'Moving to Canada'

Donald Trump's inflammatory presidential campaign and the prospect of the brash-talking tycoon actually becoming commander-in-chief has left progressive Americans obsessing about one thing: moving to Canada.

Stars from Cher to Lena Dunham have declared their intention to head north if the former reality star, famous for insulting Muslims and Mexicans, and under the microscope for alleged sexism, reaches top office.

According to one recent Morning Consult/Vox poll, 28 percent of Americans would "likely" consider moving to another country if Trump wins in November. Google said the search "how can I move to Canada?" surged 350 percent on March 1 when Trump won seven Republican state elections.

Money makers on both sides of the border have turned the hype into a savvy marketing tool. "Leaving the country if TRUMP is elected PRESIDENT? Give me a call and LET'S GET YOUR HOME SOLD!!" advertised one US realtor.

A millennial entrepreneur in Texas set up dating site Maple Match promising to help Americans "find the ideal Canadian partner to save them from the unfathomable horror of a Trump presidency."

After Cape Breton Island, off the tip of Nova Scotia, offered a refuge to Trump-hating Americans earlier this year, visitors to its tourism site exploded from 65,000 last year to 600,000, says tourist chief Mary Tulle.

US academic Neda Maghbouleh moved to Toronto three years ago with her husband when they were offered attractive faculty jobs at a university.

Their daughter was born in Canada, the couple have acquired permanent residency and now they want to sponsor Maghbouleh's parents to join them.

"My urgency and fear was really stoked by this election. It was a feeling that we need to be very proactive about this," she said.

Businessman Nuri Katz, who helps people acquire second citizenship, says "tens" of clients have given Trump as a reason for wanting to relocate, but warns that there are huge obstacles to actually getting up and moving.

Canada has tightened immigration procedures for many categories of people, although it has been liberal in accepting Syrian refugees. Americans opposed to Trump hardly meet the UN definition of a refugee, Katz warned.

Katz says Dominica in the Caribbean is the cheapest place for Americans to buy second citizenship -- yours for an investment of $100,000.

He has also signed up his first American client for Cyprus, where nationality can be acquired in three months for a one-off investment of 2.5 million euros ($2.8 million).