WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department has slashed by about 80% the fee for Americans to formally renounce their U.S. citizenship.
After years of legal battles with several groups representing Americans wanting to give up their citizenship, the department on Friday published a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the cost from $2,350 to $450.
The new fee, effective April 13, had been promised in 2023 but had never been implemented. The cost is now the same as it was when the State Department first started charging Americans to formally renounce their citizenship in 2010.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship can be an intensive and lengthy process. Applicants must repeatedly confirm in multiple written and verbal attestations to a State Department consular officer that they understand the implications of the step before being allowed to take a formal oath of renunciation. It must then be reviewed by the department.
The fee was raised from $450 to $2,350 in 2015 to cover the administrative expenses as the number of people wanting to renounce their citizenship surged in part due to new U.S. tax reporting requirements for American expatriates that angered many.
That dramatic fee increase drew significant opposition from groups such as the France-based Association of Accidental Americans, which represents people mainly living abroad whose U.S. citizenship is due purely to their having been born in the United States.
The association filed several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the fee, including one that remains pending that argues there should be no cost at all for renouncing one’s citizenship.
“The Association of Accidental Americans welcomes this decision, which acknowledges the necessity of making this fundamental right accessible to all,” its president, Fabien Lehagre, said in a statement. “This victory is the direct result of six years of relentless legal action and advocacy.”
In court, the association said since the 2023 announcement that the fee would be reduced at least 8,755 Americans had paid the full $2,350 to renounce their citizenship. The State Department did not provide numbers for the total number of Americans who have renounced their citizenship.
This story has been corrected to reflect that the reduced fees are effective on April 13, not March 13.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a working lunch at the Shield of the Americas Summit, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
In front of the future king of England, Unai Emery reaffirmed his status as the king of the Europa League.
Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on Wednesday to secure Emery a record-extending fifth title in this competition.
Celebrating wildly inside the Tupras Stadium was lifelong Villa fan Prince William, who traveled to watch his beloved team end a 30-year wait for a major trophy.
“Amazing night!! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club!” the Prince posted on X.
He had his phone out taking photos as captain John McGinn lifted the cup in the center of the field and in front of an explosion of confetti.
“He's a classy guy. He was in the dressing room before the game and he’s a massive Villa fan so he was never going to miss it,” McGinn told TNT Sports.
It was Villa’s first major piece of silverware since winning the English League Cup in 1996 and its first continental title since lifting the European Cup and then the Super Cup in 1982.
Was the outcome ever in doubt with the ultimate Europa League specialist Emery on the sideline?
The Spanish coach has enjoyed remarkable success in Europe's second-tier competition, winning it three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16 and again with Villarreal in 2021.
Now he has led a third team with ‘Villa’ in its name to the title.
“I am always very grateful for Europe, for every competition, Conference League, Champions League, Europa League, but especially Europa League,” Emery said. “We fought strongly in this competition and tried to give it our best. We played in a very serious way this year.”
Two brilliant first-half strikes from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia put Villa into a 2-0 lead at the break. Morgan Rogers added a third in the second half.
German team Freiburg, which was playing in the second division 10 years ago, was outclassed in its first European final.
Villa was in England's second tier even more recently, in 2019. And while it was the overwhelming favorite going into Wednesday's match, occasions like this looked a long way off when Emery was hired in 2022.
Back then, Villa was one place above the relegation zone and in danger of going down again.
The transformation he has overseen has been remarkable — leading the team into the Champions League last season and qualifying for European club soccer's top competition again next term.
“With this manager in charge, anything’s possible,” said McGinn, a Scotland international. “Tonight was just everything we have built, coming together, and the pride I felt at 3-0 with 10 minutes to go, thinking we’re European champions was something I can’t even describe.
“It’s the proudest moment and night of my career so far.”
Tielemans put Villa ahead with a controlled volley from Rogers’ cross in the 41st minute — driving his shot past Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.
Three minutes into first-half stoppage time, Buendia doubled the lead with a curling left-footed shot from outside the box that arched into the top corner.
Rogers’ goal in the 58th came when he slid in at the near post to divert Buendia’s cross over the line.
“We had a great season and to top it off with this is amazing,” Tielemans said.
Victory was further personal redemption for Emery, who was fired by Arsenal in November 2019 despite having led the team to the Europa League final earlier that year, which it lost to Chelsea.
A serial winner, he has now won trophies with clubs from three different countries, having also lifted the French title with Paris Saint-Germain.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Britain's Prince William, center, celebrates as he watches the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo)
Aston Villa players celebrate with the trophy after the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Aston Villa players celebrate as they win the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo)
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Britain's Prince William, background, celebrates Aston Villa's third goal during the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Freiburg fans cheer for their team during the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Britain's Prince William, center, celebrates during the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo)
Freiburg's coach Julian Schuster smiles during a press conference ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)
Aston Villa fans gather in the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa. (AP Photo)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery instructs his players during a training session ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery looks down during a press conference ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)
Aston Villa fans light flares and chant as they gather in the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa. (AP Photo)
