WASHINGTON — U.S. citizens living abroad and dual nationals are being reminded that federal law requires them to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport — a rule that applies to all ages, including children.
The reminder, which has been highlighted in recent consular messages to Americans overseas, states:
U.S. citizens are REQUIRED to enter and depart the United States on a U.S. passport. This requirement applies equally to U.S. citizens, including children, who are dual nationals.
Under Section 215 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, U.S. citizens cannot be admitted to the United States as foreign visitors. For dual nationals — including those who hold citizenship in a Visa Waiver Program country — that means a foreign passport cannot be used to travel to the U.S., even if it is valid for visa-free travel.
ESTA Not Valid for Dual National U.S. Citizens
The Department of State is also warning dual nationals not to attempt to use their foreign passport to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
Dual national U.S. citizens may NOT use their foreign passport to apply for an ESTA. The Department of Homeland Security routinely denies or cancels ESTAs for dual national U.S. citizens when their U.S. citizenship is identified through its vetting systems.
Travelers whose ESTA is denied or canceled at the airport may be prevented from boarding and face significant delays. Airlines are required to verify that U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. hold a valid U.S. passport.
Officials say the issue most often affects:
• U.S. citizens born abroad who have never applied for a U.S. passport
• Children born in the U.S. to foreign parents who primarily travel on their other passport
• Long-term U.S. citizens living abroad whose U.S. passport has expired
What Travelers Should Do
If you are a U.S. citizen or national living abroad and plan to travel to the United States, make sure you do so with a valid U.S. passport.
If your U.S. passport is expired or expires soon, renew before your trip. U.S. embassies and consulates abroad can process renewals and issue emergency limited-validity passports in urgent cases, but processing times vary.
The State Department also notes that while the U.S. does not have a six-month validity requirement for U.S. citizens to return home, many foreign countries do require passports to have six months of validity beyond the planned stay for transit or entry.
Travelers should check requirements for any countries they will transit.
For Americans abroad, U.S. passport renewal appointments can be scheduled through the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate's American Citizen Services unit. In the United States, renewal is available online, by mail, and at passport agencies for urgent travel.