The cost to formally relinquish American citizenship has been reduced to $450 after the State Department finalized a new rule published in the Federal Register.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. State Department has significantly reduced the fee required for individuals seeking to formally renounce their American citizenship, lowering the cost from $2,350 to $450.
The change was finalized in a rule published Friday in the Federal Register, marking a major reduction in the administrative charge associated with the renunciation process.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship requires applicants to appear before a U.S. diplomatic or consular officer overseas and complete a formal declaration relinquishing their nationality. The fee had previously been set at $2,350, making it one of the highest administrative charges imposed by the federal government for a single consular service.
Under the new rule, the fee returns to the same level that existed in 2010.
According to reporting from the Associated Press, the plan to reduce the fee was first proposed in 2023 during the administration of former President Joe Biden. The proposal underwent regulatory review before being finalized by the State Department.
The agency did not immediately provide additional details on why the fee was lowered to the earlier level, but the rule formally resets the cost to $450 for individuals completing the citizenship renunciation process.
The change takes effect following the publication of the final rule, meaning Americans who choose to renounce their citizenship through the State Department’s consular system will now pay the reduced amount rather than the previous $2,350 fee.
Original article
Comments