US Citizenship (N-400) in 2026: Eligibility, the Test and the Oath

Who is eligible: the core rules

For most applicants (INA § 310, the "five-year rule"):

• Age 18 or older at filing
• Five years as a permanent resident — the green card's "resident since" date starts the clock, and you may file up to 90 days early
• Continuous residence: no single trip abroad of one year or more (a trip of 6–12 months raises a presumption of broken continuity you must rebut with evidence of maintained US ties)
• Physical presence: at least 30 months (2.5 years) physically inside the US during the five years
• State/district residence: at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you file
• Good moral character during the statutory period — certain crimes, fraud, or failure to pay taxes or child support can sink an application
• English and civics: you must demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak basic English and pass the US history and government test (exceptions exist for age/disability)

The three-year rule: if you have been married to and living with the same US citizen spouse for three years, the thresholds shrink — three years of permanent residence, 18 months of physical presence, and three years of continuous residence. Divorce or separation before the oath generally kills eligibility under this rule.

What it costs in 2026

Under the USCIS fee rule in effect since April 1, 2024, the Form N-400 filing fee is $710 when filed online or $760 on paper — the $50 difference is an explicit incentive to file electronically. There is no separate biometrics fee; fingerprinting is bundled in. Lower-income applicants may qualify for a reduced fee of $380 (household income between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) or a full fee waiver via Form I-912 (means-tested benefit, income at or below 150% of poverty guidelines, or extreme hardship). Military members naturalizing under service-based provisions pay $0.

One caution: in 2026 USCIS proposed raising the N-400 fee substantially (to about $1,280 online / $1,330 paper) and eliminating reduced fees and most waivers. As of this writing that proposal is not final — comments were still being accepted — so the $710/$760/$380 figures above remain the fees to use. Check the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) before you file, because this could change.

The process and timeline

1. File Form N-400 online (recommended — cheaper and faster) or by mail, with evidence: green card copy, tax transcripts, travel records, marriage evidence if using the three-year rule.
2. Biometrics appointment — usually scheduled within weeks; often reused if USCIS has recent prints on file.
3. Interview and test — at a USCIS field office. The officer reviews your application, administers the English and civics tests, and assesses good moral character.
4. Decision — approval, continuance (need more evidence), or denial.
5. Oath ceremony — you are not a citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Some offices offer same-day oaths.

How long does it take? USCIS processing times vary widely by field office — historically anywhere from 6 to 18+ months end to end. Check the current case processing times on uscis.gov for your specific office rather than relying on national averages. Filing online and having a clean travel history tend to move faster.

The civics and English tests

The civics test draws from 100 published questions on US history and government (USCIS provides all 100 with answers — study the actual list, not summaries). The officer asks 10 questions; you need 6 correct to pass. The English test has three parts: speaking (assessed throughout the interview), reading (read one of three sentences correctly), and writing (write one of three sentences correctly). If you fail one portion, USCIS generally gives you one retest within 60–90 days on the failed portion only.

The 65/20 exception: applicants aged 65+ with 20+ years as permanent residents take a simplified test — 10 questions from a shorter list of 20, in their own language with an interpreter if needed. Disability-based exceptions (Form N-648) exist for those who cannot meet the requirements due to a medical condition.

After the oath: first steps as a citizen

• Apply for a US passport — your Certificate of Naturalization is proof of citizenship for the application
• Update Social Security records to reflect citizenship (affects future benefits and employment verification)
• Register to vote — the most immediate new right
• Petition for relatives — citizens can sponsor parents, spouses, children, and siblings (with varying wait times by category)
• Travel freely — no more worrying about the one-year absence rule or reentry permits for long trips

Note for dual citizens: the US permits dual citizenship and does not require you to renounce other nationalities at the oath — but your other country's laws may treat US naturalization differently, so check before you file.