Regulatory Basics

Persons and Entities
Foreign National

 Often you will hear the terms Foreign Person and Foreign National used interchangeably. The terms are from two different sets of regulations and actually mean different things for each of those regulations.

For the purpose of the ITAR, the term Foreign Person is used to define anyone who is not a U.S. Person. The ITAR allows lawful permanent residents or "Green Card" holders to be considered U.S. Persons.

For purposes of the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), the term Foreign National is used. This also means anyone that is not a U.S. Person, but includes those individuals with Green Cards. Individuals with Green Cards are not authorized access to classified information, despite being recognized as a U.S. Person under the ITAR.