Trending Now - State Department Reduces US Citizenship Renunciation Fee to $450

WHO:

The State Department

Fabien Lehagre, president of the Association of Accidental Americans

WHAT:

The State Department reduced the fee to renounce U.S. citizenship from $2,350 to $450.

The new fee took effect on March 13th, 2026.

The fee reduction is approximately 80%.

The fee was originally set at $450 when it was first implemented in 2010.

At least 8,755 Americans paid the full $2,350 fee to renounce their citizenship since the announcement in 2023.

WHERE:

Washington, D.C.

U.S. embassies or consulates abroad

WHEN:

The fee increase from $450 to $2,350 occurred in 2015.

The fee reduction was announced in 2023 and took effect on March 13th, 2026.

WHY:

The fee was raised in 2015 to cover administrative costs due to a surge in renunciation requests linked to new U.S. tax reporting requirements for expatriates.

The reduction in fee is a policy decision aimed at reducing the cost burden on individuals seeking to renounce their citizenship.

HOW:

Renouncing U.S. citizenship involves a multistep process requiring applicants to appear before a U.S. consular officer and confirm their understanding of the consequences of renunciation through written and verbal attestations.

(UPDATED March 14, 2026 15:03 UTC)

In a significant move, the State Department has reduced the fee to renounce U.S. citizenship from $2,350 to just $450, effective March 13, 2026. This change, which represents an approximately 80% decrease, comes after at least 8,755 Americans paid the higher fee since the announcement in 2023, when the fee was raised to cover administrative costs. The process of renouncing citizenship still requires applicants to meet with a U.S. consular officer and confirm their understanding of the consequences through both written and verbal attestations.