The cost to replace a citizenship certificate is $505 if you file Form N-565 online or $555 if you file the paper form by mail.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule There is no fee at all if you need the replacement because USCIS made a clerical or typographical error on the original.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document The same fee applies whether you’re replacing a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Naturalization, since Form N-565 covers both.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
When You Pay Nothing
Two situations remove the filing fee entirely.
The first is a USCIS error. If your certificate has a misspelled name, a wrong date, or another mistake that USCIS itself introduced, the replacement is free. You’ll want to include the flawed certificate with your application so USCIS can see the error.
The second is a fee waiver. Form N-565 is on the list of applications eligible for a waiver, which you request by submitting Form I-912 with your N-565.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Request for Fee Waiver To qualify, your adjusted gross household income at the time you file must be at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. Expect to back that up with tax returns, pay stubs, or proof that you receive a means-tested benefit.
How You Pay the Fee
If you file online, payment happens through Pay.gov at the end of the submission process, and you can use a credit or debit card or a bank account transfer.
If you file by mail, the payment rules changed. USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, business checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper-filed forms.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Mandate Electronic Payments for Applications You now pay either by credit or debit card using Form G-1450, or by direct bank account transfer using Form G-1650. You fill out the payment form and mail it along with your N-565.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Pay With a Credit Card by Mail
The $50 gap between online and paper filing is a real number to factor in. Filing online is cheaper and also lets you track the case, respond to requests for evidence, and update your address through your USCIS account.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. File Online
Costs Beyond the Filing Fee
The filing fee is the main expense, but a few smaller costs can attach depending on your situation.
Certified translations. Any supporting document not in English — a foreign birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a court order — has to come with a complete English translation, and the translator has to sign a certification of competence and accuracy that includes their name, address, and the date. If you don’t have a bilingual friend or family member who can do this, you’re paying a translation service.
Photos, if you live abroad. Applicants living outside the United States must submit two identical 2-by-2-inch color passport-style photos on glossy thin paper with a white or off-white background, with the name and A-Number lightly written on the back.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document Applicants inside the U.S. do not submit photos, so there’s no photo cost for domestic filers.
Mailing. If you file by mail, use a trackable service and keep copies of everything you send. The cost is modest but worth it given what’s in the envelope.
Police report, if the certificate was lost or stolen. Most U.S. police departments issue reports at no charge, though some jurisdictions charge a small copy fee. A sworn statement explaining the loss is accepted in place of a report.
Appeals, if the application is denied. A denial can be challenged by filing Form I-290B within 30 calendar days of the decision, or 33 days if the decision was mailed.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Notice of Appeal or Motion (I-290B) Form I-290B has its own filing fee, so check the USCIS fee schedule before submitting.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When to Use Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion
How Long Your Money Sits With USCIS
Processing an N-565 typically takes several months, and some cases run over a year. You can look up current estimates on the USCIS website by selecting Form N-565. Because the wait can be long, filing sooner rather than later matters if you know you’ll need the certificate for something.
If you need proof of citizenship quickly, a U.S. passport is recognized as primary evidence of citizenship and is often faster to obtain than a replacement certificate, especially with expedited service.10U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport It has its own application fee, but for most everyday situations where you need to prove you’re a citizen, the passport does the same work as the certificate.
One Boundary Worth Knowing
Form N-565 only replaces certificates that were originally issued by USCIS. If your proof of citizenship is a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the State Department, that document has its own replacement process and is not covered by the N-565 fee.