Addressing Common Questions and Concerns from Dual or Naturalized Citizens Regarding the Security Clearance Process

Applicants for national security positions must navigate the federal personnel vetting process to adjudicate their eligibility for a security clearance. For individuals who are dual or naturalized citizens (D/NCs), the process may be more complex due to such factors as foreign citizenship, possession of a foreign passport, and extensive foreign connections. D/NCs often have language skills and cultural knowledge that are needed for national security work. However, D/NCs can be deterred from even applying for security clearances because of uncertainty about the citizenship requirements to obtain a clearance, the complex and sometimes confusing process, and perceptions regarding both lengthy processing times and a higher potential of rejection.

This reference sheet is a summary of questions and answers for D/NC applicants about the security clearance process. The following information was developed from data collected and analysis conducted in 2025.^[1]

Security Clearance and Foreign Connections

Why Does the U.S. Government Care About Foreign Contacts, Foreign Businesses or Activities, and Foreign Travel or Whether I Am a Dual or Naturalized Citizen?

The U.S. government uses standardized criteria outlined in the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines of Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4) to determine whether you are eligible for a security clearance.^[2] The key factors include your allegiance to the United States; whether you have conflicting allegiances or divided loyalties; and whether you are vulnerable to pressure, manipulation, or coercion by a foreign government or another foreign entity. Details about foreign contacts, foreign travel, and citizenships help adjudicators (the officials who make clearance decisions) assess whether your activities or relationships could pose a risk to national security. Note that failure to fully report or disclose foreign ties and associations, as required, could disqualify you from eligibility. It is important to provide complete and accurate information in response to all questions in government forms (SEAD 4, Section 2(i), and Guidelines A, B, and C).

Citizenship and Security Clearance

Are Dual Citizens Allowed to Get a Security Clearance? Does the Other Country (or Countries) Where I Have or Had Citizenship Matter?

Yes, dual citizens can get a security clearance. The National Security Adjudicative Guidelines explicitly state that being a dual citizen does not disqualify someone from obtaining a security clearance. This applies regardless of the country or countries where you have (or had) citizenship or where close foreign relatives may live. These guidelines are applicable across all U.S. government agencies (SEAD 4, Guideline C, Section 9).

The department or agency sponsoring your clearance—whether hiring you directly or through a contract—will decide whether to approve you for a clearance; the decisionmaking process is called adjudication. Departments and agencies base those decisions on the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines. Factors they evaluate include the U.S. government’s relationship with the country of your other citizenship, your connections to that country, and any specific security concerns related to the department or agency’s mission. Some departments or agencies—such as those with intelligence or law enforcement missions—may have additional requirements to determine suitability for a position, such as a polygraph examination. As a result, individuals with similar backgrounds may receive different clearance outcomes depending on the agencies sponsoring their clearances.

I Was Not Born in the United States, but I Am a Citizen. Is It Possible for Me to Get a Security Clearance?

Yes, it is possible. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance, and your eligibility does not depend on your place of birth. As a naturalized U.S. citizen seeking a national security position, you have the same rights and opportunities as any other U.S. citizen.^[3]

As a Dual Citizen, Am I Required to Renounce My Foreign Citizenship to Be Granted a Security Clearance?

No, current U.S. policy does not require you to renounce your foreign citizenship to be eligible for a security clearance. However, if asked by an investigator whether you are willing to renounce your foreign citizenship, expressing a genuine willingness can help mitigate security concerns and demonstrate your loyalty to the United States above all other countries (SEAD 4, Guideline C, Section 11(c)).

Additionally, some U.S. departments or agencies may require you to sign a loyalty oath and declaration of allegiance to the United States before approving you for a security clearance. Security clearance decisionmakers want to see clear evidence of your allegiance to the United States through your words and actions.

I Am a U.S. Citizen, but I Have Immediate Family Members Who Are Not. Can I Still Get a Security Clearance?

Yes, having family members who are foreign citizens is not automatically disqualifying. However, the U.S. government will evaluate certain risks when making national security determinations, including your vulnerability to pressure, manipulation, or coercion by a foreign government or another foreign entity.

If contact with foreign family members or other foreign associates could increase these risks, it may raise concerns that result in closer scrutiny of your application. These concerns can be mitigated (reduced) if your relationships are unlikely to be used to pressure or influence you. The National Security Adjudicative Guidelines list mitigating factors that decisionmakers can consider, such as the nature of the relationship with the foreign citizen, the foreign citizen’s position or activities in the country, and the country itself (SEAD 4, Section 2(f), and Guideline B).

I Send Money to Family Members in Another Country. Can I Get a Security Clearance?

Yes, sending money to family members in another country is not automatically disqualifying. However, the U.S. government will assess certain risks, including (1) your vulnerability to pressure, manipulation, or coercion by a foreign government or entity and (2) the possibility of conflicts of interest related to your foreign business, financial, or property interests.

If you have substantial foreign business, financial, or property interests, they may raise concerns during the adjudication process. Such concerns can be mitigated if the nature of the relationships or the value and type of the financial transactions are unlikely to result in a conflict of interest and could not be used to pressure or influence you (SEAD 4, Section 2(f), and Guidelines B and C).

If I Have a Security Clearance and Seek Dual Citizenship with Another Country, Will My Clearance Be Revoked?

Not necessarily. The National Security Adjudicative Guidelines explicitly state that a U.S. citizen being a citizen of another country is not automatically disqualifying for clearance eligibility. However, the guidelines also state that applying for and/or acquiring foreign citizenship in another country could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying when an individual’s foreign involvement is in conflict with U.S. national interests or when the individual acts to conceal it. This decision is subject to the department or agency’s evaluation of the risk of foreign preference, including potential concerns about whether the individual's judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness may be in conflict with U.S. national interests. Obtaining but failing to report a foreign passport or identity card when required could raise additional security concerns (SEAD 4, Guideline C). If you hold a security clearance, it is strongly recommended that you notify your organization’s security office before pursuing foreign citizenship and if and when foreign citizenship is obtained. The security office can inform you of any reporting requirements.

Travel and Passports

Do I Have to Destroy My Foreign Passport to Be Eligible for a Security Clearance?

No, U.S. policy does not require that you destroy your foreign passport to be eligible for a security clearance. However, failing to report possession of a foreign passport or other foreign identity documents during the application process could lead to a denial of eligibility because of concerns about foreign preference and personal conduct (SEAD 4, Guideline C, Section 10(b), and Guideline E, Section 15(b)).

Can I Travel with My Foreign Passport If I Have a Security Clearance?

Yes, you may travel with your foreign passport under certain conditions. When entering and leaving the United States, you must use your U.S. passport in all interactions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. Per the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, failure to do so could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying for your security clearance (SEAD 4, Guideline C, Section 10(c)).

When traveling to the foreign country where you hold citizenship, you may use your foreign passport for personal travel when you enter and leave that country. In fact, like the United States, some countries require you to use that country’s passport when entering or leaving that country.

Additionally, once you are a security clearance holder, you must report all personal foreign travel in accordance with the U.S. government reporting requirements outlined in Security Executive Agent Directive 3 (SEAD 3, Section F(1)(b)).^[4]

Other Common Concerns

Will the Security Clearance Process Take Longer for Me as a Dual or Naturalized Citizen?

The security clearance process may take longer for dual or naturalized citizens if they have many foreign contacts or financial ties or a history of international travel. This is because additional time would be needed to evaluate these foreign connections, which is standard practice for the evaluation of all security clearance applicants. However, the length of the process varies based on the specific circumstances of each individual case.

As a Dual or Naturalized Citizen, Am I Held to a Different Standard During the Security Clearance Process?

No, all U.S. citizens who are seeking a security clearance are evaluated using the same criteria outlined in the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines. However, the process may take longer for dual or naturalized citizens if they have many foreign contacts or financial ties or a history of international travel. This is because additional time would be needed to evaluate these foreign connections, which is standard practice for the evaluation of all security clearance applicants, including those who are not dual or naturalized citizens. Additionally, some departments or agencies—such as those with intelligence or law enforcement missions—may have additional requirements for determining suitability for a position, such as a polygraph examination.

Am I Allowed to Talk to Foreign Family Members If I Obtain a Security Clearance?

Yes, you are allowed to communicate with foreign family members after obtaining a security clearance. These relationships should be reported during your initial security clearance investigation. When making national security determinations, the U.S. government evaluates such risks as your vulnerability to pressure, manipulation, or coercion by a foreign government or entity. If contact with foreign family members increases those risks, it could be disqualifying. These concerns may be mitigated if the nature of the relationships is unlikely to be used to pressure or influence you (SEAD 4, Section (2)(f), and Guideline B).

Completing the Standard Form 86 or Personnel Vetting Questionnaire

How Do I Know Whether a Person Is a Close and/or Continuing Foreign Contact That I Need to Report?

The foreign contacts section of the vetting questionnaire is designed to identify non-U.S. citizens with whom you have relationships so that the potential risk those relationships might pose to national security can be assessed.^[5] To determine whom you should list, carefully review the requirements outlined in the questionnaire and consider how those requirements apply to your foreign family members and other foreign contacts. Key questions to ask include the following:

• Has your contact with the individual occurred within the specified time frame?
• Do you have close and/or continuing contact with the person?
• Is the individual a foreign national? A foreign national is defined as someone who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. Individuals with dual U.S. and foreign citizenship and naturalized U.S. citizens are not foreign nationals.
• Are you, your spouse, or your partner bound to this person by affection, influence, common interests, and/or obligation?

Although some elements of the question may be open to interpretation, understanding each requirement clearly can help you decide whether to list someone as a foreign contact. If you are unsure, contact your organization’s security office for guidance.

What Should I Do If I Do Not Have All the Information Required on the Form for a Close and/or Continuing Foreign Contact?

If you do not have all of the requested information about a foreign contact, provide the details you do know. Use the comments section on the form to explain the nature of the relationship and add any clarifying context. This can help your investigator better understand the nature of the relationship and may expedite the review process. In most cases, it is recommended that you do not contact the person for the missing information. If you are unsure, contact your organization’s security office for guidance.

Who Should I Speak with If I Still Have Questions?

If you have questions regarding any aspect of the security clearance process or your specific case, contact your organization’s security office for guidance.

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Acknowledgments

This document would not have been possible without the support of and contributions from several individuals. The authors thank the members of Performance Accountability Council Program Management Office sponsor team for their support of this research, responsiveness in assisting with information requests, and helpful feedback. Additionally, the authors are grateful to the discussion participants from across the government, cleared defense industry professionals, and dual and naturalized citizens they spoke with for their time, candor, and engagement throughout the research. The authors also thank Chandra Garber for her assistance with refining the reference sheet and quality assurance reviewers Douglas Ligor and Bradley Knopp, whose constructive feedback enhanced the quality and depth of this document.

Notes

1. Stephanie J. Walsh, Sina Beaghley, David Stebbins, Nikolay Maslov, and Theiline Pigott, Vetting of Dual Citizens and Naturalized Citizens for Service in the National Security Workforce: Addressing Complexities, Challenges, and Opportunities Related to the Personnel Vetting Process, RAND Corporation, RR-A3461-1, 2025. Return to content ⤴
2. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “National Security Adjudicative Guidelines,” Security Executive Agent Directive 4, June 8, 2017. Return to content ⤴
3. Executive Order 12968, “Access to Classified Information,” Executive Office of the President, August 2, 1995; U.S. Constitution, 14th Amendment. Return to content ⤴
4. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “Reporting Requirements for Personnel with Access to Classified Information or Who Hold a Sensitive Position,” Security Executive Agent Directive 3, June 12, 2017. Return to content ⤴
5. As of June 2025, the Standard Form 86 (SF-86) is the standard form that must be completed to apply for a security clearance. However, the SF-86 will gradually be replaced by the Personnel Vetting Questionnaire (PVQ). The wording in the PVQ varies from the SF-86 in some key areas, so applicants should carefully review the specific form they are completing and follow its instructions when responding. Return to content ⤴

References

• Executive Order 12968, “Access to Classified Information,” Executive Office of the President, August 2, 1995.
• Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “National Security Adjudicative Guidelines,” Security Executive Agent Directive 4, June 8, 2017.
• Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “Reporting Requirements for Personnel with Access to Classified Information or Who Hold a Sensitive Position,” Security Executive Agent Directive 3, June 12, 2017.
• Walsh, Stephanie J., Sina Beaghley, David Stebbins, Nikolay Maslov, and Theiline Pigott, Vetting of Dual Citizens and Naturalized Citizens for Service in the National Security Workforce: Addressing Complexities, Challenges, and Opportunities Related to the Personnel Vetting Process, RAND Corporation, RR-A3461-1, 2025. As of September 10, 2025: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3461-1.html

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