How Much Does It Cost to Become a U.S. Citizen: Fees and Waivers

The cost to become a U.S. citizen through naturalization starts at $710 if you file Form N-400 online, or $760 if you mail a paper application. Biometrics are included in that price. What you actually spend depends on whether you hire an attorney, need documents translated, or want a U.S. passport afterward, which can push the total past $1,000. Low-income applicants may qualify for a reduced fee or a full waiver, and service members filing based on qualifying military service pay nothing.

The N-400 Filing Fee

Naturalization runs on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.¹ The fee is $710 online through the USCIS portal or $760 by paper.² There is no separate biometric services charge; fingerprints, photograph, and signature collection for background checks are built into that amount.³

The fee is non-refundable. If USCIS denies your application, you do not get your money back.⁴

Ways to Pay Less or Nothing

USCIS offers two income-based options and a full exemption for military applicants.

Full Fee Waiver

You can ask USCIS to waive the entire N-400 filing fee by submitting Form I-912 with your application. To qualify, your household income must be at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file.⁵ For a single person in the 48 contiguous states, that works out to roughly $23,475 a year under the 2025 guidelines.⁶ You also qualify if you currently receive a means-tested benefit such as Medicaid or SNAP, and USCIS may grant a waiver above the 150 percent line if you show special financial circumstances.

Household size matters. USCIS counts you, your spouse if living with you, unmarried children under 21 living with you, full-time student children under 24 who live with you when not at school, parents living with you, and other dependents on your federal tax return.⁷ Roommates and other relatives don’t count as household members, though any money they contribute toward household expenses counts as income.

Reduced Fee

If your household income is above 150 percent but not more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, Form I-942 gets you a reduced N-400 fee.⁸ The reduced filing fee is $320. Unlike the full-fee version, this route carries a separate $85 biometric services fee, bringing your total to $405.⁹ Form I-942 itself is free to file.

Military Exemption

If you are filing for naturalization based on qualifying military service under sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, you owe no filing fee at all. The USCIS fee schedule lists the N-400 fee as $0 for these applicants.² If your application is denied and you request a hearing on Form N-336, that fee is waived too.¹⁰ The exemption applies to the service member. Military spouses and children file under the standard fee rules and can apply for a waiver or reduced fee if they qualify.

Other Costs to Plan For

The filing fee is only part of the picture. Depending on your situation, several other expenses can stack on top.

Immigration Attorney

You are not required to hire an attorney, but many applicants do, particularly if they have a complicated travel history, past arrests, or gaps in their residency. Legal fees generally run from around $500 for straightforward cases to $2,500 or more for complex ones, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location. Accredited nonprofit organizations that help with citizenship applications often charge much less, typically between $50 and $150.

Document Translation

Any supporting document not in English must include a certified English translation before USCIS will accept it. Professional translators generally charge between $20 and $50 per page.

Medical Certification for a Disability Exception

Form N-648 is not a general medical exam. It is a certification used only by applicants seeking an exception to the English or civics testing requirements because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment.¹¹ Only a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist can complete it.¹² USCIS charges nothing to file the form, but the medical professional typically bills for the evaluation and paperwork, often between $200 and $500.

Test Preparation

The naturalization interview includes an English test and a civics test on U.S. history and government. USCIS publishes free study materials online, including practice tests, flashcards, audio, and a full civics study guide.¹³ Community colleges and nonprofits often offer free or low-cost classes as well. If you fail either test at your first interview, USCIS schedules a second attempt 60 to 90 days later at no extra charge.¹⁴

U.S. Passport

Once you naturalize, you’ll likely want a U.S. passport. New citizens apply on Form DS-11, which carries a $130 application fee plus a $35 acceptance fee at the facility where you submit it, for $165 total for a passport book.¹⁵ A passport card, valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, costs $30 plus the same $35 acceptance fee.¹⁶ A book and card together run $160 plus the $35 acceptance fee.¹⁷

What It Costs If You’re Denied

A denial leaves you with two options, both of which cost more money.

You can request a hearing by filing Form N-336 within 30 days of the denial. The fee is $830 on paper or $780 online.² You can request a waiver if you can’t afford it.¹⁰ Or you can start over with a new N-400 and a new filing fee. USCIS does not refund the original fee. The only exception is if USCIS itself made an error that caused an inappropriate filing.⁴

How to Pay USCIS

Online filers pay through the Treasury Department’s Pay.gov system using a credit card, debit card, or direct bank withdrawal. For paper filings, USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, business checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks unless you qualify for an exemption by filing Form G-1651.¹⁸ Paper filers pay by credit, debit, or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or by direct bank payment using Form G-1650.¹⁹

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-400, Application for Naturalization
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Fact Sheet – Form N-400 Application for Naturalization Filing Fees
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 3 – Fees
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-912, Instructions for Request for Fee Waiver
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Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-942, Instructions for Request for Reduced Fee
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-942, Request for Reduced Fee
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Federal Register. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 3 – Medical Disability Exception (Form N-648)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
13
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Study for the Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 2 – English and Civics Testing
15
U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport
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U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Pay With a Credit Card by Mail