7 CFR § 273.4(a)


United States citizens meet citizenship rules for SNAP.

Natural Born Citizens

7 CFR § 273.4(a)(1)


United States citizens are individuals born in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. 


Note: Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau are not eligible for SNAP.

Non-Citizen National

7 CFR § 273.4(a)(2)


Non-citizen nationals are individuals born in American Samoa or Swain’s Island. 

Naturalized Citizens

DOJ Interim Guidance 11-17-97


Naturalized citizens are United States citizens. Children of naturalized citizens are eligible if the child was: 

  • under age 18 when the parent was naturalized on or after 10/14/1940, or
  • under age 21 when the parent was naturalized before 10/14/1940.

Natural or Adopted Children of a Citizen

7 CFR § 273.4(a)


Automatic U.S. citizenship is granted to children born in a foreign country upon entry to the U.S. if the child is:

  • under 18 years of age, 
  • admitted to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident, and
  • in the legal and physical custody (as a natural or adopted child) of at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen. 

Note:  Adoptions must be finalized prior to the child entering the U.S.