Applying for U.S. citizenship through Form N-400 costs $710 if you file online or $760 if you mail a paper application. Those are the current naturalization fees charged by USCIS, and they cover the whole process from application through biometrics to the oath ceremony. If the full amount is out of reach, you may qualify for a reduced $380 fee or a complete waiver, and military applicants pay nothing at all.
What the N-400 Filing Fee Covers
Form N-400 is the application for naturalization. USCIS charges two prices depending on how you submit it:
- $710 through a USCIS online account
- $760 by mail
The $50 discount for online filing reflects the lower processing cost on the agency’s end. There is no separate biometrics fee anymore; the $85 fingerprinting and photo charge that used to be added on top is now built into the filing fee.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Fact Sheet on N-400 Naturalization Fees
Whatever you pay is final. USCIS keeps the money whether your application is approved, denied, or withdrawn, and if you submit the wrong amount the agency will reject the whole package.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
How to Pay
For online filings, payment happens at the moment you submit. USCIS accepts credit cards, debit cards, and ACH bank withdrawals through your online account, and the payment is verified immediately.
Paper filings changed on October 28, 2025. USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for mailed applications.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Modernize Fee Payments with Electronic Funds You now have two electronic options for a paper N-400:
- Complete and sign Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, and place it on top of your N-400 package.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1450 Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
- Complete and sign Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, which lets USCIS debit your U.S. checking or savings account directly.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1650 Authorization for ACH Transactions
You cannot use both. Submitting a G-1450 and a G-1650 for the same application will get the filing rejected.6USCIS. Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 3 – Fees If your credit card is declined, USCIS will not try it again; the application is rejected for lack of payment.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
Reduced Fee of $380
If you cannot afford the full amount but are not destitute, you may qualify to pay $380 instead. Eligibility depends on documented annual household income below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request
For 2026, a single-person household qualifies with income under $63,840. A household of four qualifies below $132,000.9U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States Those ceilings are higher than most applicants expect, so it’s worth checking even if you don’t consider yourself low-income.
To request the reduced fee, fill out Part 10 of Form N-400 and attach proof of household income. A recent federal tax return is the strongest documentation; pay stubs or a W-2 may be accepted when a tax return isn’t available.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request
Two limits are worth knowing. You must mail a paper application; the reduced fee is not available for online filing.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form N-400 Application for Naturalization And you cannot ask for both the reduced fee and a full waiver at the same time.
Full Fee Waiver
If even $380 is beyond reach, file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, together with your paper N-400.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912 Request for Fee Waiver If USCIS approves it, you pay nothing. You qualify by meeting any one of three tests.
You Receive a Means-Tested Benefit
Currently receiving a government benefit based on income and resources qualifies you, and a benefit held by a family member living with you also counts. Qualifying programs include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SNAP, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Section 8 housing assistance, among others.12USCIS. Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions
Regular Social Security retirement does not count. SSI and Social Security are different programs; SSI is means-tested, while retirement benefits are earned through work history and paid regardless of other income.13U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver
Your documentation should show the benefit is active right now. A recent award letter or agency notice listing your name, the granting agency, the type of benefit, and the coverage dates will do the job.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912 Request for Fee Waiver
Your Income Is At or Below 150% of the Poverty Guidelines
You also qualify if your household income sits at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, even if you receive no government benefits. For 2026 in the 48 contiguous states, that threshold is $23,940 for one person and $49,500 for a family of four.9U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States Tax returns, pay stubs, or other income records are the standard proof.12USCIS. Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions
Financial Hardship From Extraordinary Circumstances
If your income exceeds 150% of the poverty guidelines but extraordinary expenses have made the fee impossible to pay, you can still qualify. USCIS considers situations such as medical emergencies, sudden job loss, or a natural disaster.12USCIS. Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions This route is the most subjective, so document everything: bills, termination letters, insurance records, anything that lays out your finances clearly.
If the Waiver Is Denied
A denied fee waiver often means the underlying N-400 is rejected too. You’ll get a denial notice (Form I-797) with an explanation. If the reason isn’t clear, you can email USCIS at lockboxsupport@uscis.dhs.gov for clarification.13U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver From there you can resubmit the waiver with stronger documentation or refile the N-400 with the full or reduced fee.
No Fee for Military Applicants
Current and former members of the U.S. armed forces pay nothing to file Form N-400. USCIS charges no fee for naturalization applications submitted under the military service provisions of immigration law, and the exemption also covers any appeal after a denial and applications for a Certificate of Citizenship.14USCIS. Policy Manual – Application and Filing for Service Members (INA 328 and 329) Spouses of current service members, along with spouses, parents, and children of deceased service members, file through the same military channel.15U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Direct Filing Addresses for Form N-400 Application for Naturalization
Other Costs the Filing Fee Doesn’t Cover
The USCIS fee is the main expense, but not the only one. You may need passport-style photos if your local office doesn’t take them at your biometrics appointment. If you hire an immigration attorney or accredited representative, professional fees typically run from several hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the complexity of your case and where you live.
There is no separate charge for the naturalization interview or the oath ceremony; both are included in the N-400 fee. Once you’re sworn in, a U.S. passport carries its own separate fees through the State Department.