Can you renounce your previous citizenship?

When a permanent resident takes the U.S. Oath of Allegiance, they renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of which they were a subject or citizen, as required by section 337(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. section 1448(a)). However, the legal effect of this renunciation depends on the laws of the applicant's country of origin, not on U.S. law. Some countries treat the U.S. oath as automatic loss of original citizenship, while others do not recognize the renunciation made before U.S. authorities and continue to consider the person a national.

The U.S. government does not require new citizens to take any additional steps to formally renounce citizenship in the country of origin, and the United States has long permitted dual citizenship despite the renunciation language in the oath. Countries that do not generally permit dual citizenship and may treat U.S. naturalization as automatic loss include: Japan (renunciation required by the Japanese Nationality Act, although enforcement varies), the People's Republic of China (the PRC's Nationality Law of 1980 does not recognize dual citizenship and treats acquiring foreign citizenship as automatic loss of Chinese citizenship), the Republic of Korea (South Korea), India (Indian citizens who naturalize abroad lose Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Act of 1955, although a separate Overseas Citizen of India status is available), Singapore, the Netherlands (with limited exceptions), and several others.

Countries that explicitly permit dual citizenship include: the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Germany (since 2024), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, the Philippines, Pakistan, and many more. Applicants whose country of origin does not permit dual citizenship should check with the embassy or consulate of that country before naturalizing if maintaining the original citizenship matters for inheritance, real property ownership, family rights, military service obligations, or other legal purposes.

The U.S. Department of State publishes a list of countries' positions on dual nationality, and embassies and consulates in the United States can provide authoritative information about the laws of their countries. Applicants concerned about the consequences of naturalization on their original citizenship should consult an attorney familiar with the laws of both jurisdictions.