Cherokee Nation’s Registration Office is temporarily closed to in-person assistance and will reopen on November 1st. A secure vault will be placed in the lobby of the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah for those who wish to drop off citizenship applications. Citizens may also mail in applications via postal service.

The Cherokee Nation Registration Office processes Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), Dawes and Tribal Citizenship applications and issues CDIB, Citizenship, and Photo ID cards. The Registration office also issues Indian Preference Letters, provides verification of Tribal Citizenship, verifies eagle feather applications and provides registration services as needed.

The basic criteria for CDIB/Cherokee Nation tribal citizenship is that an application must be submitted along with documents that directly connect a person to an enrolled lineal ancestor who is listed on the “Dawes Roll” Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedman of the Five Civilized Tribes.

Updated March 15, 2026