{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-citizen","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/u-s-citizen","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"u-s-citizen","term":"U.S. citizen","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A U.S. citizen is a person born in the U.S. or naturalized. As an SBA loan applicant, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. non-citizen national, or Qualified Alien.","what_it_means":"All key principals owning 20% or more of the business must meet this citizenship or residency requirement to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan. You'll provide proof of status, such as a passport or birth certificate, during the application process.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-citizen","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"u-s-non-citizen-national","term":"U.S. non-citizen national","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-non-citizen-national"},{"slug":"green-card","term":"Green card","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/green-card"},{"slug":"temporary-visa-holder","term":"Temporary visa holder","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/temporary-visa-holder"},{"slug":"qualified-alien","term":"Qualified Alien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"When can a business with a non-citizen spouse of a U.S. citizen owner be eligible?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-can-a-business-with-a-non-citizen-spouse-of-a-u-s-citizen-owner-be-eligible"},{"question":"How does a lender confirm an owner's U.S. citizenship if they were born in a U.S. territory or abroad to U.S. parents?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-confirm-an-owner-s-u-s-citizenship-if-they-were-born-in-a-u-s-territory-"},{"question":"Are funds from a non-U.S. citizen or non-resident investor acceptable for equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-funds-from-a-non-u-s-citizen-or-non-resident-investor-acceptable-for-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can gift funds from a non-U.S. citizen parent be used for my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-gift-funds-from-a-non-u-s-citizen-parent-be-used-for-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to get an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/do-i-need-to-be-a-u-s-citizen-to-get-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can I apply for an SBA 7(a) loan if I am not a U.S. citizen?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-i-apply-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-if-i-am-not-a-u-s-citizen"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — U.S. citizen","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-citizen","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}