Sponsors
The bill expands passport labeling options for noncitizen U.S. nationals—improving documentation and some interactions—but withdraws an outlying-possessions residence credit for naturalization and introduces potential confusion and administrative ambiguity about actual citizenship status.
Noncitizen U.S. nationals (e.g., residents of American Samoa and similar territories) can obtain U.S. passports that either state 'national, but not a citizen' or — if they live in a State or specified territories — request passports identifying them as both 'U.S. national' and 'U.S. citizen,' improving access to recognized travel documents and interactions with officials.
Residents of outlying U.S. possessions who are noncitizen nationals will no longer be able to count residence in those possessions toward the physical presence requirement for naturalization, reducing a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship for those individuals.
State and local governments, immigration and benefits administrators may face legal and administrative ambiguity because permitting certain passport holders to self-identify as 'U.S. citizen' could complicate verification of actual citizenship status and enforcement of immigration and benefits rules.
Noncitizen nationals and territory residents may experience confusion, misunderstanding, or stigma when interacting with foreign or domestic authorities if passports are labeled 'national, but not a citizen,' which could complicate travel, consular assistance, or access to services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires passports for U.S. non‑citizen nationals, allows some to request passports labeled both 'U.S. national' and 'U.S. citizen' if they live in a State or certain territories, and repeals a naturalization residence rule.
Introduced November 19, 2025 by Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen · Last progress November 19, 2025
Requires the Secretary of State to issue U.S. passports to people who are U.S. nationals but not U.S. citizens, and lets certain nationals request passports that identify them as both a U.S. national and a U.S. citizen if they live in a State or specified territories. It also repeals a statutory rule that previously let residence in outlying possessions count toward the physical‑presence requirement for naturalization of noncitizen nationals.