The Naturalization Law of 1802 (, enacted April 14, 1802) was passed by the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

to amend the residency and notice periods of the previous

Naturalization Act of 1798 The Naturalization Act of 1798 (, enacted June 18, 1798) passed by the United States Congress, to amend the residency and notice periods of the previous Naturalization Act of 1795. It increased the period necessary for aliens to become naturali ...

. It restored the less prohibitive provisions of the

Naturalization Act of 1795 The United States Naturalization Act of 1795 (, enacted January 29, 1795) repealed and replaced the Naturalization Act of 1790. The main change made by the 1795 Act from the 1790 Act was the increase in the period of required residence in the Uni ...

, namely reducing the required residency period for aliens to become eligible to be naturalized citizens of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, from 14 years to 5, and cutting the Declaration of Intention minimum notice time from 5 years to 3. The 1802 Act replaced the

, and provided: * The "free white person" requirement remained in place * The alien had to declare, at least three years in advance, his intent to become a U.S. citizen. * The previous 14-year residency requirement was reduced to 5 years. * Resident children of naturalized citizens were to be considered citizens * Children born abroad of U.S. citizens were to be considered citizens * Former British soldiers during the "late war" were barred unless the state legislature made an exception for them

References

1802 in law United States federal immigration and nationality legislation 7th United States Congress {{US-law-stub