N-400 citizenship application guide

Legal information only. Required evidence and exam rules vary by case and current USCIS policy. This checklist covers commonly required items but isn't exhaustive for every situation. An immigration attorney should review your full application before submission. See our full disclaimer.

N-400 checklist builder

Which residence track applies to you?

What is your age?

Do you want to legally change your name as part of this application?

Have you taken any trips abroad of 6 months or longer?

Any prior criminal history or unpaid taxes?

If you're male and were 18-25 at any point while a green card holder, did you register for Selective Service?

Your N-400 filing and prep checklist

Get your N-400 application reviewed before filing

A missing document or an answer that doesn't match your travel and background history can trigger delays or follow-up questions at your interview. An immigration attorney can review your full application before you submit.

What does the N-400 process actually involve?

Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is the formal request to become a US citizen. The process has 4 stages: filing the application with supporting documents, attending a biometrics appointment, completing an interview with an English and civics test, and, if approved, taking the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. Each stage has its own requirements, and the documents you need depend heavily on which residence track and personal circumstances apply to you.

Before starting this checklist, confirm you actually meet the underlying eligibility requirements using our naturalization eligibility tool, since residence gaps or certain background issues can affect timing or eligibility entirely.

Document checklist basics

Every applicant needs a copy of their green card (front and back), and most need 5 years, or 3 years for the spouse track, of continuous address history and employment history to fill out the application accurately. Travel records covering every trip abroad during the statutory period are required, even short ones, since USCIS uses this to verify both continuous residence and physical presence.

The civics and English test

Most applicants must pass an English test (reading, writing, and speaking) and a civics test covering US history and government, with USCIS selecting questions from an official study list. Certain applicants qualify for exemptions or modifications: those 50 or older with 20 years as a green card holder, or 55 or older with 15 years, are exempt from the English test but still take civics, available in their native language. A medical disability exemption is also available with proper documentation from a doctor.

What happens at the interview

The naturalization interview combines testing with a line-by-line review of your N-400 answers, where the officer asks follow-up questions to confirm accuracy and assess good moral character. Bringing original versions of any documents submitted as copies, along with current government-issued ID, is standard practice. Most applicants receive a decision the same day or shortly after, though some cases require additional review.

Frequently asked questions about N-400 applications

USCIS draws from an official list of civics questions covering American government, history, and civics principles, and asks a set number during the interview. Applicants need to answer most of them correctly to pass. Studying the official question list directly, rather than general knowledge alone, is the most reliable way to prepare since USCIS only draws from that specific list.

Yes, many applicants request a legal name change as part of naturalization, finalized when the judge or officer signs off at the oath ceremony. This avoids a separate court name-change proceeding. You'll need to indicate this on the N-400 itself and the new name will appear on your certificate of naturalization once approved.

Male green card holders who were required to register for Selective Service between ages 18 and 25 but didn't can still face questions about this during the naturalization interview. Depending on the circumstances, USCIS may require an explanation or additional documentation showing the failure to register wasn't willful. This is worth discussing with an attorney before filing rather than at the interview itself.

Yes. The N-400 asks broad questions about your entire history, not just the statutory period, and requires disclosure of arrests and citations even if charges were dismissed or the record was later sealed or expunged in many states. Failing to disclose something USCIS later discovers can be treated as misrepresentation, which is more serious than the underlying offense itself in many cases.

After approval, you're scheduled for an Oath of Allegiance ceremony, sometimes on the same day as your interview in expedited cases, where you officially become a US citizen and receive your certificate of naturalization. You'll need to surrender your green card at the ceremony. Afterward, you can apply for a US passport and register to vote.