US did, in the end, have a bearing on her decision. 

“The gun violence, Roe v Wade being overturned… Everything just kind of piled on,” she said. 

‘House of Cards’ star Robin Wright spoke about her move to the UK in a recent interview. 

“America is a s#%t-show,” she said, after taking up residence in the English countryside. 

Of England, she said: “I love being in this country. There’s a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They’re living. They’re not in the car in traffic, panicked on a phone call, eating a sandwich. That’s most of America. Everything’s rush, competition and speed.”