The Trump administration has announced a major reduction in the fee required to renounce United States citizenship, lowering it from $2,350 to $450 starting in April.
The move fulfills a long-standing promise to reverse a widely criticized fee introduced in 2015. The new cost will fall below the government’s actual processing expenses, meaning authorities will absorb a financial loss to make the process more accessible.
Applications to give up US citizenship have risen sharply in recent years. Data from the Internal Revenue Service shows that 2024 recorded one of the highest totals, with thousands seeking a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN).
Experts say the increase is driven by political shifts as well as frustration among Americans living abroad over complex tax obligations. Many so-called “accidental Americans” — individuals who hold US citizenship by birth or parentage but live overseas — are required to file annual tax returns, prompting some to renounce their nationality.
The process remains rigorous, requiring applicants to appear before a consular officer and formally declare their understanding of the consequences before taking an oath of renunciation.
The fee cut has been welcomed by advocacy groups such as the International Association of Accidental Americans, which has long campaigned for lower costs and simpler procedures.
The decision comes amid broader debates over citizenship policies under Donald Trump, including ongoing legal scrutiny of efforts to end birthright citizenship in the US.
Photo by Ajay Suresh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
