Can a Dual Citizenship Holder Be President of the U.S.?

Article 2, Section 1 of the United States Constitution states that only natural-born citizens may serve as president. While the clause prevents immigrants who become U.S. citizens through naturalization from becoming president, it does not affect those with dual citizenship. Naturalization is the process through which a citizen of another country who moves the U.S. permanently can acquire citizenship.

According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, dual nationality or dual citizen "means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time." In general, someone who is born in the U.S. is a citizen. Someone who is born outside the country to parents who are U.S. citizens is also a natural-born citizen of the United States and may hold citizenship from the other country, as well. A person holding such dual citizenship still meets the requirement for the presidency of being a natural-born citizen.