International Clearance Process

Per FIFA's Regulations, the international clearance process is required when any foreign-born player over the age of 10 is attempting to register with an affiliated club/team/league in the United States, regardless of that player's soccer ability or citizenship and one or both of the below instances apply:

  • Player was born outside of the United States, including U.S. citizens born abroad.

  • Player previously registered with a club/team/league outside of the United States. 

The home association, U.S. Soccer, is responsible for obtaining the clearance on behalf of these  players prior to their registration and participation with any U.S. Soccer affiliated club/team/ league.  Clearance is required for ALL players who meet one or both of the above instances regardless of past practices, age, nationality, club affiliation, or member organization with which the player is registering/participating.   Failure to adhere to the requirements can result in fines and/or sanctioning from both FIFA and U.S. Soccer.

For more details, visit the US Soccer International Clearance Process page.

MINOR CLEARANCE FORMS | PLAYER AGED 10 to 17

FORM

APPLICATION CRITERIA

P10 Registration

International clearances and first registrations for any player nine (9) years of age and younger at the time of registration regardless of citizenship

 

First Registration

U.S. Citizen

· U.S. citizens born outside the United States

· Have never been registered at any level to play soccer with an affiliated* club/league in any other country.

(*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)

 

Awaiting U.S. Citizenship

· Does not currently hold physical proof of U.S. citizenship and is in the process of obtaining citizenship

· Have never been registered at any level to play soccer with an affiliated* club/league in any other country.

(*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)

 

FIFA MINOR EXCEPTIONS

FORM

APPLICATION CRITERIA

Club Statement Template

· Club statement required for all below exception clearance types

Parent/Guardian Statement Template

· Parent Statement ONLY required with Parent Move Exception

5 Year Exception

Exception: Art. 19 pars 3 and 4 of the RSTP

· Player is registering for the first time

· And has lived continuously for the last five years in the country of intended registration prior to this request

 

50 km Exception

Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 c) of the RSTP

· Both the player’s residence and the new club are within 50 km of their common border and the distance between the two is no greater than 100 km

 

Parents Move Exception

Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP

· The player’s parents have moved to the country where the player wants to register for reasons not linked to football

· Includes United States citizens returning to the U.S. after studying abroad and/or playing abroad with an affiliated* club/league at any level.

(*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)

 

Exchange Student Exception

Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 e) of the RSTP

· The player is moving temporarily without their parent(s) for academic reasons in order to undertake an exchange program

· Duration of the player’s registration will not exceed one year

· Registering U.S. club is purely amateur and hasno pro affiliation

 

Humanitarian Exception

Accompanied

Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP

· The player is moving due to humanitarian reasons with their parent(s) and could not be expected to return to their country of origin

 

Unaccompanied

Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 d) of the RSTP

· The player is moving due to humanitarian reasons without their parent(s) and could not be expected to return to their country of origin

 

 

ADULT CLEARANCE FORMS – PLAYER AGED 18 and older

FORM

APPLICANT REQUIREMENT

First Registration 18+

· Player is aged 18 or older

· Not born in the United States

· Never registered with an affiliated* club/league at any level outside the United States

(*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)

 

International Transfer Certificate (ITC)

· Player is aged 18 or older

· Regardless of citizenship

· Previously registered and participated with an affiliated* club/league at any level outside the United States

· And player is requesting to register with an affiliated* club based in the U.S.

(*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS

To ensure the timely processing of all clearance applications the following instructions must be adhered to:

  • Submit completed forms and all required document(s) in ONE (1) email to – psd@ussoccer.org
  • Each document added separately to the ONE email and no larger than 5MB or less.
  • All submitted documents must be in PDF format
  • Copy the required personnel, i.e. state registrar, league.
  • Subject line must indicate - Clearance type being requested /Player Name/Club Name