Does the U.S. government require citizens to renounce other citizenships when obtaining a U.S. passport?
Executive summary
U.S. law does not require citizens to renounce other nationalities when obtaining or holding a U.S. passport; the State Department explicitly says Americans “do not have to choose” between nationalities and must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States [1] [2]. Recent reporting highlights administrative tightening — more scrutiny, reporting and possible extra documentation for some dual nationals — but those pieces do not claim an across-the-board renunciation requirement [3] [4].
1. Legal baseline: U.S. law permits dual nationality
The Department of State’s legal guidance states plainly that U.S. law “does not require a U.S. citizen to choose between U.S. citizenship and another (foreign) nationality,” and that acquiring foreign citizenship “does not risk losing U.S. citizenship” under normal circumstances [1] [5]. Multiple legal guides and immigration firms repeat that the United States recognizes dual (and even multiple) nationality and does not force a renunciation as part of getting or using a U.S. passport [6] [7].
2. Passport practice: you must use U.S. passport to enter/exit the U.S.
While the U.S. allows dual nationality, travelers who are U.S. citizens — including dual nationals — are required by law to enter and leave the United States on a U.S. passport (INA §215(b) reflected in State Department travel guidance) [2] [8]. That operational rule sometimes creates confusion: it’s a travel-document requirement, not a relinquishment of other citizenships [2] [9].
3. Recent policy changes and enforcement tightening: scrutiny, not automatic renunciation
Several articles flagged “crackdown” headlines for November 2025 that describe increased enforcement around reporting, taxes, background checks, and administrative review of applications tied to foreign ties. Those reports emphasize stricter tracking and documentation (residency, tax compliance, lawful activity) and extended reviews for applicants with ties to certain countries, but they still state the U.S. “still allows dual citizenship” rather than mandates renunciation [3] [4]. The coverage shows policy tightening that could affect outcomes for security-clearance or immigration-benefit applicants, not a blanket rule forcing loss of foreign nationality [4].
4. Where loss of non-U.S. citizenship can occur: foreign laws and individual acts
The more common reason someone would lose another nationality is foreign law, not U.S. passport rules: some countries (China, India, Japan and others) require renunciation upon naturalization elsewhere, or may not recognize dual nationality on their soil [10] [11]. Also, certain voluntary acts tied to intent to relinquish U.S. citizenship (like serving voluntarily in a foreign government in some cases) can raise legal questions — but routine passport issuance is not described as stripping either nationality [8] [1].
5. Practical consequences and reasons for the confusion
Confusion comes from a mix of factors: (a) the travel requirement to use a U.S. passport for U.S. entry/exit; (b) new administrative checks and reporting that are being framed as a “crackdown” in some outlets [2] [3]; and (c) varying foreign laws that may force renunciation when someone naturalizes abroad [10] [11]. These distinct phenomena are frequently conflated into headlines that imply the U.S. is forcing renunciation when available reporting does not say so [3] [4].
6. What to do if you hold or plan to seek another citizenship
Check the other country’s law first: whether it permits dual citizenship or requires renunciation is determined by that country [11] [12]. For U.S. concerns, retain a valid U.S. passport for U.S. travel and be prepared for increased documentation or administrative review in some cases, especially if you have ties to countries described as higher risk in recent policy updates [2] [4]. For tax and reporting obligations, recent coverage warns that enforcement and disclosure requirements are being tightened — consult official guidance or a qualified attorney/advisor for personal compliance [3] [6].
7. Bottom line and limits of current reporting
Available official guidance and mainstream legal summaries all support that the U.S. does not require renunciation of other citizenships to obtain or hold a U.S. passport; the State Department explicitly frames U.S. law as not forcing a choice of nationality [1] [5]. Reporting about a November 2025 “crackdown” documents increased scrutiny and rules around reporting, background checks and administrative review, but those sources do not document a blanket renunciation mandate by the U.S. government [3] [4]. If there’s a specific new regulation or rule you’ve seen referenced, provide it and I will check it against the sources above; otherwise, current reporting and State Department guidance do not show a U.S. renunciation requirement.