Applying for U.S. citizenship in 2026: eligibility, fees and the new civics test
Becoming a citizen means you can vote, travel on a U.S. passport and sponsor more family members. Here is what you need to qualify, what it costs and what the test looks like now.
Who can apply
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have been a permanent resident for 5 years, or for 3 years if you have been married to and living with a U.S. citizen, who has been a citizen for those 3 years.
- You have continuous residence. Trips abroad of more than 6 months can break it, and trips of a year or more usually do.
- You have been physically present in the U.S. for at least half of that time (30 months on the 5-year path, 18 months on the 3-year path).
- You have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you apply.
- You show good moral character and pass the English and civics tests.
You can file up to 90 days before your 3- or 5-year anniversary. Our citizenship date calculator finds your earliest filing date.
What it costs
| Form N-400 | Fee |
|---|---|
| Filed online | $710 |
| Filed on paper | $760 |
| Reduced fee (household income between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty guidelines) | $380 |
Government fees as of October 2026. USCIS changes fees from time to time; confirm the current amount on Form G-1055 before you file. Applicants with lower household income, or who receive certain public benefits, may qualify for a full fee waiver.
The English and civics tests
At the interview, an officer tests your ability to speak, read and write basic English. If you filed on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 civics test: the officer asks up to 20 questions from a list of 128, and you must answer 12 correctly. You can download the official USCIS question list and the reading and writing word lists from our free tools.
- Age 50 with 20 years as a permanent resident, or age 55 with 15 years: you can take the civics test in your own language with an interpreter, and skip the English test.
- Age 65 with 20 years: you also study a shorter list of civics questions.
- People with a qualifying disability can ask for an exception with Form N-648.
Check these with a lawyer before you file
Applying for citizenship opens your whole immigration history to review. In rare cases a problem found during naturalization can lead to removal proceedings. Talk to us first if any of these apply:
- Any arrest, citation or conviction, even if dismissed or expunged
- Unfiled or unpaid taxes, or unpaid child support
- Long trips abroad
- Ever voting or registering to vote, or claiming to be a U.S. citizen
- Men who lived in the U.S. between ages 18 and 26 and did not register for Selective Service
- Questions about how you got your green card
After you apply
USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment, then the interview. If you pass, you take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony and become a citizen that day.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Immigration law and fees change, and every case is different. Talk to a lawyer about your situation.
Related service: Naturalization & citizenship