Renounce Citizenship (2024)

Renounce Citizenship

Overview

Relinquishment of U.S. citizenship by performing certain statutory expatriating acts, including taking the oath of renunciation, voluntarily and with the intent of relinquishing U.S. citizenship, is a personal right that cannot be exercised on a person’s behalf. For example, a person’s parent(s) or legal guardian may not take the oath of renunciation for that person. A Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) approved by the Department of State is the final agency determination of loss of U.S. nationality.

NOTE: STEPS 1-4 below outline the process for requesting a CLN based on taking an oath of renunciation before a U.S. diplomatic or consular officer abroad under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 349(a)(5), 8 USC 1481(a)(5). For information on the parallel process to request a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) on the basis of the commission of another potentially expatriating act under INA 349(a)(1)-(4), 8 USC 1481(a)(1)-(4), please contact your location by selecting it below.

Oath of Renunciation of U.S. Nationality

Embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services process requests to take the oath of renunciation of U.S. citizenship. Minors, individuals who do not read or write English, individuals with mental health or cognitive disability or impairment and/or guardianship, and those for whom loss of U.S. nationality would result in statelessness are invited to contact your location to discuss taking the oath of renunciation.

Taking an oath to renounce U.S. nationality before a U.S. diplomatic or consular officer overseas is a serious and irrevocable act. Therefore, you should carefully consider and fully understand the consequences and ramifications of this act prior to your decision to begin the process.

Steps to Take

STEP 1: Review the legal requirements and consequences/ramifications of taking the oath of renunciation of U.S. citizenship.

Please read the information provided by the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services and available online at the Department of State and Internal Revenue Service links below regarding the legal requirements for taking the oath of renunciation before beginning this process. Loss of U.S. nationality is irrevocable, and you should fully understand the consequences and ramifications. before beginning this process.

For questions related to possible U.S. tax implications, please contact the Internal Revenue Service and/or review the Joint Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) FAQ.

For questions related to Social Security Administration (SSA) or other federal benefits, please contact your location.

Department of State and Internal Revenue Service links:

• Renunciation of U.S. Nationality
• Renunciation of U.S. Citizenship by Persons Claiming a Right of Residence in the U.S.
• Advice About Possible Loss of U.S. Citizenship and Dual Nationality
• Advice About Possible Loss of U.S. Citizenship and Seeking Public Office in a Foreign State
• Advice About Possible Loss of U.S. Citizenship and Foreign Military Service
• Expatriation Tax Guidance
• IRS Form 8854 – Initial and Annual Expatriation Information Statement (PDF 133.1KB)
• Instructions for IRS Form 8854 (PDF 239KB)
• IRS Notice 2009-85 – Guidance for Expatriates Under Section 877A

STEP 2: Email your locationto initiate the process and receive instructions. Gather and submit scanned copies of the required documents and schedule your first interview.

To schedule an initial interview, which will be conducted by telephone or in-person at the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services, please send an email to your location. Canada, Bern, Berlin, Amsterdam, Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Singapore, Brussels, and Paris provide electronic first interviews

Applicants should personally review all documents and prepare all forms provided by the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services in accordance with the instructions. DO NOT SIGN ANY FORMS BEFORE YOUR FINAL INTERVIEW.

STEP 3: Schedule and attend the final interview at the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular serviceswith all required original documents and pay the fee.

Schedule your final interview appointment according to embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services instructions. On the day of your final interview appointment, you must bring all of the original documents you previously submitted by email. You will be asked to reschedule if you do not have the required documents at the time of your final interview appointment.

Your Consular Report of Birth Abroad, and Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, if applicable, generally will be retained by the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services during the remainder of the process and then returned to you. Your U.S. passport also will be retained and, if your Certificate of Loss of Nationality is approved by the Department of State, it will be canceled before it is returned to you upon your request. If you need to travel to the United States on your U.S. passport after the second interview but before the Certificate of Loss of Nationality has been approved, please so advise the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services at the second interview.

You will meet with a consular officer for your second interview and you will be given another opportunity to review the documents that you have already filled out (but not signed) (Form DS-4080, Oath/Affirmation of Renunciation of Nationality of United States, Form DS-4081, Statement of Understanding Concerning the Consequences and Ramifications of Relinquishment or Renunciation of U.S. Citizenship; and, if necessary, Form DS-4079, Request for Determination of Possible Loss of United States Nationality) prior to signing them and taking the oath of renunciation.

Fee: Immediately prior to taking the oath of renunciation, you must pay the non-refundable fee of US $2,350 for administrative processing of a request for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality. The fee is not waivable, nor is it refundable if your request for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality is denied.

Step 4: Receive the Certificate of Loss of Nationality if approved by the Department of State

The Department of State will review each request for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality to determine whether there is a legal basis to approve it. This step may take several months or more. The embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services may contact you for further information before the Department of State decides your case. The embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services will email you if and when your request has been approved. If your request is denied, the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services will send you an email attaching a denial letter.

NOTE: STEPS 1-4 above outline the process for requesting a CLN based on taking an oath of renunciation before a U.S. diplomatic or consular officer abroad under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 349(a)(5), 8 USC 1481(a)(5). For information on the parallel process to request a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) on the basis of the commission of another potentially expatriating act under INA 349(a)(1)-(4), 8 USC 1481(a)(1)-(4), please contact your location for inquiries.

Fees (Prices in U.S. Dollars)

Non-refundable fee of $2,350 USD at the time of the appointment.

Local Information

Please select the country or area in which you would like to schedule an appointment: