---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 1330"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "1330"
heading: "Actions against foreign states"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/1330"
units:
  - "Part IV — Jurisdiction and Venue"
  - "Chapter 85 — District Courts; Jurisdiction"
---

# §1330. Actions against foreign states

- (a) The district courts shall have original jurisdiction without regard to amount in controversy of any nonjury civil action against a foreign [state](/usc/28/1451.md?p=2) as defined in [section 1603(a) of this title](/usc/28/1603.md?p=a) as to any claim for relief in personam with respect to which the foreign [state](/usc/28/1451.md?p=2) is not entitled to immunity either under sections 1605–1607 of this title or under any applicable international agreement.
- (b) Personal jurisdiction over a foreign [state](/usc/28/1451.md?p=2) shall exist as to every claim for relief over which the district courts have jurisdiction under [subsection (a)](#a) where service has been made under [section 1608 of this title](/usc/28/1608.md).
- (c) For purposes of [subsection (b)](#b), an appearance by a foreign [state](/usc/28/1451.md?p=2) does not confer personal jurisdiction with respect to any claim for relief not arising out of any transaction or occurrence enumerated in sections 1605–1607 of this title.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 94–583, § 2(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2891.)

## Notes

### 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.