Requirements for Citizenship

To become a U.S. citizen you must meet the following requirements:

You must be 18 years of age or older.
You must have authorization to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis (informally known as a green card) for at least five years (or three years, if married to a United States citizen).
You must have continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years (or three years, if married to a United States citizen) and be physically present in the U.S. for at least half that time.
Must be able to read, write and speak basic English.
- Some people do not have to speak English at all or answer any questions about United States history and civics, depending on many factors such as their age, time in the U.S. as green card holders, and if they have a disability. For more information about language exceptions, disability exceptions, and accommodations, click here.
Must have a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government.
You must be a person of “good moral character.”
You must take a loyalty oath to the United States and support the Constitution and form of government of the United States.

For more information about the path to citizenship, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

You must complete an application that includes the following information:

Personal information about you, your parents, your spouse, and your children (if applicable)
Any arrests you may have had
Where you worked during the last 5 years
Where you lived during the last 5 years
Where you traveled outside of the United States over the last 5 years

The application fee is $725 (including the $85 biometric services fee). Some people are eligible to have this fee waived or to pay a reduced fee.

To see if you are eligible for a fee waiver or the reduced fee for the naturalization application, use our fee waiver calculator.