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Explore visasN-400Full guide

N-400Naturalization (becoming a U.S. citizen)

For lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who want to become U.S. citizens.

At a glance

How you apply
File Form N-400 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), online through a free USCIS online account or on paper by mail. You may file as early as 90 calendar days before you complete the 5-year (or, for the spouse of a U.S. citizen, 3-year) continuous residence requirement
Checked Oct 18, 2026[1,2]
Time as a permanent resident
Generally 5 years of continuous residence after becoming a permanent resident. 3 years if, during the 3 years immediately before you file, you have been living in marital union with a spouse who was a U.S. citizen that whole time
Checked Oct 22, 2026[3,4,5]
Tests
English (speaking, reading and writing) and civics, unless you qualify for an exemption. If you filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025, the civics test is up to 20 oral questions from a list of 128, and you pass with 12 correct
Checked Oct 18, 2026[6,7]
Filing fee
$760 on paper, $710 online. $380 (paper only) if your documented annual household income is not more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; $0 if you qualify for a fee waiver or meet the military-service requirements of Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sections 328 or 329 (Form G-1055, edition 10/07/26)
Checked Oct 18, 2026[8]
When you become a citizen
Only when you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony, where you turn in your green card and receive your Certificate of Naturalization
Checked Oct 18, 2026[9]

What naturalization is

Naturalization is how a person born outside the United States becomes a U.S. citizen. If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you may be eligible, and you apply on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. First check that you are not already a citizen: USCIS's first step is to confirm that you were not a U.S. citizen by birth and did not acquire or derive citizenship from a parent automatically after birth.[1,2,9]

Who can apply

The general rules come from 8 CFR 316.2. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, the 3-year path is below the list.

General requirements (5-year path)

  • You are at least 18 years old and were lawfully admitted as a permanent resident of the United States.[3]
  • You have resided continuously in the U.S. for at least 5 years after being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and you keep residing continuously in the U.S. from the date you apply until you are admitted to citizenship.[3]
  • You have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months of the 5 years before the date you file.[3,10]
  • Immediately before you file, you have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district that covers where you actually live. If you filed early under section 334(a) of the INA, the 3 months may instead be the 3 months immediately before the examination (interview) on your application, when that period falls within the required residence period.[3]
  • For all relevant periods, you have been and still are a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and favorably disposed toward the good order and happiness of the United States. You also must not be someone who deserted the U.S. armed forces or left the U.S. to evade U.S. military service.[3]

High confidence If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you may be able to apply after 3 years instead of 5. You need at least 3 years of continuous residence after becoming a permanent resident, at least 18 months of physical presence in the U.S. (USCIS: within the 3 years before you apply), and 3 years of living in marital union with your spouse immediately before you file, with your spouse a U.S. citizen for all 3 years. Living in marital union means you actually live with your current spouse. The other general requirements, such as age, 3 months of residence in your state or district and good moral character, still apply.[4,5,10]

If, before or after you file, the marriage ends through death or divorce, or your spouse gives up U.S. citizenship (expatriates), you can no longer naturalize on the 3-year spouse basis, and marrying another U.S. citizen before you are admitted to citizenship does not restore it. Any legal separation breaks the marital union. An informal separation that suggests the marriage may be breaking down is evaluated case by case to decide whether it ends the marital union. If you live apart because of circumstances beyond your control, such as U.S. military service or essential business or work demands, rather than by choosing to separate, the separation does not rule this path out, even if it is long.[4]

Trips abroad and continuous residence

How long trips outside the U.S. affect the residence requirement.

During the required residence period (including the time from filing until you become a citizen), a continuous absence of between 6 months and 1 year breaks your continuous residence unless you can establish otherwise to USCIS. Evidence that may help includes, among other things, proof that during the absence you did not end your U.S. job, your immediate family stayed in the U.S., you kept full access to your U.S. home, or you did not take a job abroad. This applies even if you are still considered a permanent resident under immigration law and did not request nonresident status for tax purposes.[10,11]

A continuous absence of 1 year or more during the required residence period breaks continuous residence, unless you applied to preserve it on Form N-470 (below). After such an absence, on the 5-year path you may file 4 years and 1 day after you returned to the U.S. to resume permanent residence; on the 3-year path, 2 years and 1 day after you returned.[11]

High confidence If you will work abroad for certain employers, you can apply to preserve your continuous residence on Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes. USCIS lists the U.S. government (including the military), U.S. government contractors, a recognized American institution of research, a public international organization, an organization designated under the International Immunities Act, and certain religious denominations or missions. To cover an absence of 1 year or more under INA section 316(b), you must file before you have been abroad for a continuous year, either before or after the job starts; the fee is $420 (Form G-1055, edition 10/07/26).[8,10,11]

The English and civics test

At your interview, a USCIS officer decides whether you can speak and understand English from your answers to the questions normally asked in the interview. For reading, you must read aloud 1 of 3 sentences correctly; for writing, you must write 1 of 3 sentences correctly.[6,12]

Which civics test you take depends on when you filed. If you filed Form N-400 on or after Oct. 20, 2025, you take the 2025 test: the officer asks up to 20 oral questions from a list of 128, you pass with 12 correct answers and fail with 9 wrong, and the officer stops once you reach either. If you filed before Oct. 20, 2025, you take the 2008 test: up to 10 questions from a list of 100, and you need 6 correct.[6,7]

You do not have to meet the English requirement if, on the date you file, you are over 50 and have lived in the U.S. for periods totaling at least 20 years since becoming a permanent resident, or over 55 with at least 15 years. You must still meet the civics requirement; if your spoken English is not enough for a valid examination, the civics test may be given in your native language with an interpreter.[12,13]

If a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months keeps you from meeting the English or civics requirement, you can request an exception with Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. A medical or osteopathic doctor or clinical psychologist licensed in the U.S. completes it, you submit it with your N-400, and Form N-648 has no fee. A statement from you, your relatives or your guardian is not enough, and loss of cognitive abilities caused directly by illegal drug use does not count.[8,12,13]

Documents to send

From the USCIS Form N-400 checklist (send what applies to you)

  • Everyone: a copy of both sides of your green card and, if applicable, your current marriage certificate plus any divorce decree, annulment decree or death certificate showing that prior marriages ended.[1]
  • If you have ever been arrested or detained anywhere in the world: the arrest reports; if charges were filed, the charging documents, court dispositions and sentencing records; if no charges were filed, an official statement from the arresting agency or court confirming that; and proof that you completed any jail, prison, probation or alternative sentence. If an arrest or conviction was later vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged or otherwise removed from your record, or pardoned: the motion and court order, the pardon application and the final decision granting it, or a statement from the court that no record exists. Traffic incidents need records only if they involved alcohol or drugs, led to an arrest, or seriously injured another person.[1]
  • If any trip abroad lasted more than 6 months but less than 1 year: evidence that you kept your U.S. residence, such as rent or mortgage statements, pay statements, bank or credit card statements showing regular transactions, car registration and insurance, passport entry and exit stamps, or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax transcripts.[1]
  • Spouse-of-a-citizen path: your marriage certificate; proof that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last 3 years (generally a copy of a U.S. birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, the biographical page of the current U.S. passport, or Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad); and proof that all prior marriages of both of you ended.[1]
  • If you owe taxes: a signed agreement from the IRS or your state or local tax office showing that you have filed a tax return and arranged to pay what you owe. If you were ordered to pay a fine or restitution, or to have your wages garnished: the order and proof that you have paid it or are currently paying. If it applies to you, evidence of child support payments, such as canceled checks, money order receipts, or a court or agency document showing the payments.[1]
  • If you were required to register with the Selective Service System but did not before you turned 26, and you are now over 26 but under 31 (under 29 if you are filing based on marriage to a U.S. citizen): a status information letter from the Selective Service and a statement of your reasons for not registering.[1]

Fees

USCIS fees from Form G-1055, edition 10/07/26. Which row applies depends on your household income, military service and whether you file online or on paper.
ItemAmountWhen it applies
Form N-400$760 paper / $710 onlineGeneral filing
Form N-400, reduced fee$380 (paper only)Documented annual household income not more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, with supporting documentation
Form N-400, military service$0You meet the requirements of INA sections 328 or 329 for your military service
Form N-400, fee waiver$0You qualify for a fee waiver (see Form I-912); paper filing only
Form N-648$0Medical certification for a disability exception to the English and civics tests
Form N-470$420Preserving residence while working abroad for a qualifying employer (fee waiver may be available)
Form N-336$830 paper / $780 onlineRequesting a hearing on a denied N-400 ($0 if you filed under INA sections 328 or 329 for military service and were denied; fee waiver may be available)
Checked Oct 18, 2026[8,14]

You cannot file online if you are requesting a reduced fee or a fee waiver; you must file a paper Form N-400 with the request and the required evidence. USCIS rejects a form filed without the correct fee, and filing and biometric services fees are final and nonrefundable, whatever action USCIS takes on your application and even if you withdraw it.[1,15]

If you file on paper, USCIS no longer accepts personal or business checks, money orders or cashier's checks unless you qualify for an exemption. You can pay by credit, debit or prepaid card with Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, or from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions.[15]

What happens after you file

  1. Receipt notice

    After you submit Form N-400, USCIS sends you a receipt notice. You can check case processing times and your case status online.[9]

  2. Biometrics

    Unless USCIS waives the requirement, you generally must give biometrics. If you must appear at an application support center (ASC), USCIS sends you an appointment notice. If USCIS determines you are eligible for naturalization, it may use the photograph taken there on your Certificate of Naturalization.[1]

  3. Interview

    USCIS schedules your interview only after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirms that your full criminal background check is complete. You appear in person before a USCIS officer, answer questions about your application and background under oath or affirmation, and take the English and civics tests unless you are exempt. You may ask for an attorney or representative who has filed an appearance to be present.[6,16]

  4. Decision

    USCIS mails you a notice of decision (and, if you filed online, posts it in your account). Your application may be granted; continued, if you need to provide more evidence, did not provide the correct documents, or failed the English or civics test the first time; or denied, if the evidence shows you are not eligible. After a denial, you can request a hearing before an immigration officer on Form N-336.[9,14]

  5. Oath ceremony

    If approved, you may be able to take part in a naturalization ceremony the same day as your interview; otherwise USCIS mails you the date, time and place. You complete the questionnaire on Form N-445, turn in your green card, take the Oath of Allegiance and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Check the certificate and tell USCIS about any errors before you leave the ceremony site.[9]

Your family after you become a citizen

High confidence If, as a permanent resident, you filed Form I-130 for your spouse or unmarried children under 21 and it was approved and is still valid, from the date you naturalize it is treated as approved for immediate-relative status, and immigrant visas are immediately available to them. A petition for an unmarried son or daughter 21 or older converts to the family first preference category and keeps its original priority date. You can update the classification by notifying USCIS or the Department of State: if USCIS has not yet decided the I-130, send a short letter with copies of your Certificate of Naturalization and the I-130 receipt notice to the USCIS office processing it; if the I-130 is already approved, notify the National Visa Center (NVC) through its Public Inquiry Form.[17,18]

Common mistakes

  • Sending an unsigned form, or a printed paper form with missing pages or pages from a different edition. USCIS rejects any unsigned form and may reject a paper form with missing or mixed-edition pages, so make sure the edition date and page numbers show at the bottom of every page.[1]
  • Claiming to be a nonresident for income tax. If, as a permanent resident, you voluntarily claim nonresident alien status to get special income tax exemptions, or do not file federal or state income tax returns because you consider yourself a nonresident alien, this raises a rebuttable presumption that you have given up the privileges of permanent resident status.[11]
  • Paying for several applications with one payment. If one payment covers a package with two Forms N-400 and one of them is defective, such as missing a signature, USCIS must reject both; USCIS recommends a separate payment for each application.[15]

Recent policy changes

Recent policy changes

Official

Updates

Ask WELIVEINUSA Visa

Ask WELIVEINUSA Visa

Answers come from our sourced database and your own timeline, sorted into fact, public data, inference and unknown. No AI model is used in this version, so questions outside what we cover get an honest "not covered".

Questions people ask

I have a conditional green card. Can I apply for naturalization?

Yes, if you are otherwise eligible. Unless a rule says otherwise, conditional permanent residents have the same rights as other permanent residents, and that includes the right to apply for naturalization. You also remain subject to the conditions and responsibilities of INA section 216 or 216A that come with conditional status.[19]

What happens if I fail the English or civics test?

High confidence You get two attempts. If you fail any part at your first interview, USCIS can continue your application, and you are retested on the part you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days after that interview.[6,9]

Can I travel abroad while my N-400 is pending?

High confidence You must keep residing continuously in the U.S. from the date you apply until you are admitted to citizenship, and a continuous absence of between 6 months and 1 year during that time breaks continuous residence unless you can establish otherwise. You also must appear in person for your interview. How a particular trip affects your case depends on the facts; an immigration attorney can apply the rules to it.[3,11,16]

I moved to another state recently. Can I file now?

You must have lived for at least 3 months, immediately before you file, in the state or USCIS district that covers where you actually live. If you filed early under section 334(a) of the INA, the 3 months immediately before your interview can count instead, when they fall within the required residence period. If you are a student at a school in a different state from your home, you may apply where the school is, or in your home state if you are financially dependent on your parents when you file and during the naturalization process.[3,10,11]

My green card expires while my N-400 is pending. What do I do?

After you properly file Form N-400, your receipt notice automatically extends your green card for 2 years from the “Card Expires” date; show the notice together with your card. If you lose your green card, or the receipt notice that extends it is lost or destroyed, you generally still must file Form I-90 even though you have applied for naturalization.[1]

Related categories

Content last reviewed: Oct 18, 2026 · General information, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. 1.N-400, Application for Naturalization - USCISUSCIS · Form / instructions · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  2. 2.Apply for Naturalization - USCISUSCIS · Agency page · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  3. 3.8 CFR 316.2eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  4. 4.8 CFR 319.1eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  5. 5.8 U.S.C. 1430 (INA 319) - Married persons and employees of certain nonprofit organizationsU.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), United States Code 2024 edition · Statute · Checked Oct 22, 2026
  6. 6.The Naturalization Interview and Test - USCISUSCIS · Agency page · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  7. 7.2025 Civics Test - USCISUSCIS · Agency page · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  8. 8.Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) - USCISUSCIS · Form / instructions · Checked Oct 12, 2026
  9. 9.10 Steps to Naturalization - USCISUSCIS · Agency page · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  10. 10.Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements for Naturalization - USCISUSCIS · Agency page · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  11. 11.8 CFR 316.5eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  12. 12.8 CFR 312.1eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  13. 13.8 CFR 312.2eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  14. 14.8 CFR 106.2 - USCIS feeseCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Sep 27, 2026
  15. 15.USCIS - Filing FeesUSCIS · Agency page · Checked Oct 12, 2026
  16. 16.8 CFR 335.2eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  17. 17.8 CFR 204.2eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  18. 18.I-130, Petition for Alien Relative - USCISUSCIS · Form / instructions · Checked Oct 18, 2026
  19. 19.8 CFR 216.1eCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Oct 18, 2026