The State Department has significantly reduced the fee for Americans looking to renounce their U.S. citizenship, cutting it by about 80% from $2,350 to $450. This change, which took effect on Friday, comes after years of legal battles with various groups advocating for lower fees for renunciation.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship is a complex process that involves multiple confirmations and attestations to a State Department consular officer. The fee reduction is a welcome development for many, especially given the previous fee hike in 2015 that aimed to cover administrative costs.
One of the groups that challenged the constitutionality of the high fee is the Association of Accidental Americans, which represents individuals mainly living abroad whose U.S. citizenship is based solely on their birth in the United States. The association’s president, Fabien Lahagre, praised the fee reduction as a victory for ensuring access to renunciation as a fundamental right.
Despite the fee reduction, there are still ongoing legal challenges regarding the cost of renouncing citizenship. The State Department has not disclosed the total number of Americans who have renounced their citizenship, but it’s clear that the fee reduction has been welcomed by many.
