A Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) is an official document that proves a person is no longer a US citizen. It's issued by the US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs after a person renounces their citizenship.
If you need to use this document abroad, obtaining an apostille is crucial to ensure its recognition in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Here’s everything you need to know about the CLN and the apostille process.
What is A Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN)?
The Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States (CLN) is form DS-4083 of the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States Department of State which is completed by a consular official of the United States documenting relinquishment of United States nationality. It certifies that an individual has voluntarily and officially renounced their U.S. citizenship. This process typically involves a formal renunciation oath or confirmation of an action that qualifies as an expatriating act under U.S. law.
A CLN is critical for individuals who want to formally document their expatriation, clarify their tax status, and establish their non-citizen status for international legal and financial matters. It is often required when engaging with foreign governments, banks, or institutions.
How to Apply for a CLN?
Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you intend to live to sign an oath to renounce your U.S. citizenship.
What Do a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) and its Apostille Look Like?
A CLN is a formal document with a specific structure and content:
Header Information: Includes the U.S. Department of State seal, the document title, and issuing authority.
Personal Information: Contains the full name, date of birth, place of birth, and other identifying details of the individual.
Statement of Loss of Citizenship: Details the date, method, and circumstances under which U.S. citizenship was lost.
Certification and Signatures: Signed and sealed by an authorized U.S. consular officer or the Department of State.
This document is highly official and often includes watermarks, seals, or other security features to prevent forgery.
Below is a sample of an apostille certificate attached to a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) issued by the US Department of State.
How to Apostille a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN)?
The US Department of State is responsible for issuing apostille certificates for CRBAs.
You may order the apostille service below by selecting the type of "CLN".
Processing Time:
If your records are electronically available in their system, it will take the US Department of State 1-3 months to process.
However, if your records are not electronically available, a manual search of paper records will need to be conducted by them. That manual search can take 2-6 months to process.
After placing the order:
please wait for specific mailing instructions from our team before sending any materials, as we need to prepare and draft several documents for you to sign.
Before placing an order, you will typically need the following items ready:
The original Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN), is approved and signed by the appropriate official.
A copy of your previous passport or driver’s license for identification purposes.
Your Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) is a critical document, and ensuring its recognition abroad with an apostille is essential. Our professional apostille service ensures that your CLN is authenticated timely, efficiently, and with precision, giving you peace of mind wherever your international journey takes you.
Besides CLN, we also provide apostille, authentication, and embassy legalization services for other personal documents and corporate documents issued in 50 states and DC.
American Notary Service Center Inc. provides fair, fast, confidential, and professional document notarization and certification services for our clients. We also provide various assistance services to small businesses led by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Our service helps small businesses obtain federal government contracts, gain a foothold in the market, and boost their sales. For more information, please visit our website at www.usnotarycenter.com, and contact us by calling 202-599-0777 or by email at info@usnotarycenter.com.