Exclusive Citizenship Act 2025: What Does This Bill Mean for Americans Living Abroad?

In early December 2025, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno introduced a new bill: the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025. The proposal—often referred to simply as the Exclusive Citizenship Act—immediately drew global attention, especially among Americans living abroad or those holding dual citizenship. Although the bill is still in a very early stage, it has already created considerable uncertainty. This article explains what the proposal entails, who may be affected, and why the likelihood of it becoming law remains low.

What Does the Exclusive Citizenship Act Propose?

The bill seeks to prohibit American citizens from holding dual nationality and introduces the principle of “exclusive loyalty” to the United States. In essence, the Exclusive Citizenship Act proposes that:

American citizens may not simultaneously be nationals of another country. Those who already hold a second nationality at the moment the law takes effect would have one year to choose whether to renounce their foreign citizenship or their U.S. citizenship.

Americans who voluntarily acquire another nationality after the law takes effect would automatically lose their U.S. citizenship.
The government would be required to develop new administrative and enforcement tools to verify who does and does not hold dual nationality.

This would represent a significant break from current U.S. practice, where dual citizenship is allowed and is the norm for millions of Americans worldwide.

Important Tax Consideration

The current proposal concerns dual nationality only. It assumes that every U.S. citizen fulfills their existing tax obligations. Renouncing U.S. citizenship does notautomatically terminate those obligations.

Your U.S. tax liability ends only when:

• Form 8854 has been properly filed, and
• all required tax returns for the relevant years have been submitted.

It is therefore crucial not to make assumptions about tax consequences based solely on loss of nationality.

Who Would Be Affected by the Exclusive Citizenship Act?

The group potentially impacted by the proposal is large and varied. It includes:

• Americans who automatically acquired dual nationality at birth—through parents or place of birth.
• Naturalized Americans who retained their original nationality.
• Americans who obtained a second nationality through marriage or long-term residence abroad.
• Children with parents of different nationalities.

Individuals who are unaware that they possess another nationality—something that occurs more often than many people realize.

Why Is There So Much Criticism of the Exclusive Citizenship Act?

Experts in law, migration, and civil rights—as well as numerous political voices—have raised serious concerns. The main points of criticism are:

1. Likely Unconstitutional

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that citizenship cannot be revoked without voluntary and intentional relinquishment. Automatic loss of citizenship, as proposed here, is therefore legally questionable.

2. Practically Impossible to Enforce

The U.S. has no central registry of citizens with dual nationality. Enforcement would:

• take years,

• be extremely expensive, and

• depend heavily on self-reporting—creating room for inconsistency and arbitrariness.

3. Major Impact on Families

Children who automatically hold multiple nationalities or individuals unable to renounce their original nationality could face serious legal and personal complications.

4. Potential for Discrimination and Political Misuse

Critics warn that the bill sets a precedent for restricting civil rights, particularly for Americans living abroad.

Is the Exclusive Citizenship Act Already in Effect?

No. The proposal is not in force. It has only been introduced in the Senate and must still pass through committee review. After that, it would need approval by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before going to the president for signature. Even if it were to progress through this full legislative path, a legal challenge would almost certainly follow.

For these reasons, the likelihood that the Exclusive Citizenship Act becomes law in its current form is considered low.

What Does This Mean for You as an American Living Abroad?

For now, nothing changes regarding your status as a U.S. citizen.

There is no need to take action: you do not need to give up a nationality, file any forms, or prepare anything. Americans Overseas continues to monitor developments surrounding the Exclusive Citizenship Act closely, factually, and without speculation. We will notify our community as soon as there is any official movement in the legislative process.

Statement from Linda Mabelis: “Daan Durlacher, co-founder of Americans & Expats Overseas, personally experienced the effects of similar laws in the past. At that time, you automatically lost your U.S. citizenship if you held a second nationality or, for example, served in the military in the Netherlands. This new Exclusive Citizenship Act follows a similar ‘America First’ line of thinking, but the impact would be enormous. Lawmakers often fail to consider the realities of Americans living outside the United States.”

What Can You Do Now?

At this stage, the most important thing is to remain calm. The Exclusive Citizenship Act is not law and is only at the beginning of the legislative process. It is advisable to follow updates exclusively through reliable sources—such as Americans Overseas or official government websites—so that you are not influenced by speculation or misinformation circulating on social media.

If you have questions about your personal situation or want clarification, you are always welcome to contact Americans Overseas. We are here to support and guide you as the situation evolves.

Contact us for more information

Sources:

• Exclusive Citizenship Act
• Statement on Senator Moreno’s Unconstitutional Citizenship Proposal
• Travel state dual nationality
• Forbes: Exclusive Citizenship Act