International Clearances

In accordance with FIFA RSTP, the clearance process is required when a player over the age of 10 is attempting to register with an affiliated club/league in the United States, regardless of that player’s soccer ability. It is the responsibility of the registering club to verify a player’s registration history in order to ascertain whether a clearance may be required. A determination is made by the registering club personnel on which type of clearance the player requires based on the below listed criteria:

INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE TRANSFER (ITC)

Player (adult or minor) of any nationality who has previously been registered with a club affiliated to one federation and now wishes to be registered with a club affiliated to the United States.

FIRST REGISTRATION

Player (adult or minor) who has never previously been registered with a club and is not a national of the country in which they wish to be registered for the first time.

FIFA imposed a general ban on the international transfer of minor players (age 10-17). Despite the ban,  FIFA has identified a few exceptions which minors can apply for an International Transfer Certificate or First Registration.  For more information on minor exception applications please refer to the Protection of Minors – Guide to Submitting a Minor Application  published by FIFA.

CLEARANCE PROCESS

Detailed clearance processes, qualifications and forms are listed below. Additional supporting documentation (Birth Certificate, Passport, Certificate of Citizenship, Visa etc.) may be needed for clearance approvals.‍

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 & noaht@stxsoccer.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 (noaht@stxsoccer.org), league.
• Subject line must indicate – Clearance type being requested /Player Name/Club Name
• Information submitted is required to be accurate and complete
• Partially completed forms and/or applications missing documents will not be processed.
• Applications must be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to official start of club/league play
• Submitting at least 30 days prior to the start of official club/league play does not guarantee the player will be eligible as process times vary based on clearance type requesting and information submitted.
• Electronic signature on the clearance forms is acceptable.

All clearance requests submitted will be acknowledged by the Player Status department with an automatic email response. The Player Status department will contact applicants to provide updates on applications when available and/or required.

Due to the high volume of applications received, Player Status will not respond to emails which solely request a status update of submitted application.

‍CLEARANCE METHODS

The below chart lists the seven (7) clearance form types and the criteria for each type. The information is outlined to assist the club in selecting the appropriate form based on the players’ circumstance at the time of clearance submission.  It is the responsibility of the club/league to determine which clearance is required for the player.

Each form can be downloaded and lists the specific required documents that must be submitted with the completed form to the Player Status Department when requesting a clearance.  Club representatives are required to complete the Club information section of the form.

MINORS

The steps for a club to request a clearance for a registered player which meets one of the above stated clearance criteria is outlined below:

1. The registering club must submit the appropriate clearance form along with the required documents to the Player Status Department for review and processing.
   • Clubs are responsible to ensure the player is cleared and eligible to activate for affiliated competition
   • A player(s) activation prior to obtaining the clearance will be considered ineligible.
   • The only permitted participation for a player awaiting clearance are
     • Pre-season scrimmages
     • Team trainings
     • Non-affiliated organized soccer matches/leagues.
2. The home association, U.S. Soccer, is responsible for requesting the clearance from the appropriate parties on behalf of the registering club for the requested player.
   • Player Status reviews the applications and notifies the applicant of application status
     • Application complete and moved to next step OR
     • Application incomplete/inaccurate and withdrawn from process
   • The clearance is processed as required by the FIFA RSTP
   • Applicant is informed of player eligibility upon completion of process

Until the above process is finalized, a player cannot appear on the teams’ official roster, participate in official games and tournaments as outlined by FIFA regulations.  This does not prohibit the player from participating in team trainings and training scrimmages.

MINOR CLEARANCE FORMS (PLAYER AGED 10 TO 17)

U.S. Soccer’s Minor Clearances – Options & Forms Outline

The below charts lists the seven (7) clearance form types and the criteria for each type. The information is outlined to assist the club in selecting the appropriate form based on the players’ circumstance at the time of clearance submission.  It is the responsibility of the club/league to determine which clearance is required for the player.

Each form can be downloaded and lists the specific required documents that must be submitted with the completed form to the Player Status Department when requesting a clearance.  Club representatives are required to complete the Club information section of the form.

PRIOR TO 10 – AGE NINE(9) & YOUNGER

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 CITIZEN – AGE 10-17

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

5 YEAR EXCEPTION – AGE 10-17

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

Club Statement Template *Required

50KM EXCEPTION – AGE 10-17

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

• Both the player’s residence and the new club are within 50 km (31mi) of their common border and the distance between the two is no greater than 100 km

Club Statement Template *Required

PARENTS MOVE EXCEPTION – AGE 10-17

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 (soccer)
• 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

Parent/Guardian Statement Template *Required
Club Statement Template *Required

EXCHANGE STUDENT EXCEPTION (AGES 10-17)

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 (has no pro affiliation)

Club Statement Template *Required

HUMANITARIAN EXCEPTION {ACCOMPANIED & UNACCOMPANIED} (AGES 10-17)

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 – AGE 18+

FIRST REGISTRATION – AGE 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) REQUEST 18+

• 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

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

International Clearance Overview

U.S. Soccer’s Frequently Asked Questions

Amateur Reinstatement