8 FAM 306
Honorary Citizenship
8 FAM 306.1
Honorary Citizenship
(CT:CITZ-22; 06-05-2019)
(Office of Origin: CA/PPT/S/A)
8 FAM 306.1-1 Honorary Citizenship
(CT:CITZ-22; 06-05-2019)
a. At different times in our history, the President, by means of an Act of Congress, has declared a non-U.S. citizen person of exceptional merit to be an honorary citizen of the United States.
b. Honorary citizenship does not carry with it the rights and privileges of ordinary citizenship, and such status does not confer any special entry, travel or immigration benefits upon the honoree or the honoree’s relatives and dependents. It also does not impose additional duties or responsibilities, in the United States or internationally, on the honoree. It is a strictly symbolic act. No oath is required.
c. Honorary U.S. citizenship has been granted only to the following people:
(1) Winston Churchill, by the act of April 9, 1963 (Public Law 88-6; 77 Statutes at Large 5);
(2) Raoul Wallenberg, by a joint resolution of Congress on October 5, 1981 (Public Law 97-54, 95 Statutes at Large 971); the resolution honoring Wallenberg stated that “honorary citizenship is and should remain an extraordinary honor not lightly conferred nor frequently granted”;
(3) William and Hannah Callowhill Penn on October 19, 1984 by a joint resolution of Congress, (Public Law 98-516; 98 Statutes at Large 2423; Proclamation 5284);
(4) Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) by a joint resolution of Congress on October 1, 1996, (Public Law 104-218; 110 Statutes at Large 3021; House Report 104-796);
(5) Marquis de Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier by a joint resolution of Congress on August 6, 2002, (Public Law 107-209, 116 Statutes at Large 931);
(6) Casimir Pulaski by a joint resolution of Congress on November 6, 2009, (Public Law 111-94, 123 Statutes at Large 2399); and
(7) Bernardo de Galvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of Galvez by a joint resolution of Congress on December 16, 2014, (Public Law 113-229, 128 Statutes at Large 2117).
806.1-2 Honorary Citizenship and Passports
(CT:CITZ-22; 06-05-2019)
a. Honorary U.S. citizens are not eligible for U.S. regular or special issuance passport books or passport cards.
b. When Winston Churchill was awarded honorary U.S. citizenship in 1963, President Kennedy presented an “Honorary Citizen's Document,” to Winston Churchill’s son on his behalf. The "Honorary Citizen's Document" President Kennedy presented resembles a U.S. diplomatic passport and included the words "Sir Winston Churchill" on the front cover. This is the only time such an “Honorary Citizen's Document” has been configured. The "Honorary Citizen's Document" conveyed respect, but was not a valid travel document, and did not confer any special entry, travel or immigration benefits.