Is Rihanna a Us Citizen? Everything to Know About Her Nationality and Voting Rights
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Q1: Has Rihanna ever held a U.S. passport?
No. Rihanna has never held an American passport. She travels globally using her official Barbados passport, supported by appropriate visas and resident documentation for entry into the United States.
Q2: Can green card holders vote in U.S. local or state elections?
With limited exceptions in a tiny handful of municipalities for school board or hyper-local ballots, noncitizens are barred from voting in municipal, state, and national elections. Noncitizens who vote in state or federal elections commit a federal crime that carries mandatory deportation consequences.
Q3: Are Rihanna's children dual citizens?
Yes. Because RZA and Riot were born in California to an American father, they are natural-born U.S. citizens. Under Barbadian nationality statutes, children born abroad to a Barbadian-born mother automatically acquire the right to register for Barbadian citizenship by descent.
Q4: Does Rihanna pay taxes in the United States?
Yes. Under the Internal Revenue Code, any individual who meets the substantial presence test or holds a green card is treated as a U.S. resident for tax purposes. Rihanna pays federal, state, and business taxes on all income generated in the United States, alongside global tax obligations.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
