N-400 Application for Naturalization
The citizenship application. A permanent resident applies after five years of residence, or three if married to and living with a U.S. citizen, showing continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, English, and civics knowledge. It ends with an interview, a test, and the oath of allegiance.
- Fee
- $760 paper, $710 online. $380 on paper if documented household income is at or above 150 percent but not more than 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. $0 for military applicants qualifying under INA 328 or 329.
- Fee waiver
- Available (Form I-912)
- Who files
- Lawful permanent residents who meet the residence and character requirements, and military applicants under INA 328 and 329.
- Where to file
- Online through a USCIS account, or by mail to the Phoenix, Dallas, or Elgin lockbox depending on where you live.
- Processing time
- 7.1 months, or 3.0 months for military applications (FY 2026 national medians through June 30, 2026)
Usually filed with
Part of these processes
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- USCIS restored the 2008 civics test with a longer question bank for applications filed on or after a 2025 announcement, and has broadened good moral character review. The 2025 and 2026 policy manual updates ask officers to weigh a wider range of conduct. Denaturalisation referrals have also increased.
Official page. https://www.uscis.gov/n-400. Download the form there, never from a third-party site; check the edition date and fee before filing.