Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60

§6416 Equal Access to United States Missions Abroad for Conducting Religious Activities

Title 22 › Chapter 73— INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM › Subchapter I— DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES › § 6416

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State must let U.S. citizens use the buildings of any U.S. embassy or consulate to hold religious activities, and must offer access on terms at least as favorable as other non-governmental uses. The Secretary must make reasonable changes to timing and location based on five things: how many people and their timing or setting needs, conflicts with official or other requests, whether services are available outside the building, space and resources, and security concerns. The Secretary may also allow foreign nationals to attend or join these religious activities.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §6416

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to this section, the Secretary of State shall permit, on terms no less favorable than that accorded other nongovernmental activities unrelated to the conduct of the diplomatic mission, access to the premises of any United States diplomatic mission or consular post by any United States citizen seeking to conduct an activity for religious purposes.

(b)The Secretary of State shall make reasonable accommodations with respect to the timing and location of such access in light of—

(1)the number of United States citizens requesting the access (including any particular religious concerns regarding the time of day, date, or physical setting for services);

(2)conflicts with official activities and other nonofficial United States citizen requests;

(3)the availability of openly conducted, organized religious services outside the premises of the mission or post;

(4)availability of space and resources; and

(5)necessary security precautions.

(c)The Secretary of State may permit access to the premises of a United States diplomatic mission or consular post to foreign nationals for the purpose of attending or participating in religious activities conducted pursuant to this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 6416

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60