Becoming a U.S. citizen comes down to one application, one test, and one ceremony. Most green card holders qualify after five years of permanent residence, file Form N-400, pass an English and civics test, and take the Oath of Allegiance. The whole process costs $710 online or $760 on paper in 2026 and now runs on a tougher 128-question civics test for anyone who applies on or after October 20, 2025.

This guide covers every step: who qualifies, the residency math that trips people up, what the test actually asks, how long it takes, and what to do at each stage. Naturalization is the only way a foreign-born adult becomes a citizen, and it unlocks the right to vote, a U.S. passport, federal jobs, and protection from deportation.

The single most common mistake is applying before you are eligible. The clock is not just about how long you have held a green card. It also counts continuous residence, physical presence, and good moral character, each measured separately. Get those wrong and USCIS denies the application without refunding the fee.

Here is the path at a glance before we break down each requirement.

Who qualifies for citizenship

You must be at least 18, hold a green card, and meet the residency rules. The baseline is the five-year rule: most lawful permanent residents can apply after five years. If you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen, the three-year rule applies instead, as long as your spouse has been a citizen for that entire time.

Two more clocks run alongside that. Continuous residence means you have lived in the U.S. without breaking your stay, and trips abroad of six months or more can break it. Physical presence means you were actually inside the country for at least half of the qualifying period, so 30 months out of 5 years, or 18 months out of 3 years. You also need to have lived in your state or USCIS district for at least three months before filing.

A separate guide on filling out Form N-400 walks through the application itself line by line once you confirm you meet these thresholds.

The good moral character requirement

USCIS must find that you have been a person of good moral character during the entire qualifying period, five years for most applicants and three for spouses of citizens, right up to the oath. Certain acts are automatic bars, including aggravated felonies, illegal voting, and lying to immigration officials. Others, like a DUI, unpaid taxes, or failure to register for Selective Service, can sink an application even when they are not permanent bars.

This standard tightened in 2025. USCIS now scrutinizes good moral character more heavily, looking beyond the statutory period and weighing positive contributions against negative conduct. If you have any arrest, tax issue, or immigration violation in your history, gather the records and consider legal advice before you file.

The English and civics tests

At the interview you face two tests. The English test checks speaking, reading, and writing. The officer gauges your speaking through normal conversation, then asks you to read one of three sentences aloud and write one of three sentences correctly. The bar is basic English, not fluency.

The civics test changed materially. Anyone filing N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, takes the 2025 version, which draws from a pool of 128 questions, up from 100. The officer asks 20 of them orally, and you must answer 12 correctly to pass. The officer stops as soon as you hit 12 right or 9 wrong.

Older, long-term residents get a break. If you are 65 or older and have held a green card for at least 20 years, you study a smaller set and answer 10 questions, needing 6 correct. For the full breakdown of what changed, see our explainer on the 128-question 2025 civics test.

What it costs and how to pay

The N-400 fee is $710 if you file online and $760 by paper, and that single payment covers biometrics. Two discounts exist. If your household income is at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, you pay a reduced $380. Green card holders who served at least one year in the U.S. military and were honorably discharged pay nothing.

USCIS no longer accepts personal checks or money orders for most paper filings. Pay by credit or debit card using Form G-1450, or directly from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650. Filing online is both cheaper and lets you track the case in your USCIS account.

How long naturalization takes

From filing to oath, most cases run 8 to 14 months, though times vary by field office. After you submit Form N-400, USCIS schedules biometrics within a few weeks, then the interview months later. The 2025 changes added friction: processing now sees longer waits and stricter checks, so build in extra time.

You can file up to 90 days before you hit the five-year or three-year mark, a window worth using because it shaves months off the end date. The application asks for your full travel history, addresses, and employment, so start gathering those records early rather than scrambling at the interview.

The oath ceremony and your proof of citizenship

You are not a citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance. After approval, USCIS schedules a ceremony, sometimes the same day as the interview, more often weeks later. Ceremonies happen at USCIS offices, federal courthouses, and large public venues. You turn in your green card and receive a Certificate of Naturalization, your legal proof of citizenship.

Apply for a U.S. passport soon after. A passport is the easiest everyday proof of citizenship and is needed for international travel, while the certificate stays home in a safe place. If you have children, ask whether they derived citizenship automatically, in which case a Certificate of Citizenship may apply to them.

Does the U.S. allow dual citizenship

Yes. The United States permits dual citizenship and does not require you to renounce your former nationality during naturalization. The Oath of Allegiance asks you to renounce allegiance to foreign states, but U.S. law does not force you to give up another passport. Whether you keep your original citizenship depends on your home country’s rules, not American ones.

Some countries automatically strip citizenship when you naturalize elsewhere, while others allow you to hold both. Check your country of origin’s law before the ceremony if keeping that nationality matters to you, because reacquiring it later can be difficult or impossible.

What to do next

First, count your dates. Confirm you have held a green card for five years, or three if married to a citizen, and that you meet the continuous residence and physical presence tests. Pull your passport and travel records to verify no single trip abroad ran past six months.

Then review your record for anything touching good moral character, gather supporting documents, and start studying the 128 civics questions now rather than after you file. File Form N-400 online to save $50 and track the case. If you have any criminal history, tax problems, or long absences, talk to an immigration attorney before submitting, because a denial costs you the full fee and months of waiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long must I have a green card before applying for citizenship?

Most permanent residents must wait five years. If you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen who has been a citizen the whole time, you can apply after three years. You may file Form N-400 up to 90 days before reaching that five-year or three-year mark.

How much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen in 2026?

Form N-400 costs $710 if you file online and $760 by paper, and that single fee covers biometrics. Applicants with household income at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines pay a reduced $380. Green card holders with at least one year of honorable military service pay nothing.

How many questions are on the 2026 citizenship civics test?

Anyone filing Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025 takes the 2025 civics test, drawn from a pool of 128 questions. The officer asks 20 orally and you must answer 12 correctly to pass. The officer stops once you reach 12 right or 9 wrong.

Is there an easier citizenship test for older applicants?

Yes. If you are 65 or older and have been a green card holder for at least 20 years, you study a smaller marked set and answer 10 questions, needing 6 correct to pass. This exception reduces both the study load and the number of questions asked at the interview.

Does the United States allow dual citizenship?

Yes. U.S. law does not require you to renounce your former nationality to naturalize. The Oath of Allegiance asks you to renounce allegiance to foreign states, but you are not forced to surrender another passport. Whether you keep your original citizenship depends on your home country’s laws.

What is the good moral character requirement?

USCIS must find you have been a person of good moral character during the qualifying period, five years for most applicants or three for spouses of citizens. Aggravated felonies and illegal voting are permanent bars, while a DUI, unpaid taxes, or immigration violations can also cause a denial. The standard tightened in 2025.

How long does the naturalization process take?

From filing Form N-400 to the oath ceremony, most cases run 8 to 14 months, though times vary by field office. USCIS schedules biometrics within weeks of filing, then the interview months later. The 2025 changes added longer waits and stricter checks, so plan for extra time.

What are the English requirements for citizenship?

You must show basic English in speaking, reading, and writing. The officer judges speaking through conversation during the interview, asks you to read one of three sentences aloud, and asks you to write one of three sentences correctly. Fluency is not required, only basic ability.