# Presidential Citizenship **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452 "2002-10-23T01:35:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/1 "2002-10-23T01:35:05Z")
Can an American president possess dual citizenship at the time he holds office? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/2 "2002-10-23T01:46:49Z")
Why not? AFAIK know, nothing in the Constitution prevents it. In the past, US law precluded dual citizenship, but not any more. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/3 "2002-10-23T02:19:07Z")
US law tolerates, but does not recognize, dual citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/4 "2002-10-23T07:30:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stccrd \* > \*\*Can an American president possess dual citizenship at the time he holds office? \*\* There doesn’t seem to be any legal bar. However, this is pretty hypthetical and probably will be for quite some time. It’s hard to imagine such an individual getting nominated and elected. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/5 "2002-10-23T09:46:21Z")
On the contrary, I think most of the early presidents would have been British subjects from birth. I don’t think they would have lost that status on becoming US citizens when the US was established. Two recent presidents have had Irish great-grandfathers. A candidate with an Irish grandparent would, in all probability, be an Irish citizen from birth, but it is hard to see that this would be an issue in the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/6 "2002-10-23T12:28:13Z")
Actually, peepthis, the consular officials I have talked with and the previous web research I’ve done suggests that the United States accepts dual citizenship but _discourages_ the practice. The experience I’ve had with the US Consulate in Shanghai vis-a-vis my daughters dual citizenship issue bears out the discouragement scenario. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/7 "2002-10-23T12:41:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UDS \* > **On the contrary, I think most of the early presidents would have been British subjects from birth. I don’t think they would have lost that status on becoming US citizens when the US was established.** The Constitution grandfathered in anyone in the U.S. at the time it was adopted. Since the early presidents were involved in revolting against England, it’s unlikely they kept any British citizenship once they became American citizens. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/8 "2002-10-23T13:12:08Z")
Rebellion against the crown doesn’t cause you to lose your British subject status. (If it did, you couldn’t subsequently be tried for treason.) Nor can a British subject unilaterally renounce his British subject status, except in accordance with a law allowing this. What you’re looking for in this case is either a treaty between the US and the UK at the conclusion of the war, or UK legislation at the conclusion of the war, which explicitly provides that the citizens of the new US cease to be British subjects, or that they can choose to cease to be British subjects. I’m not aware of anything like that, but I’m open to correction. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/9 "2002-10-23T14:24:44Z")
As a couple of pposters have already stated, U.S. law discourages, but does not prohibit, dual citizenship. You can find details on the State Deptartment’s Web site at [www.travel.state.gov](http://www.travel.state.gov). ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/10 "2002-10-23T20:26:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UDS \* > **A candidate with an Irish grandparent would, in all probability, be an Irish citizen from birth** Not true, actually. A candidate with an Irish _parent_ would be an Irish citizen from birth. A candidate with an Irish _grandparent_ would merely be eligible for Irish citizenship, should s/he choose to apply for it. See [Department of Justice website](http://www.justice.ie/802569B20047F907/vWeb/wpMJDE5E4FVG). ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/11 "2002-10-23T20:38:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > \*\*Actually, peepthis, the consular officials I have talked with and the previous web research I’ve done suggests that the United States accepts dual citizenship but _discourages_ the practice. > > The experience I’ve had with the US Consulate in Shanghai vis-a-vis my daughters dual citizenship issue bears out the discouragement scenario. YMMV \*\* Hey, [take it up with the Boss Man](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_229.html). I think we’re both saying the same thing though: that the US tolerates but doesn’t recognize (or, as you say, accepts) dual citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/12 "2002-10-23T21:18:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\* > > Not true, actually. A candidate with an Irish _parent_ would be an Irish citizen from birth. A candidate with an Irish _grandparent_ would merely be eligible for Irish citizenship, should s/he choose to apply for it. See [Department of Justice website](http://www.justice.ie/802569B20047F907/vWeb/wpMJDE5E4FVG). \*\* My wife’s father was born in Ireland (Rosconnon IIRC) and a year or so ago I started to look into what I needed to do to get her registered as an Irish citizen, but never followed through. We were joking that getting her registered as an Irish citizen would make it easier to move there after I retired. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/13 "2002-10-23T21:27:51Z")
That’s Rosco **mm** on, and you might want to read that link if you’re seriously considering it. It most certainly would make it easier for you to move here. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/14 "2002-10-23T22:29:43Z")
My father was born in Ireland, and I am automatically an Irish citizen by Irish law. So I have dual Irish American citizenship. What’s especially cool is that I have rights in the European Union as well, should I ever go there. The Irish consulate offered to send me a passport application. I could use that to prove citizenship, but no further paperwork is apparently necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/15 "2002-10-24T02:48:17Z")
The Constitution and subsequent laws and court rulings do not acknowledge dual citizenship with respect to the requirements for the presidency. As long as you meet the constitutional requirements, any other citizenship status is irrelevant. \ I have dual citizenship, too. I’m not running for president. It would be a step down in my career if I did. \ What might be interesting is for a dual citizenship president traveling overseas who is detained in the country of his/her other citizenship. On the one hand, US law is of no help in getting him out. OTOH, that country would be making a very foolish, and serious, mistake. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/16 "2002-10-24T09:31:49Z")
Random Thought: Michael Dukakis’ parents were both Greek immigrants. I don’t know how Greece’s citizenship laws work, but it’s possible he was a dual citizen. In fact, _any_ presidential candidate with one or two immigrant parents might have been a dual citizen, and maybe never even gave it a second thought. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-citizenship/133452/17 "2002-10-24T09:49:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duckster \* > \*\*What might be interesting is for a dual citizenship president traveling overseas who is detained in the country of his/her other citizenship. On the one hand, US law is of no help in getting him out. OTOH, that country would be making a very foolish, and serious, mistake. 😃 \*\* Well, strictly speaking, the fact that his is a US citizen will be irrelevant in the country of his other citizenship. But the fact that he is the US president means that he is entitled to sovereign immunity as the head of a foreign state, and he doesn’t lose this entitlement merely because he has local citizenship. So, as a matter of local law, he couldn’t be arrested.