How Much Does It Cost to Become a US Citizen?

Updated on August 19, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 11 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

For most applicants, becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization currently costs $710 when Form N-400 is filed online or $760 when it is filed on paper. Qualifying applicants can pay a reduced filing fee of $380, while some applicants may qualify for a fee waiver that reduces the USCIS filing fee to $0.

There is no longer a separate $85 biometrics charge for the standard N-400 application. USCIS may still require fingerprints, a photograph, or other biometrics, but those services are incorporated into the current naturalization filing fee. There is also no routine immigration medical exam required simply because someone files Form N-400.

The lowest practical government cost can therefore be $0 for an approved fee-waiver applicant, $380 for someone approved for the reduced fee, or $710 for a typical full-fee online filer. Attorney help, translations, transportation, document replacement, and optional test-preparation services can increase the total.

Article Highlights

• Form N-400 currently costs $710 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 3 full-time workdays, before taxes) online or $760 on paper.
• Filing online saves a full-fee applicant $50.
• The current reduced N-400 filing fee is $380 for applicants who meet USCIS eligibility rules.
• A qualifying fee-waiver applicant may pay $0 in USCIS N-400 filing fees.
• There is no separate $85 N-400 biometrics fee under the current fee structure.
• A standard naturalization applicant does not need a routine immigration medical exam.
• USCIS provides naturalization study materials and public information sessions for $0.
• DHS proposed substantially higher N-400 fees in June 2026, but those proposed prices are not currently in effect.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a U.S. Citizen?

Naturalization expense	Current cost	What it covers
Form N-400 filed online	$710 (about 3 full-time workdays at $30 per hour)	Standard USCIS naturalization filing fee
Form N-400 filed on paper	$760	Standard paper-filing fee
Reduced N-400 fee	$380	Available to qualifying applicants under USCIS reduced-fee rules
Approved fee waiver	$0	Available in qualifying circumstances under current USCIS rules
Separate biometrics fee	$0	Biometric costs are incorporated into the current N-400 filing fee
Naturalization interview	$0 additional USCIS fee	Part of the N-400 process
Oath ceremony	$0 additional USCIS fee	Part of approved naturalization
Official USCIS study resources	$0	Free government preparation materials
Routine immigration medical exam	$0	Not a standard N-400 requirement

The safest place to confirm the amount immediately before filing is the official USCIS Fee Calculator. USCIS began using its current naturalization fee structure for filings made under the fee schedule that took effect in April 2024.

For a full-fee applicant, filing online instead of on paper saves:

$760 – $710 = $50

That is about a 6.6% reduction in the government filing fee simply from using the online filing option when eligible to do so.

What You’re Actually Paying For

Naturalization is the legal process through which an eligible lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen. Form N-400 is the application used by most adult permanent residents seeking naturalization. USCIS reviews the applicant’s immigration history, residence and physical-presence record, travel, tax and marital information when relevant, criminal and good-moral-character issues, and other eligibility requirements.

USCIS may schedule biometrics for identity and background checks, then conducts a naturalization interview. Most applicants also complete English and civics testing unless an exemption or disability exception applies. An approved applicant becomes a U.S. citizen only after taking the Oath of Allegiance and receiving a Certificate of Naturalization. The filing fee pays for the USCIS adjudication process rather than buying citizenship or guaranteeing approval.

USCIS’s current naturalization process guide describes biometrics when required, the interview and tests, the decision, and the oath ceremony.

Reduced Fee, Waivers, and Hidden Costs

Not every applicant has to pay the full $710 (about 3 full-time workdays at $30 per hour) or $760.

USCIS currently offers a reduced N-400 fee of $380 to qualifying applicants. The agency maintains a separate reduced-fee guidance page explaining the current eligibility and documentation requirements.

Compared with the standard online fee:

$710 – $380 = $330

A qualifying reduced-fee applicant therefore saves about 46.5% compared with the full online filing price.

USCIS also allows fee-waiver requests for certain eligible benefit requests. Applicants should use the agency’s current fee-waiver instructions rather than relying on older rules based on the former $725 filing-plus-biometrics structure.

Translations. If required supporting documents are in a foreign language, USCIS may require a complete English translation with appropriate translator certification. USCIS does not set a standard commercial translation price, so any translation bill is a private third-party cost.

Attorney fees. A lawyer is not required to file Form N-400. Applicants with criminal history, long trips abroad, tax issues, prior immigration problems, questions about how permanent residence was obtained, or other complications may choose legal help. See ThePricer’s separate guide to the cost of an immigration lawyer for that optional expense.

Travel and time away from work. An applicant may need transportation, parking, childcare, or unpaid time away from work for biometrics, the interview, or oath ceremony. Those costs depend on the applicant’s location and USCIS appointment schedule.

Medical costs. A normal N-400 application does not require the immigration medical examination used in many permanent-residence cases. A medical professional can become involved when an applicant requests a disability exception to the English or civics requirements using Form N-648. USCIS explains that separate process in its medical disability exception guidance.

The Proposed 2026 Fee Increase

There is an important distinction between the fee applicants pay now and a fee DHS has proposed for the future.

In June 2026, DHS published a proposed rule that would raise the N-400 fee to:

• Proposed online filing fee: $1,280
• Proposed paper filing fee: $1,330

As of August 19, 2026, those figures are proposed fees, not the current filing fees. The current amounts remain $710 online and $760 on paper. Applicants should verify the USCIS fee schedule immediately before submitting Form N-400 because the proposed rule could change before becoming final.

The official Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments proposal provides the rulemaking details.

If the proposed online amount were adopted without change:

$1,280 – $710 = $570 increase

That would be an increase of about 80.3% over today’s online N-400 fee.

For paper filing:

$1,330 – $760 = $570 increase

That would be a 75% increase.

Citizenship Test, Interview, and Timing

Most naturalization applicants take an English test and a civics test unless they qualify for an exemption or exception. The English portion evaluates speaking, reading, and writing. The civics portion covers U.S. government and history.

The naturalization test rules were updated in 2025. Applicants should use the test version assigned under the filing-date rules that apply to their N-400 rather than studying from an old third-party workbook. Current federal naturalization guidance explains which civics test applies based on when Form N-400 was filed.

Official preparation does not have to cost anything. USCIS provides free naturalization study resources, and the agency also holds free naturalization information sessions.

Failing part of the English or civics test at the first interview does not automatically mean the application is denied. USCIS policy gives applicants two opportunities to satisfy the testing requirements. When re-examination is needed, USCIS normally schedules it 60 to 90 days after the first examination. The agency explains this second-chance process in its naturalization examination guidance.

There is also no dependable national promise that every citizenship case will take six or 12 months. Processing varies by field office and case circumstances. Applicants can use USCIS’s current processing-time tool for the office handling Form N-400.

Three Naturalization Cost Scenarios

Standard online filer

An eligible lawful permanent resident prepares the application without paid legal help, uses free USCIS study materials, and files Form N-400 online.

• N-400 filing fee: $710
• Separate biometrics fee: $0
• USCIS study materials: $0
• Routine medical exam: $0
• Government/application total: $710

Transportation or document expenses could still occur, but the required USCIS cost in this straightforward example remains $710.

Worked example: reduced-fee applicant

A qualifying applicant receives the current reduced filing fee:

• Reduced N-400 fee: $380
• Separate biometrics fee: $0
• Free USCIS preparation materials: $0
• Government total: $380

Compared with a full-fee online applicant paying $710, the savings are $330.

Applicant using paid legal help

A more complicated applicant hires an immigration attorney. The USCIS portion remains $710 online or $760 on paper at the current full-fee rate, while the attorney’s separate private bill depends on the case and engagement agreement.

This is why an article saying that citizenship itself costs several thousand dollars can mislead readers. Several-thousand-dollar totals are possible when substantial private legal services are purchased, but that is not the standard government filing charge.

Before You File

Makes sense if:

• You have confirmed that you meet the naturalization eligibility requirements that apply to your case.
• You have checked your travel and residence history before filing.
• You know whether you qualify for the full fee, reduced fee, or a fee waiver.
• You have reviewed the current USCIS fee immediately before submitting payment.
• You are using the correct civics-test materials for your filing date.

Get case-specific legal advice before filing if:

• You have arrests, criminal charges, convictions, or unresolved court matters.
• You had long or frequent absences from the United States.
• You have concerns about how your lawful permanent residence was obtained.
• You have unresolved tax, child-support, Selective Service, or prior immigration issues that may affect eligibility.
• You are uncertain whether an answer on Form N-400 could create immigration consequences beyond the citizenship application itself.

USCIS notes that many applicants naturalize after meeting the general five-year lawful-permanent-resident requirement, while certain spouses of U.S. citizens may qualify under a three-year statutory period if all applicable requirements are met. Some applicants may also file up to 90 days before completing the required continuous-residence period under the applicable early-filing rule.

What We Verified

• Checked the current USCIS fee structure and confirmed the standard N-400 filing cost is $710 online or $760 on paper.
• Confirmed the current reduced N-400 fee is $380 for qualifying applicants.
• Verified that the former separate $85 biometrics fee is not part of the current standard N-400 fee structure.
• Cross-referenced the current USCIS naturalization steps and confirmed that a routine immigration medical exam is not part of the standard N-400 process.
• Verified that applicants normally receive two opportunities to satisfy the English and civics testing requirements.
• Checked the June 2026 proposed fee rule and confirmed the proposed $1,280 online and $1,330 paper figures are not the current fees as of August 19, 2026.

Related Citizenship Costs

After naturalization, a new citizen may choose to apply for proof of citizenship for international travel. See the current U.S. passport cost for application, acceptance, and optional expedited-service fees.

Applicants considering professional representation can compare the government’s fixed N-400 charges with the separate immigration lawyer cost. Legal representation is a private service and is not part of the USCIS naturalization filing fee.

Answers to Common Questions

How much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen in 2026?
The current Form N-400 filing fee is $710 online or $760 on paper for most full-fee applicants. Qualifying applicants may pay a reduced $380 fee or receive an approved fee waiver.

Do I still have to pay an $85 biometrics fee?
No. The former separate $85 N-400 biometrics fee is no longer charged under the current standard naturalization fee structure. USCIS may still require a biometrics appointment.

Do I need a medical exam to apply for citizenship?
Not as a routine Form N-400 requirement. A medical professional may be involved if an applicant seeks a disability exception from the English or civics requirements using Form N-648.

Do I need an immigration lawyer to apply for citizenship?
No. USCIS does not require an attorney. Legal advice can be valuable for applicants with criminal, tax, travel, immigration-history, or other eligibility complications.

What happens if I fail the citizenship test?
Failing part of the test during the first examination does not automatically end the case. USCIS normally provides a second opportunity to pass the portion that was failed, with re-examination generally scheduled 60 to 90 days later.

Can you get U.S. citizenship by investing money?
There is no standard program where paying an investment directly buys U.S. citizenship. Investment-based immigration routes can potentially lead to lawful permanent residence when their requirements are met, but citizenship requires a later and separate naturalization process if the person becomes eligible.