Should you list your citizenship on a resume? We answer that question — and others — in this informative guide.
3 years ago • 4 min read
Including citizenship status on a resume is mostly a non-issue … until it isn’t. In most cases, citizenship isn’t even considered as part of the hiring process. That said, it can still be a complicated issue. In an attempt to demystify the topic, here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about citizenship, national origin, and hiring.
In general, personal information — including race, nationality, gender, religion, and sexuality — should never go on your resume. Why not? In the U.S. at least, these characteristics are covered by laws that prohibit employers from discriminating against people at work or in the hiring process. Including these kinds of elements can make you look slightly out of touch with professional norms — so it’s better to just leave them off.
Citizenship is also on this list — companies cannot choose who to hire based on either citizenship status or national origin. The only problem is, what companies are allowed to do and what they actually do are not always the same thing.
If you want to highlight that you’re a citizen, you can do that with a short footnote at the bottom of your resume.
This isn’t strictly necessary (unless you’re applying for a position that specifically requires U.S. citizenship) but shouldn’t stand out as unnatural if you choose to include it. This should go at the end of your resume and not take up more than one line. For example:
Here's how it might look on a resume:
It’s a good idea to include citizenship information on your resume if:
This discrimination is more of an issue if you're an entry-level or mid-level hire — sometimes, companies can't afford work sponsorship since it's possible that the cost of sponsoring a visa is a big percent of a junior hire's salary.
If you're a senior level employee or executive, you don't need to worry about this — companies are much more willing to absorb any work sponsorship costs, so don't include your citizenship on a resume.
If you're wondering what else, like citizenship, should or shouldn't be included on your resume, upload it to the tool below. You'll get a quick recruiter-backed analysis on what to remove or add into your resume.
While it’s illegal to discriminate against non-U.S. citizens, it is legal for companies to decide not to sponsor potential employees for a work visa. Sometimes, that’s because the role itself isn’t eligible for work sponsorship; other times, it’s a financial or administrative choice.
If you aren’t eligible to work in the U.S without a visa, you don’t need to disclose that on your resume. Most company websites or Applicant Tracking systems (ATS) will have a section for work eligibility, which you should fill out honestly. If you require a visa but are applying for a company that won’t sponsor one, you can check the State Department website for information on employment visas.
By the way — on that note on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), you can search for skills to put on your resume below:
It’s an unfortunate reality that hiring discrimination still occurs, even despite laws against it. In particular, foreign-born workers are disproportionately unemployed or underemployed compared to native born workers, and job-seekers with non-traditionally White names — including foreign-sounding or 'Black-sounding' names — still experience hiring discrimination. In those cases, proactively listing citizenship or work authorization on your resume can be a way to combat potential discrimination.
Legally, no. As long as you have the right to work in the U.S., companies are not allowed to prefer citizens over green card holders.
Don’t include sensitive information — like your passport number or social security number — on your resume. It’s unnecessary, but more importantly, it also poses a potential security risk. If you’re starting a new job, wait until you’re asked for that information as part of the onboarding process.
There may be some exceptions to anti-discrimination laws in general, depending on the size of the company. You can read more about equal opportunity employment policies, including coverage and exceptions, on the official government website.
Yes! Each country has its own rules about hiring discrimination, citizenship status, working permits, and even resume norms — in Germany, for example, it’s normal to include your citizenship and other personal information on a resume. If you’re applying for work outside the U.S., check local laws and make sure you’re aware of cultural norms.
