If you hold a second passport or want to move abroad, a new bill in Congress might catch your eye. The Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2026 aims to fundamentally change how America treats nationality. This proposal has triggered many questions about the future of dual citizenship that U.S. residents enjoy. We’ll breakdown what the bill actually says, where it stands in Congress right now, and whether you need to take any action today.
What Is the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2026?
The Exclusive Citizenship Act is a legislative proposal introduced by Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) on December 1, 2025. According to the bill’s text available on Congress.gov, this measure would essentially place a ban on dual citizenship for all United States citizens.
If it becomes law, the bill would require existing dual nationals to give up one of their nationalities within a single year. If someone fails to make a choice, the U.S. government would treat that inaction as a “deemed” voluntary relinquishment of American nationality. Consequently, that person would risk losing U.S. citizenship entirely. To enforce this, the bill proposes creating a new federal registry of dual citizens managed by the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice.
Where Does the Bill Stand Right Now?
It’s vital to understand that this dual citizenship bill is currently just a proposal, not a law. As of June 2026, the bill is only at the first step of five in the legislative process. It has only one cosponsor. There haven’t been any committee hearings scheduled, and there’s no companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Because of this status, nothing has changed for Americans living abroad or holding two passports today. You don’t need to file any paperwork or change your expat plans right now.
Why Legal Experts Think It’s Unlikely to Pass
Policy and legal experts give this Bernie Moreno dual citizenship bill a very low chance of passing, estimating its odds at around 3%. The primary reason for this: the bill directly conflicts with landmark Supreme Court precedents.
Specifically, cases like Afroyim v. Rusk (1967) and Vance v. Terrazas (1980) established that the 14th Amendment citizenship clause protects citizens from having their nationality stripped away without a voluntary, intentional act. The government cannot simply decide you gave up your rights by default. Furthermore, practical hurdles, such as massive backlogs for renouncing us citizenship appointments at embassies worldwide, make the implementation of such a law nearly impossible for the State Department citizenship policy to handle.
What Would Happen If It Passed: the Exit Tax Angle
While it is highly unlikely to become law, we can look at the hypothetical financial impact to understand the full context. If a “deemed relinquishment” clause were ever enacted, it would trigger complex tax rules.
When an American gives up their passport, the IRS evaluates them under Internal Revenue Code Section 877A. If you meet certain criteria, you are classified as a covered expatriate. You fall into this category if you have a net worth threshold of $2 million or more, an average annual income tax liability above the IRS inflation-adjusted limit, or if you cannot certify full tax compliance on Form 8854.
Being a covered expat triggers an exit tax for U.S. citizens, which acts as a deemed sale of worldwide assets. This means the IRS taxes the unrealized capital gains on your property, investments, and even dictates special treatment for your retirement accounts like IRAs or 401(k) plans. It requires strict reporting using forms like Form W-8CE to settle your final tax obligations.
What This Means If You’re Planning Citizenship by Ancestry or a Second Passport
For our readers who are currently exploring a golden visa or looking into their family roots, don’t let this concern you. This proposal does not change anything about your ability to acquire a second passport today. It does, however, serve as a good reminder to understand the rules around financial planning before making permanent decisions.
If you want to read more about your options, check out our guides on citizenship by ancestry countries and our golden visa guide. It’s always smart to keep an eye on how these discussions develop; for now, your dual passport plans remain safe.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025?
It is a proposed bill that aims to eliminate dual nationality for Americans, requiring them to choose one passport or face the automatic loss of their U.S. citizenship.
2. Has the Exclusive Citizenship Act become law?
No. As of mid-2026, it is only a bill in the very early stages of Congress with minimal support and has a very low chance of passing.
3. Would this bill affect people who get citizenship by ancestry?
Right now, no. The bill is not a law, so you can freely pursue citizenship by ancestry or investments without any restrictions.
4. What is the Exit Tax, and would it apply under this bill?
The exit tax is a charge on the global assets of wealthy or non-compliant citizens who leave the U.S. tax system. The bill proposes that ignoring the dual passport ban would trigger this tax automatically.
5. Do I need to do anything about my dual citizenship right now?
No action is required. The bill is a proposal with almost no immediate path to becoming law, so your status remains fully legal and unchanged.
