Membership & Dues
This page contains an overview of membership requirements and the dues for membership, member reinstatement and Dual membership. If you are interested in the regular membership application process click here. The drop-down menu options under the “Membership” main menu option will carry you to more detailed pages as will the links on this page.
SAR Member Eligibility
Any man may join who meets the following requirements:
- 18 years or older.
- A citizen of good repute in the community.
- A lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to, and rendered active service in the cause of, American Independence either as an officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman or minuteman, in the armed forces of the Continental Congress, of any one of the several Colonies or States, as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a member of a Committee of Safety or Correspondence, as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial Congress or Legislature or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain.
- Do not advocate the overthrow of the Government of the United States by use of force or violence.
Membership Levels
- Regular Member – 18 years old or over, pays dues annually.
- Jr. Member – Under 18 years old, pays modest dues annually.
- Life Member – 18 years old or over and paid a Life Membership fee.
Member Emeritus Levels
- State: 50 years consecutive membership paid state dues.
- National: 50 years consecutive membership paid national dues.
Membership Requirements
You must be a male, age 18 years old minimum, and a direct descendant of a participant in the Revolutionary War. To be classified as participant, he could either be a soldier, a signer of various documents, holding public office or a supplier of goods, etc. With such a high percentage of the population involved in the war effort, and since the war occurred about 7 or 8 generations ago, there is a high probability that you have a patriot ancestor. Contact us and we will help you find one.
Regular New Membership Application Fees
- National Processing Fee and Dues: $150 as of July 21, 2023
- California Society Fees and Dues: $20.00
- San Diego Chapter Fees and Dues: $35.00
Total Required: $205.00
If more than one member of a family applies at the same time, claiming the same patriot ancestor, the National fees and dues are reduced by $50.00 after the first application. After acceptance the annual dues are $95 (total) and paid each November.
Junior New Membership Application Fees
Junior members must be under 18 years of age. The application fee is lower for those applicants that are linked within two generations to an existing or past SAR or DAR member. A higher processing fee applies to applications that do not have a documented SAR or DAR ancestor (or is more than two generations from applicant).
- National and State Processing Fee and Dues with recent SAR/DAR Ancestor: $45.00.
- National and State Processing Fee and Dues without recent SAR/DAR Ancestor: $105.00
National Life Membership Fees
- National Life Membership: $900.00 if member is age 40 or under. This fee decreases by $15.00 for every year over 40. You must check with the California Society Secretary for the actual cost and process to apply as all Life Memberships are handled at the State level.
- California Society Fees and Dues are pro-rated based upon age.
Supplemental Application Fees
Supplemental fees are for existing members who want to apply for a supplemental certificates to show alternate bloodlines to their other patriot ancestors. The application process is the same as a new member however the “Application Type” in the upper left should have “Supplemental” checked.
- National Fee: $55.00 *this may change 9/1/23
- California Society Fee: $10.00
- San Diego Chapter Fee: $35.00
Total Required: $100.00
Annual Dues
Note: SDSAR covers the nominal fee NSSAR for Junior members so these will not be billed
- National Dues: $50.00, $0 for Junior
- California Society Dues: $20.00, 0 for Junior
- San Diego Chapter Dues: $25.00, 0 for Junior
Total Required: $95.00 for Regular Members who became a member prior to September 1, 2023.
Annual dues are collected during November and early December each year.
Dual Membership Fees
- California Society Dues $20.00
- San Diego Chapter Dues: $35.00
Total Required: $55.00
Click here for the Dual Membership page.
Reinstatement Dues
- National Dues: $50.00
- California Society Dues: $20.00
- San Diego Chapter Dues: $35.00
- San Diego Chapter Fee: $25
Total Required: $130.00
Click here for the Reinstatement page.