National teams · rules
FIBA eligibility rules, explained
A plain-English summary of FIBA Internal Regulations Book 3 (in force as of 22 April 2026). It covers who can represent a national federation, the one-Restricted-Player limit, and when a player can switch countries.
- You need the passport. To play for a country in FIBA competition you must hold that country's passport, and the federation must send FIBA your written declaration (Book 3, arts. 3-14, 3-15).
- Born there, or a passport before 18, or "significant links". If you weren't born in the country, you count as a regular national only if you held its passport before your 18th birthday, or FIBA finds you have significant links to it: years lived there, seasons played there, a parent born there, schooling, family and so on (arts. 3-15, 3-16).
- Otherwise you are a "Restricted Player". Each national team may include only one Restricted Player on its final roster for a FIBA competition (arts. 3-17, 3-18). This replaced the older "naturalised after age 16" wording.
- Playing once can lock you in. Being on the final roster at a FIBA national-team competition (3x3 included) fixes your national status (art. 3-22). Since 5 Dec 2025, players who appeared at a World Cup, Olympics, continental cup (AmeriCup, AfroBasket, EuroBasket, Asia Cup), U20 EuroBasket, U19 World Cup or main 3x3 events cannot switch (art. 3-24).
- Changing federation. Only federations can apply. A change is possible after youth events (U16–U18) by agreement (art. 3-23), or after other events if your last appearance was at least 5 years ago and you played no more than 5 official games. After such a change you count as a Restricted Player (arts. 3-25, 3-26).
- Only federations can file. Players and agents can't apply to FIBA directly. Requests go through the national federation, at least 14 days before the competition (arts. 3-11, 3-12).
Source: FIBA Internal Regulations, Book 3 (Players and Officials), in force as of 22 April 2026. Read Book 3 (PDF, fiba.basketball)
What this means in practice
- A passport from childhood counts as "regular". If you held the passport before you turned 18, you aren't a Restricted Player, even if you were born elsewhere.
- Descent passports obtained as an adult can still count as "regular" if FIBA accepts significant links, for example a parent born in the country or real time spent there. Otherwise you take the team's single Restricted Player spot, and many teams already use it.
- Your federation handles the paperwork. Contact the federation's national-team or competitions department. Their published contacts are on each country page.
Not legal or immigration advice. This is general information. Nationality law changes, and only the government that issues the passport (and FIBA, for eligibility) can decide your case.