52 USC 30121 prohibits foreign nationals from making specified election-related contributions, donations, expenditures, and disbursements, directly or indirectly. It also prohibits knowingly soliciting, accepting, or receiving prohibited contributions or donations. The restrictions extend beyond federal elections to covered state and local activity. [1]
Who is a foreign national?
The statutory definition includes covered foreign persons and entities and individuals who are neither U.S. citizens or nationals nor lawfully admitted permanent residents. A lawful permanent resident is treated differently from a temporary visa holder for this prohibition. Living in the United States, paying U.S. taxes, or having an employment authorization document does not itself create the permanent-resident exception.
The ban concerns more than cash
Election support can involve things of value and indirect arrangements, not merely a check written to a campaign. Reimbursement schemes or using another person as a conduit do not solve the source problem. Foreign-national participation in decisions about election-related activity is separately restricted under FEC rules. [2]
A domestic organization with foreign ownership must examine who makes the relevant decisions and where funds originate. A U.S. address or bank account does not by itself establish compliance.
Unpaid volunteering has limits
FEC guidance permits certain uncompensated personal volunteer services, including by foreign nationals. The individual must not be paid by someone else for those services and must not participate in prohibited election-related decision making. Paying campaign expenses personally is not equivalent to volunteering time. [3]
For example, a permitted unpaid task does not authorize the volunteer to direct campaign spending or finance an event. Campaigns should identify the task, compensation arrangement, and decision-making role before accepting help.
Compliance steps
- Verify contributor eligibility and investigate facts suggesting a prohibited foreign source.
- Keep foreign nationals out of restricted election decisions.
- Review in-kind support, reimbursements, and organizational funding as carefully as direct donations.
- Use current FEC procedures when a questionable receipt is discovered.
Civil enforcement and knowing-and-willful criminal exposure depend on the facts and applicable provisions. Related distinctions appear in noncitizen voting restrictions and citizenship-at-birth categories. Permission to work or participate in civic discussion is not permission to fund a covered election activity.
Primary sources
- 52 USC 30121: Foreign National Contributions
- FEC: Foreign Nationals
- FEC: Campaign Volunteer Activity
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.