Glossary · People and paperwork
In short
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.
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.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
Know what you'll need before you apply
Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day