How to Replace a Citizenship Certificate With Form N-565

To replace a Certificate of Citizenship, file Form N-565 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The filing fee is $555 by mail or $505 online, and it’s free if the replacement is needed because USCIS made an error on the original. Processing takes several months, so if you need proof of citizenship soon, a U.S. passport is often the faster route and may be all you need.

Consider a Passport First

A valid U.S. passport is official proof of citizenship and works for employment verification, federal benefits, and travel.¹ Passport processing is generally quicker than N-565 adjudication, and expedited service is available. If you already hold a valid passport, you may not need to replace the certificate at all unless a specific agency asks for it.

Certain immigration petitions for family members, some state processes, and specific benefit applications do ask for the certificate itself. If that’s your situation, or you want the replacement on file, keep reading.

Who Qualifies for a Replacement

USCIS accepts Form N-565 for these reasons:

Your certificate was lost, stolen, or destroyed. Include a police report or a sworn statement describing what happened.
Your certificate is damaged. Send the damaged original with your application.
Your legal name changed by court order or marriage. Include the original certificate and proof of the change.
Your date of birth was recorded incorrectly. Include supporting evidence of the correct date.
USCIS made a typographical or clerical error. The replacement is free in this case.

What to Gather Before You File

Required documents depend on the reason, but every applicant should have these ready:

A copy of the original certificate if you have one. If you’re correcting an error or updating a name, you must send the original certificate itself, not a copy.
A police report or sworn statement if the certificate was lost, stolen, or destroyed.
A certified court order or marriage certificate if you’re changing the name on the document.
Two passport-style photographs if you live outside the United States.
A government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport.

Any document in a foreign language must include a complete English translation with a signed certification from the translator stating that the translation is accurate and that the translator is competent in both languages.² The translator doesn’t need to be a professional.

Filing Fees

The fee turns on how you file and why:

Paper filing by mail: $555
Online filing: $505
USCIS error on the original certificate: $0
Approved fee waiver: $0

These amounts come from the USCIS fee schedule.³ Online filing saves $50 and lets you upload documents and track your case electronically.

If you can’t afford the fee, submit Form I-912 to request a waiver. You’ll need to show that you receive a means-tested benefit, that your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, or that you’re experiencing financial hardship.⁴ You can file the waiver request online with your application or mail it with a paper filing.

Paying by Mail

USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, business checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper filings. When mailing your application, pay by credit, debit, or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or directly from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650.⁵ Online filers pay through Pay.gov.⁶

Filling Out Form N-565

Use the current version of Form N-565 from the USCIS website. Outdated versions get rejected. If you complete the form by hand, use black ink; typing reduces the risk of misread handwriting. The form asks for your personal information, details about the original certificate (certificate number and issue date if you have them), and your specific reason for the replacement.

Before you submit, make a complete copy of the form, every supporting document, and your proof of payment. If something goes wrong in processing, that copy is what you’ll work from.

Where to File

You can file online through a USCIS account or mail a paper application. Both options are available whether you live in the United States or abroad.⁷

Online

Create an account at uscis.gov, complete the form electronically, and upload your supporting documents. One catch: if you’re returning an original certificate because it’s damaged or contains incorrect information, you still need to mail that physical document to the Nebraska Service Center after filing online. The address appears in the Evidence section of the online application.

By Mail

Mail your complete package to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox. The address depends on how you ship it:

U.S. Postal Service: USCIS, Attn: N-565, P.O. Box 20050, Phoenix, AZ 85036-0050
FedEx, UPS, or DHL: USCIS, Attn: N-565 (Box 20050), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

Use a trackable shipping method so you have proof of delivery.

When USCIS Made the Error

If the certificate has incorrect information because USCIS made the mistake, the replacement is free.³ For a simple typo, you can submit a typographic error service request through the USCIS website before filing a formal application.⁸

To establish that the error was on USCIS’s end, return the document containing the mistake. You’ll generally also need a statement explaining the error, supporting documentation showing the correct information, or both.⁹ Keep copies before sending anything.

After You File

USCIS sends a receipt notice (Form I-797C) confirming receipt of your application. Online filers usually get theirs within a few days; paper filers wait longer. The receipt has a case number you can use to check status on the USCIS website.

Biometrics

USCIS may require you to appear at a local Application Support Center for fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature.¹⁰ Not every N-565 applicant is called in. If USCIS does schedule you, they’ll mail a separate appointment notice. Missing the appointment without rescheduling can lead to a denial, so watch your mail.

Processing Times

Processing times for Form N-565 fluctuate. USCIS posts current estimates on its website, and you can check yours using your receipt number.⁷ Once approved, the new certificate is mailed to the address on your application. Interviews are uncommon for replacement applications, but USCIS can request one if it needs more information.

If You Move

Your new certificate goes to whatever address USCIS has on file. If you move while the application is pending, update your address as soon as possible through your USCIS online account, entering the receipt number for your pending case.¹¹ You can also file a paper Form AR-11 by mail. Either method meets the legal requirement to notify USCIS. Skip this step and your certificate could arrive at your old address with no way to recover it.

If Your Application Is Denied

USCIS will notify you in writing with the reason for a denial.¹⁰ Common reasons include incomplete applications, insufficient evidence, or an inability to verify identity. In many cases you can fix the issue and refile. Read the denial letter closely so you know exactly what to correct before submitting again.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. New U.S. Citizens
2
eCFR. 8 CFR 103.2 Submission and Adjudication of Benefit Requests
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Pay With a Credit Card by Mail
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
8
USCIS. Typographic Error
9
USCIS. Immigration Documents and How to Correct, Update, or Replace Them
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How to Change Your Address