Dual Citizenship and the United States

Yes. The United States does not have a law against dual citizenship. You can become a dual citizen by:

• Being born in the US to parents from another country that passes citizenship by descent
• Being born abroad to a US citizen parent (see citizenship by descent)
• Naturalizing as a US citizen while keeping your original nationality
• Getting a second citizenship after becoming a US citizen, for example through ancestry

The US government's position is that dual nationals owe allegiance to both countries and must obey the laws of both. It does not encourage dual nationality, but it does not take away US citizenship because of it.

The Oath of Allegiance includes a promise to "absolutely and entirely renounce" allegiance to any foreign state. In practice, the US does not require you to take any formal step with your other country, and it does not check whether you still hold that passport.

What matters is your other country's law. Some countries treat taking US citizenship as giving up theirs; others let you keep it automatically, and some allow it only if you register or apply.

Rules change and have exceptions, so confirm with your country's embassy before you naturalize. For country-specific details, see our pages on moving to the US from India, from China, from the Philippines, and from Mexico.

• Entering and leaving the US: US law requires US citizens to use a US passport. Do not use your other passport or a green card to enter the US once you are a citizen. Bring your green card to the naturalization ceremony; you give it back.
• Entering your other country: that country may require you to use its passport.
• Consular help: when you are in your other country of citizenship, that country may treat you only as its citizen, which can limit what the US embassy can do for you if you are detained.
• Other obligations: some countries require military service or have exit rules for their citizens.
• Travel bans: dual nationals traveling on a passport of a country not covered by the 2026 travel ban are generally not affected by it, but a US citizen is never subject to it.

The United States taxes its citizens on their worldwide income, wherever they live. As a dual citizen living abroad, you usually must:

• File a US federal tax return each year if your income is above the filing threshold
• Report foreign bank and financial accounts if their total value exceeded $10,000 at any time during the year (FinCEN Form 114, called the FBAR)
• Report certain foreign assets on IRS Form 8938 (FATCA)

Tax treaties, the foreign earned income exclusion, and foreign tax credits often reduce or eliminate double taxation, but the filing duty remains. See the IRS guide for US citizens abroad.

You lose US citizenship only if you voluntarily perform certain acts, such as formally renouncing before a US consular officer abroad, with the intent to give up citizenship. Getting another citizenship, voting abroad, or using a foreign passport abroad does not by itself end US citizenship.

Renunciation is serious and usually cannot be undone. It requires an in-person appointment at a US embassy or consulate, a fee (see the State Department website), and IRS exit filings (Form 8854). Some high-net-worth people also owe an "exit tax." Get tax and legal advice first.