How to Replace Your Citizenship Certificate: Form N-565 Fees and Filing

To replace a lost, stolen, damaged, or inaccurate U.S. citizenship certificate, you file USCIS Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document. The fee is $505 online or $555 by mail, and processing runs several months. If you need proof of citizenship sooner, a valid U.S. passport is independently accepted for employment, federal benefits, and travel, and applying for one through the State Department is often faster than waiting for a replacement certificate. The same Form N-565 covers both Certificates of Naturalization and Certificates of Citizenship.¹

When You Can File

Federal regulations at 8 CFR 343a.1 let you request a replacement when your certificate has been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed.² A certificate too faded or damaged to read also qualifies. A police report is not required if the document was stolen, though one can support your application.

You can also file to correct or update personal information on the certificate:

Even minor discrepancies on a citizenship certificate can cause problems during background checks, employment verification, or travel. Fixing an error before you urgently need the document is easier than fixing one under deadline pressure.

What to Send With Form N-565

Form N-565 is available for download or online completion through the USCIS website.⁵ The form asks for your Alien Registration Number (A-Number) if you have one, along with biographical details.⁴

Supporting evidence depends on why you are filing:

Lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate: no physical document to submit, but describe the circumstances in the application.
Name change: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or certified court order showing the new name.⁴
Date of birth or sex correction: the original certificate together with the court order or government-issued document supporting the change.⁵
USCIS error: the original incorrect certificate so USCIS can verify the mistake.

Any document in a foreign language must include a certified English translation. If you live outside the United States, include two identical passport-style photographs; applicants inside the U.S. do not.⁵

Fees and Fee Waivers

Paper filing costs $555. Online filing costs $505.⁶ There is no fee when the replacement is needed solely because USCIS made an error on the original.³

If you cannot afford the fee, Form N-565 is eligible for a fee waiver through Form I-912.⁷ You qualify if you, your spouse, or a household member currently receives a means-tested benefit such as SNAP or SSI; if your household income is at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; or if extraordinary expenses create financial hardship.⁸ Include proof: a benefit award letter, tax returns, or a written statement documenting the hardship.

How to File and How to Pay

You can file online through a USCIS account or by mail. Online filing lets you upload documents electronically and generally confirms receipt faster. Paper filings go to a single USCIS Phoenix Lockbox address regardless of where you live.⁵

Payment rules catch many filers off guard. USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper-filed forms.⁹ If you mail your application, pay with a credit, debit, or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or directly from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650.¹⁰ Sending a check will get your entire package returned without review. Online filers enter payment information through the secure portal at submission.

After You File

USCIS issues a receipt notice with a 13-character case number. You can track status online using that number.¹¹ Current estimates appear on the USCIS processing times page. Plan for several months at minimum.

USCIS may schedule a biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center for fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature. Not every applicant is called in. If USCIS decides biometrics are necessary, you will receive a notice with the date, time, and location.⁴ Missing the appointment without rescheduling can lead to denial.

If You Need Proof of Citizenship While You Wait

A valid U.S. passport is the simplest interim proof. If you do not have one, USCIS can issue temporary evidence of status through an ADIT stamp, which you request by scheduling an appointment at your local USCIS office. Availability depends on your circumstances and office capacity, so make the appointment early if you anticipate needing documentation before your replacement arrives.

If USCIS Denies Your Application

Common denial reasons include insufficient evidence, failure to establish eligibility, or an incomplete filing. There is no formal appeal for Form N-565, but you can file a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider using Form I-290B.¹² A motion to reopen presents new facts or evidence. A motion to reconsider argues that USCIS misapplied the law or policy to facts already in the file. You generally have 33 calendar days from the date USCIS mailed the denial. Late motions are typically denied, though USCIS may excuse a delay that was reasonable and beyond your control.

Filing From Outside the United States

If you are a U.S. citizen abroad and your certificate is lost or stolen, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate first. If you do not already have a valid passport, the embassy can help you apply for one, which serves as proof of citizenship for re-entry and most other purposes. You can still file Form N-565 for a replacement certificate while overseas, but you must include two passport-style photographs, which domestic filers do not submit.⁵ Processing from abroad may run longer, so a passport through the embassy is usually the more practical route for interim proof.

1
USAGov. Get or Replace a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Naturalization
2
eCFR. 8 CFR 343a.1 – Application for Replacement of or New Papers Relating to Naturalization, Citizenship, or Repatriation
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part K Chapter 4 – Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
8
eCFR. 8 CFR 106.3 – Fee Waivers and Exemptions
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Checking Your Case Status Online
12
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion