If you cannot afford the $710 to $760 cost of applying for U.S. citizenship, you can ask USCIS to waive it. A USCIS naturalization fee waiver is requested on Form I-912 and, if approved, eliminates the filing fee entirely. Applicants who earn a little too much for a full waiver can request a reduced fee of $380 using Form I-942, and active-duty service members and qualifying veterans pay nothing at all.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Application for Naturalization2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
What the Fee Covers
Form N-400 is the citizenship application, and the filing fee is $710 online or $760 by paper. No separate biometric services fee applies; fingerprinting and background checks are built in.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule Both the waiver and the reduced fee options apply to this amount.
Three Ways to Qualify for a Full Waiver
You need to meet only one of the three grounds on Form I-912.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
You Receive a Means-Tested Benefit
If you or a qualifying family member currently receives a benefit whose eligibility depends on income and resources, the waiver will generally be approved. Common qualifying programs include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, SNAP, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Request for Fee Waiver You need to include a letter, notice, or agency document showing the recipient’s name, the granting agency, the type of benefit, and that the benefit is currently active.
Your Household Income Is at or Below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
The second path is income-based. The 2026 thresholds for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. are:5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $23,940
- 2 people: $32,460
- 3 people: $40,980
- 4 people: $49,500
- 5 people: $58,020
- 6 people: $66,540
- 7 people: $75,060
- 8 people: $83,580
Add $8,520 for each additional person beyond eight. Alaska and Hawaii use higher thresholds; check the HHS guidelines if you live there. Supporting proof usually means your most recent federal tax return along with pay stubs or similar evidence.
You Have Documented Financial Hardship
The third path is for applicants whose income sits above 150% of the poverty line but who still cannot afford the fee because of an extraordinary circumstance, such as large medical bills or a recent job loss. This one takes the most preparation. You need detailed documentation of monthly expenses and liabilities, including rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, and outstanding debt, to show that paying the full fee would create genuine hardship.
The Reduced Fee Alternative
If your income is too high for a full waiver, Form I-942 lets you request a reduced fee of $380 instead.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request To qualify, your documented annual household income must be greater than 150% but not more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-942, Request for Reduced Fee
For a household of four in the contiguous states, that runs from $49,500 to $132,000 in 2026. For a single person, the range is $23,940 to $63,840.5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines The $380 amount is flat, regardless of household size or exact income within the qualifying band.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule One catch: the reduced fee is only available for paper filings.
Military Service Members Pay Nothing
Active-duty service members and qualifying veterans are fully exempt from the naturalization filing fee under specific sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule This is not a hardship-based waiver, so there is no income showing to make.
If you are currently serving, your chain of command certifies your honorable service on Form N-426. If you have already separated, you skip the N-426 and submit a photocopy of your DD Form 214 or NGB Form 22 instead.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Naturalization Through Military Service
How to File with a Fee Request
This is where applicants trip up: if you are requesting a fee waiver or reduced fee, you cannot file Form N-400 online. You must submit a paper application.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Application for Naturalization
Mail your completed N-400 together with the appropriate fee request form (I-912 or I-942), all supporting documentation, and any required payment to the USCIS lockbox listed in the N-400 filing instructions.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-942, Request for Reduced Fee Put the fee waiver or reduced fee form and its supporting documents on top so intake staff see the request before looking for payment. If you are asking for the reduced fee, you still owe $380, so include payment authorization with the packet.
Download the current edition of each form before filing. USCIS updates them periodically, and older versions cause processing delays. Consistency also matters: if the income figure on your I-912 or I-942 does not match the tax return you attached, the discrepancy will be flagged. Check the math before you mail anything.
USCIS sends a receipt notice when your package arrives, and a separate notification later confirms the decision on your fee request. Verification of income and benefit information typically takes several weeks.
If Your Request Is Denied
There is no formal appeal for a denied fee waiver or reduced fee request.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions USCIS returns your application without processing it. From there you have two choices: submit a new fee request with stronger documentation, or refile with the full fee. Move quickly either way, since filing the request did not pause any deadlines you were working against.
Waivers for Related Citizenship Forms
The same I-912 process also covers two other citizenship filings, in case you need one of them instead of or alongside naturalization. Form N-600 (Certificate of Citizenship) costs $1,385 by paper or $1,335 online, and is used by people who acquired or derived citizenship through a parent. Form N-565 (Replacement Document) costs $555 by paper or $505 online, though there is no fee if USCIS caused the error being corrected.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule Both use the same income thresholds and documentation rules described above.