Administrative Processing of Request for Certificate of Loss of Nationality
Relinquishment of U.S. citizenship by performing certain statutory expatriating acts, including taking the oath of renunciation, voluntarily and with the intent of relinquishing U.S. citizenship, is a personal right that cannot be exercised on a person’s behalf. For example, under current U.S. law, a person’s parent(s) or legal guardian may not take the oath of renunciation for that person. A Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) approved by the Department of State is the final agency determination of loss of U.S. nationality.
For more information regarding relinquishing U.S. nationality abroad, click here.
The process to request a Certificate of Loss of Nationality requires two mandatory interviews. Please note that the total wait time can vary based on demand and appointment availability. The initial interview will be held via telephone.
The second interview will be scheduled once the Loss of Nationality application is completed, and proofs of citizenships are provided to the Embassy. Please note that the interview is mandatory and must be conducted in-person at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo in order to complete this process. There are no exceptions.
Following the second interview, cases under section 349(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act require a minimum of six to eight weeks for processing and approval from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Cases under section 349(a)(1) require more extensive review; processing time may take from six months to one year for approval from Washington. The Embassy will retain your U.S. passport during this processing period.
To schedule an appointment for the initial interview, applicants should access the ACS Navigator, select the Loss of Nationality option, and follow the instructions.
Effective April 13, 2026, the new fee for administrative processing of a request for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality is $450.00 USD. Applicants who have not yet taken the oath and paid a fee will be eligible for the new fee of $450.00 USD on or after that date. Once implemented, the fee change will not be retroactive, and no refunds or partial refunds will be issued as a result of this fee change. The fee is payable at the interview. This fee is not refundable.