U.S. State Department has reduced the fee required for Americans to formally renounce their citizenship by about 80%, marking a significant policy shift after years of legal challenges.
According to the U.S. State Department, the cost has dropped from $2,350 to $450. The new rule was published in the Federal Register and took immediate effect, bringing the fee back to what it was when charges were first introduced in 2010.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship remains a detailed and rigorous process. Applicants must repeatedly confirm, both in writing and verbally, that they understand the consequences before taking a formal oath before a consular officer. The decision is then reviewed by the department.
The fee had previously been increased in 2015 to $2,350, largely to cover administrative costs amid a surge in applications. That increase was partly driven by stricter U.S. tax reporting requirements affecting Americans living abroad.
The sharp rise in cost sparked backlash from advocacy groups such as the Association of Accidental Americans, which represents individuals who hold U.S. citizenship mainly because they were born in the country but live elsewhere. The group challenged the fee in court, arguing it made it harder for people to exercise their right to renounce citizenship.
The association welcomed the reduction, describing it as a major step toward making the process more accessible. Its president, Fabien Lehagre, said the decision reflects years of legal action and advocacy.
Court filings revealed that since the 2023 announcement of a planned reduction, at least 8,755 Americans still paid the full $2,350 fee before the change was implemented. The State Department has not released the total number of people who have renounced their citizenship.
