How Much Does It Cost to Become a U.S. Citizen: N-400 Fee and Waivers

Applying for U.S. citizenship costs $710 if you file Form N-400 online or $760 if you file on paper, and that is the only fee USCIS charges. Your realistic all-in cost of becoming a U.S. citizen ranges from $0 with a full fee waiver to more than $2,000 once you factor in an attorney, document gathering, translations, travel, and your first U.S. passport.¹

The N-400 Filing Fee

Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, costs $710 online and $760 on paper.¹ The $50 online discount reflects USCIS’s lower processing costs, so file electronically if you can.

Fingerprinting is included. The biometrics fee is now bundled into the filing fee, so the $710 or $760 covers everything USCIS bills you for the application itself.²

Each adult applies and pays separately. If you and your spouse are both naturalizing, plan on double.

Ways to Pay Less or Nothing at All

Three programs can cut or eliminate the filing fee. One rule applies to all of them: if you request a waiver or reduced fee, you must file the N-400 on paper. Online filing is not available with a fee reduction request.³

Full Fee Waiver

File Form I-912 with your paper N-400 and, if approved, you pay nothing. USCIS will generally grant the waiver if you meet any one of these:⁴

You or a qualifying family member receives a means-tested benefit such as Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI.
Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For a single-person household in the 48 contiguous states in 2026, that threshold is $23,940.⁵
You can document financial hardship, such as unexpected medical bills or sudden job loss.

Attach proof: a benefit award letter, tax returns, or a detailed hardship letter with supporting evidence.

Reduced Fee

If your household income is between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, file Form I-942 with your paper N-400 and the filing fee drops to $380.¹ For a single-person household in the contiguous states in 2026, that window runs roughly $23,940 to $31,920.⁵ Thresholds rise with household size, and HHS updates the guidelines each January, so check current numbers before filing.⁶

Military Exemption

Current and former U.S. service members who qualify are exempt from all naturalization filing fees.⁷ The two qualifying paths are one year of honorable service, or honorable service during a designated period of hostility (the most recent began September 11, 2001, and is still open). File the N-400 with Form N-426 if you’re currently serving, or a copy of your DD-214 if you’ve separated.

The Costs USCIS Doesn’t Charge You For

The filing fee is where most people stop budgeting. It shouldn’t be.

Legal Help

Immigration attorneys typically charge from a few hundred dollars for straightforward N-400 preparation up to $1,500 or more if your case involves criminal history, extended absences, or other complications. Simple cases with strong English don’t require an attorney. If you want help but can’t afford private counsel, the Department of Justice keeps a public list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives authorized to provide low-cost or free immigration legal services, many focused on naturalization.⁸

Documents and Translations

You’ll likely need certified copies of vital records such as birth, marriage, or divorce certificates. Domestic certified copies typically run $10 to $50 per document. Records from abroad can cost significantly more once international mailing and processing are factored in.

Any non-English document requires a certified English translation. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate the language. Professional services charge per page, and costs add up fast if you have several foreign-language documents.

Test Preparation and Retake

Free civics and English study materials are on the USCIS website, and many public libraries and community organizations offer free citizenship classes. Paid tutoring is optional. One useful piece of financial cushion: if you fail either test at your interview, USCIS lets you retake it once at no additional charge.²

Travel

You’ll attend at least two in-person appointments — a biometrics appointment and an interview at a USCIS field office — plus a naturalization ceremony that may be the same day or scheduled later. If the nearest field office is far away, transportation, parking, and possibly a hotel are real costs.

The Fee Is Not Refundable

USCIS fees are generally non-refundable regardless of outcome.⁹ A denial does not get you your $710 or $760 back. Refiling means paying the full fee again. Narrow exceptions exist for USCIS errors like collecting the wrong amount. If you’re uncertain about your eligibility, paying for a legal review before filing is often cheaper than losing the filing fee on a denial.

Your First U.S. Passport

Naturalization itself ends at the ceremony, but nearly every new citizen applies for a passport soon after. As a first-time applicant you file Form DS-11 and pay two fees:¹⁰

Passport book: $130 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, totaling $165.
Passport card: $30 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, totaling $65. The card is only valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
Book and card together: $160 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, totaling $195.

Need it fast? Expedited processing adds $60, and 1-to-3-day delivery of the passport book adds $22.05. A rush passport book can reach $247 or more once every fee is added.¹⁰

What Applicants Actually Spend

The realistic total depends on which lane you’re in:

Fee-waiver applicant who self-prepares: $0 in government fees, with minimal document and travel costs. Under $100 is realistic.
Reduced-fee applicant filing on their own: $380 for the N-400 plus roughly $50 to $100 for documents and travel. About $430 to $480.
Full-fee applicant filing online without an attorney: $710 for the N-400 plus $165 for a passport book, plus document and travel costs. Roughly $900 to $1,000.
Full-fee applicant with legal help: $760 for the paper N-400 (attorneys often prefer paper), $500 to $1,500 in legal fees, $165 for a passport, plus documents and travel. Around $1,500 to $2,500 or more.

The $710 or $760 filing fee is what USCIS controls and what most applicants budget for. Documents, translations, and that first passport quietly add hundreds of dollars on top. Plan for the full picture upfront.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-400, Application for Naturalization
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Fact Sheet: Form N-400 Application for Naturalization Filing Fees
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
5
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines: 48 Contiguous States
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Income Guidelines for Reduced Fees
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Naturalization Through Military Service
8
Executive Office for Immigration Review. Recognition and Accreditation Program
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part B, Chapter 3 – Fees
10
Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees