The U.S. State Department has reduced the citizenship renunciation fee from $2,350 to $450 following successful legal advocacy by groups representing Americans living abroad.
The U.S. State Department has officially implemented an 80% reduction in the fee for Americans to formally renounce their citizenship, dropping the cost from $2,350 back to the original 2010 rate of $450. The final rule, published in the Federal Register on Friday, March 13, 2026, follows years of intense legal challenges from advocacy groups like the Association of Accidental Americans, who argued the high cost hindered a fundamental right. The fee had previously been hiked in 2015 to manage a surge in applications triggered by strict tax reporting requirements for expatriates, leading to claims that the process had become prohibitively expensive.
Responding to the change, Association President Fabien Lehagre stated, “The Association of Accidental Americans welcomes this decision, which acknowledges the necessity of making this fundamental right accessible to all,” adding that, “This victory is the direct result of six years of relentless legal action and advocacy.” Despite the lower fee, the renunciation process remains a rigorous administrative undertaking, requiring multiple verbal and written attestations before a consular officer to ensure applicants fully grasp the implications of surrendering their nationality.