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Can holding dual citizenship disqualify someone from a federal security clearance in the U.S.?
Executive summary
Holding dual citizenship is not an automatic disqualifier for a U.S. federal security clearance; multiple official and expert sources state that dual nationality “in itself is not disqualifying” and many dual citizens hold clearances [1] [2]. Adjudicators evaluate dual citizenship under the “whole person” standard and related Adjudicative Guidelines (e.g., concerns about foreign preference or foreign influence), meaning specific facts—use of foreign passports, foreign obligations, receipt of benefits, residence abroad, or ties to adversary countries—can create disqualifying concerns [3] [4] [5].
1. Dual citizenship isn’t a categorical ban — the rules changed and agencies repeat that
The modern adjudicative framework makes clear that having citizenship in another country does not automatically bar you from getting a clearance: authoritative guides note that dual citizenship “is not disqualifying” and agencies such as DOE explicitly allow dual citizens to apply so long as U.S. citizenship is one of the citizenships [1] [6] [2]. Longstanding policy updates and guidance (e.g., post-2016 adjustments and the 2017 Adjudicative Guidelines) shifted away from blanket renunciation requirements toward case-by-case assessment [7] [1].
2. The “whole person” test — facts matter more than labels
Security adjudicators apply the “whole person” concept: dual nationality is one relevant factor, not an automatic disqualifier. Decisionmakers weigh loyalty, foreign ties, behavior (including concealment), and potential foreign influence or preference when assessing risk [3] [8]. Several legal and practitioner sources emphasize that applicants must fully disclose foreign citizenships and related documents; concealment or omission is itself a disqualifying problem [1] [8].
3. What specific dual-citizenship behaviors raise red flags
The practical issues that can trigger denial are concrete actions or circumstances tied to foreign citizenship: holding and using a foreign passport, exercising rights or obligations tied to the foreign citizenship (military service, voting, compulsory national service), applying for or acquiring another citizenship in ways that suggest divided loyalty, receiving significant foreign benefits, or long-term residence in a country that poses security concerns [5] [4] [1]. Attorneys and clearance advisers warn that where the foreign country is considered an adversary (e.g., China in the DoD context), the same actions can have greater weight [4].
4. Different rules and interpretations across agencies and guidance
There is no single uniform practice across every agency and adjudicative instrument. DoD, IC, State Department, and civilian agencies use the common Adjudicative Guidelines but implement them with differing emphases and procedural rules; earlier rules that more strictly required renunciation have been superseded for many adjudicators, but older forms of guidance and agency-level policies can differ in how strictly they treat foreign-citizenship activities [7] [1]. Some legal practitioners highlight differences between ICPG/IC guidance and older DoD regulatory language, and recommend case-by-case legal help [7] [9].
5. Practical takeaways for applicants — disclosure, explanation, and mitigation
Practical advice in the reporting and from practitioners converges on three points: fully disclose all foreign citizenships and passports on your SF‑86 or PVQ (failure to do so is disqualifying); be prepared to explain ties, obligations, travel, and benefits related to the foreign citizenship; and present mitigating evidence showing allegiance to the U.S. (e.g., residence, employment, family ties, lack of foreign obligations) especially if the other country has adversarial relations with the U.S. [1] [5] [4].
6. Where coverage is thin and what sources don’t say
Available sources do not provide a single checklist that guarantees approval or denial in any particular case; they do not offer statistical denial rates for dual citizens versus single-citizenship applicants in a way that would predict outcomes, nor do they publish a definitive list of countries that automatically make clearances impossible (not found in current reporting). Legal blogs and firms emphasize that individualized adjudication and potential appeals or petitions exist, indicating room for discretion and legal strategy [9] [7].
Conclusion: The factual record in these sources is consistent and unambiguous on one major point—dual citizenship alone does not automatically disqualify an applicant from a federal security clearance—but the specifics of behavior, foreign ties, concealment, and the identity of the other country can create disqualifying concerns under the Adjudicative Guidelines [1] [3] [4]. If you are a dual citizen seeking a clearance, disclose everything on your clearance form, document mitigating facts, and consider agency-specific rules or counsel when dealing with complicated foreign ties [1] [7].