Under section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, "the term 'national of the United States' means (A) a citizen of the United States, or (B) a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States." Those in category (B) include natives of American Samoa.

Articles 73 through 75 prescribe categories of persons to whom Uruguayan citizenship is accorded. Natural born citizens include anyone born in the territory of Uruguay and children of Uruguayan citizens regardless of their place of birth, provided they subsequently reside in Uruguay and are recorded in the Civil Register. Naturalized citizens include foreign nationals who have capital or own property in the country, are currently employed, and have resided in Uruguay for either 3 years (if they have family in Uruguay) or 5 years (if they have no family in the country). The General Assembly of Uruguay can also naturalize a person on the basis of noteworthy services or outstanding merit.