A method, apparatus and system which enable a mobile node to request dynamic allocation of a home address and to maintain that home address when roaming between a home subnet and a foreign subnet. According to one embodiment, the mobile node may acquire a home address from its home agent by using a Network Access Identifier (“NAI”) extension in a registration request. The mobile node may send out this registration request when it first starts up, regardless of whether it is on its home subnet or a foreign subnet. Additionally, the mobile node may set a bit in the registration request to inform the home agent that it is on its home network. If the bit is not set, the home agent may deduce that the mobile node is on a foreign network. In either instance, the mobile node may continue to use its originally acquired home address.