Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73
§1330 Actions against foreign states
Title 28 › Part PART IV— - JURISDICTION AND VENUE › Chapter CHAPTER 85— - DISTRICT COURTS; JURISDICTION › § 1330
Summary
District courts may hear nonjury civil suits against foreign states in section 1603(a) if the state lacks immunity under sections 1605–1607 or an international agreement. Service under section 1608 gives the court power over those claims; an appearance does not for claims outside 1605–1607.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §1330
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The district courts shall have original jurisdiction without regard to amount in controversy of any nonjury civil action against a foreign state as defined in section 1603(a) of this title as to any claim for relief in personam with respect to which the foreign state is not entitled to immunity either under section 1605–1607 of this title or under any applicable international agreement.
(b)Personal jurisdiction over a foreign state shall exist as to every claim for relief over which the district courts have jurisdiction under subsection (a) where service has been made under section 1608 of this title.
(c)For purposes of subsection (b), an appearance by a foreign state does not confer personal jurisdiction with respect to any claim for relief not arising out of any transaction or occurrence enumerated in section 1605–1607 of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 90 days after Oct. 21, 1976, see section 8 of Pub. L. 94–583, set out as a note under section 1602 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 1330
Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73