U.S. Citizenship (Form N-400): Eligibility, Fees and Steps to the Oath
A practical guide for green card holders: whether you qualify yet, what it costs, and what happens from filing to your naturalization certificate.
In short: You can apply for U.S. citizenship on Form N-400 once you have been a green card holder for 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen, as long as you meet the continuous residence, physical presence and good moral character rules. As of September 2026 the fee is $710 online or $760 on paper, and you may file up to 90 days early. After filing come biometrics, an interview with the English and civics test, and the oath ceremony.
Who is eligible to apply?
The general rule: you are at least 18, and you have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, 3 years is enough, provided you have lived in marital union with that spouse for the 3 years right before filing and your spouse remains a citizen until you take the oath.
The clock starts on the "Resident Since" date on your green card, not the day you first entered the U.S. and not your wedding date. USCIS lets you file 90 calendar days before you reach the required period, and the N-400 page has an official early-filing calculator.
| Requirement | General path (5 years) | Spouse of a U.S. citizen (3 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Time as a permanent resident | 5 years | 3 years |
| Physical presence in the U.S. | At least 30 months (913 days) | At least 18 months |
| Residence in your state or USCIS district before filing | 3 months | 3 months |
| Marriage requirement | None | Living in marital union with the citizen spouse for all 3 years |
| Early filing window | 90 days before eligibility | 90 days before eligibility |
Continuous residence vs. physical presence: what's the difference?
These are two separate tests, and mixing them up is one of the most common reasons people file too early. Continuous residence asks whether a long trip broke your residence. Physical presence is simply the number of days you were actually inside the country.
- Trips under 6 months usually don't break continuous residence, but the days abroad still come off your physical-presence count.
- Trips of more than 6 months but less than 1 year are presumed to break continuous residence. You can rebut that with evidence: you kept your U.S. job, your immediate family stayed here, and you kept your home.
- Trips of 1 year or more break continuous residence automatically, unless you had an approved Form N-470 for certain types of work abroad.
USCIS counts both the day you leave and the day you return as days in the U.S. Pull your travel dates from your passport stamps before you start the form, because the N-400 asks for every trip in the statutory period. Our guide to traveling on a green card covers the travel side in detail.
What counts as good moral character?
You must show good moral character for the statutory period (5 or 3 years before filing) and all the way to the oath, and USCIS may also look at conduct before that period. Officers rely on your record, your answers on the application and your sworn testimony at the interview.
Things that can sink an application include certain crimes, false testimony, failing to file required tax returns and failing to pay court-ordered child support. On 29 August 2025 USCIS also updated its guidance on false claims to U.S. citizenship, unlawful voter registration and unlawful voting.
Watch out: Green card holders cannot vote in federal elections. If a DMV clerk or any form offers to register you to vote, say no and never check a box saying you are a citizen. That single mistake can cost you your naturalization case.
How much does the N-400 cost as of September 2026?
According to the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition dated 9 September 2026):
| Filing method | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online, through a USCIS account | $710 |
| Paper, by mail | $760 |
| Reduced fee (documented household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) | $380, paper only |
| Fee waiver if eligible (Form I-912) | $0, paper only |
Fees change, so confirm on the official fee schedule the day you pay. Payment is by card or by debit from a U.S. bank account. USCIS never accepts cash.
What are the steps from filing to the oath?
- Make sure you aren't already a citizen. Some children become citizens automatically through a U.S. citizen parent before 18 and don't need an N-400.
- Count your time and your trips. Check both continuous residence and physical presence against your "Resident Since" date.
- Complete the form. The current edition is dated 01/20/25. Filing online is cheaper and lets you track the case and upload evidence.
- Pay and keep your receipt notice. It carries your case number and proves the application is pending.
- Biometrics. If required, you'll get a notice with the date and location. The photo taken may appear on your naturalization certificate.
- Interview and test. An officer reviews your application under oath and tests your English and civics.
- Decision. Granted, continued (for more evidence or a retest), or denied.
- Oath ceremony. You complete Form N-445, turn in your green card, take the Oath of Allegiance and receive your Certificate of Naturalization.
We don't quote a waiting time here because it varies a lot by field office. See our guide to USCIS processing times to read the official numbers for your office.
What happens at the interview and test?
Your speaking ability is judged during the interview itself. For reading, you must read 1 of 3 sentences correctly; for writing, you must write 1 of 3 sentences correctly.
The civics test depends on your filing date. If you filed on or after 20 October 2025, you take the 2025 test: up to 20 questions from a list of 128, and you pass with 12 correct. If you filed earlier, you take the 2008 test: up to 10 questions from a list of 100, and you pass with 6 correct. We explain the questions in our citizenship test study guide.
If you fail a part, you are retested only on that part, 60 to 90 days after the first interview. Applicants who are 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident get a shorter civics test and can take it in their own language.
Tip: Bring your green card, passport, appointment notice and any document about marriage, divorce, arrests or taxes that you mentioned on the form. Documents in Arabic need a full English translation with the translator's certification of competence.
Will I lose my original citizenship?
The Oath of Allegiance includes renouncing allegiance to any foreign state. Whether you actually keep or lose your first nationality, though, is decided by your home country's law.
Arab countries handle this differently: some allow dual nationality, some require prior permission or notification, and some treat it as grounds for loss of nationality. Ask your embassy or consulate before the ceremony, and ask specifically what you must do and how it affects your children, property and passport there.
One practical point: you hand in your green card at the ceremony, so your naturalization certificate and then your U.S. passport become your proof of status. Don't plan an international trip for the days right after the oath.
Common mistakes that delay or sink an application
- Filing more than 90 days early. You can be found ineligible on the filing date, and fees are generally not refunded.
- Guessing trip dates. Dates that don't match travel records lead to hard questions at the interview.
- Leaving out an old arrest or case. Full disclosure is always safer, even for dismissed charges. See an immigration attorney before filing if you've ever been arrested.
- Name spelling mismatches. Mohamed, Mohammed and Muhammad on different documents is normal for Arab applicants; list every name you've used, and you can request a legal name change as part of the N-400.
- Unfiled tax returns. Not filing a required return is a moral-character issue, and officers can ask for returns or IRS transcripts.
- Paying an office that "guarantees" approval. Nobody can guarantee a USCIS decision, and the form itself is free on uscis.gov.
What next after the oath?
Check your certificate for errors before you leave the ceremony. Wait at least 10 days, then update your record with the Social Security Administration so it shows you as a citizen.
Apply for your U.S. passport and don't book travel until it arrives. As a citizen you can also file family petitions in categories that were closed to you as a green card holder; start with our I-130 family petition guide.
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for U.S. citizenship?
After 5 years as a permanent resident, or 3 years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen. You may file up to 90 days before you reach that date.
How much is the N-400 fee in 2026?
As of September 2026 it is $710 online or $760 on paper. A reduced fee of $380 is available on paper if your household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Will trips abroad delay my citizenship?
They can. An absence of more than 6 months is presumed to break continuous residence unless you rebut it, a year or more breaks it, and every day abroad counts against physical presence.
How many questions are on the civics test?
If you filed on or after 20 October 2025, up to 20 questions from a list of 128, and you need 12 correct. Earlier filers get up to 10 from 100 and need 6 correct.
Will I lose my original nationality?
That depends on your home country's law. Some Arab countries allow dual nationality and others require permission or strip it, so check with your embassy before the oath.
Can green card holders vote?
No. Green card holders cannot vote in federal elections, and unlawful registration or voting can make you ineligible to naturalize.
Official sources we reviewed
- USCIS — Form N-400, Application for Naturalization ↗
- USCIS — Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 09/09/26) ↗
- USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part D, Ch. 3 — Continuous Residence ↗
- USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part D, Ch. 4 — Physical Presence ↗
- USCIS — Citizenship for spouses of U.S. citizens ↗
- USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part F, Ch. 1 — Good Moral Character ↗
- USCIS — The Naturalization Interview and Test ↗
- USCIS — Naturalization Ceremonies ↗