Dual Citizenship USA 2026: Rules, Countries and Passports

Does the United States Allow Dual Citizenship?

Yes. The United States does not prohibit dual citizenship, and it does not require a naturalizing citizen to choose between America and a former home country. Millions of Americans hold two or more passports lawfully, and US law places no obstacle in the way of a citizen who acquires another nationality by birth, descent, naturalization, or marriage.

The confusion comes from the Oath of Allegiance, which includes language about renouncing foreign allegiance. That phrase is not a formal renunciation of another country's citizenship. Without a separate, formal renunciation made before that other country's authorities, the general oath language usually has little practical effect on the foreign nationality. The real variable is the other country's law, which is where the useful planning happens.

This guide explains the US position, how dual citizenship arises, which major countries allow it, the passport and exit rules that apply, and what it now costs to give up US citizenship. Rules abroad change, so always confirm the current position with the other country's embassy or consulate before you rely on it.

What US Law Actually Says

The State Department is explicit. US law does not impede a citizen's acquisition of foreign citizenship, whether by birth, descent, naturalization, or another form of acquisition, and it does not require permission from any US court or agency. A US citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without risking US citizenship, and naturalized Americans are not generally required to abandon a prior nationality.

US officials also state that a dual national owes allegiance to both countries, must obey the laws of both, and may face limits on US consular protection when in the country of the other nationality. The one hard rule is travel documentation: US citizens, including dual nationals, must use a US passport to enter and leave the United States. A dual national cannot use a foreign passport to apply for ESTA, and a child with dual nationality follows the same rule.

How Dual Citizenship Happens

Dual nationality usually arises in one of four ways:

• By birth. A child born abroad to US citizen parents, or born in the United States to foreign parents, may hold two nationalities from day one by the automatic operation of two countries' laws.
• By naturalization. A green card holder becomes a US citizen while their country of origin allows them to keep the old nationality, or a US citizen naturalizes abroad where that country permits multiple nationality.
• By descent or registration. Some countries grant citizenship to the children or grandchildren of former nationals through registration rather than birth.
• By marriage. A smaller number of countries let a spouse acquire nationality through marriage, sometimes creating dual status if the original citizenship is retained.

Because each country writes its own nationality law, the combination is what matters. The United States permits the overlap; the second country decides whether it does.

Which Countries Allow Dual Citizenship

Rules differ sharply, and several have changed recently. The table below covers major cases; verify any country that matters to you, because nationality laws are amended often.

Germany is the headline change: before 27 June 2024 it generally expected people to give up a prior nationality, and now multiple citizenship is generally accepted. India is the opposite case in the other direction: because India does not allow dual citizenship, people of Indian origin who become US citizens usually hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which grants a lifelong visa and other benefits but is expressly not Indian citizenship and does not include a vote or an Indian passport.

Passport and Exit Rules for Dual Nationals

Dual nationals juggle two sets of document rules. The United States requires you to present a valid US passport when you enter and leave the country, and a foreign passport cannot substitute for it. The other country may require you to present its passport to enter and leave its territory. Using the foreign passport to travel to or from a third country is not inconsistent with US law.

Two practical frictions catch people out. First, a dual national generally cannot claim full US consular protection while inside the country of the other nationality, so if something goes wrong there, America's ability to intervene is limited. Second, obligations can conflict: the other country may require military service, restrict certain public offices or property ownership, or impose its own tax rules, all while US law continues to apply. Map both sets of obligations before you travel or take up residence.

Renouncing US Citizenship and the $450 Fee

Some people, usually for tax or personal reasons, want to give up US citizenship rather than hold two. Under INA section 349(a)(5), a US citizen can formally renounce before a US diplomatic or consular officer abroad, and the State Department then decides whether to approve a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN). Renunciation is not automatic: the person must attend two interviews with a consular officer, at least one in person, complete the required forms, and take the oath of renunciation.

The consular fee changed significantly in 2026. A State Department final rule published on 13 March 2026 reduced the fee for administrative processing of a CLN request from $2,350 to $450, effective 13 April 2026. That fee covers the consular work, not tax obligations.

Tax consequences are separate and often larger. A covered expatriate may owe an exit tax, must file Form 8854, and faces ongoing reporting. Renouncing to avoid taxation can also make a person inadmissible to the United States under a specific ground of inadmissibility. Because the stakes go well beyond the $450 fee, anyone considering renunciation should get professional tax and legal advice first.

Risks, Taxes, and Consular Protection

Dual citizenship is mostly rights, but it carries real obligations. As a US citizen you remain subject to US tax rules wherever you live, and the United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income. If you also owe allegiance to another country, you may face that country's taxes, military service, and legal jurisdiction too. Certain countries restrict dual nationals from security-sensitive jobs or public office, and some limit land ownership.

Consular protection is another area to understand. When you are in the country of your other nationality, the United States may not be able to extend the same protection it would to a citizen who has no status there. That is not a penalty; it reflects that the other country may regard you as its own national. Knowing this in advance prevents unpleasant surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions