Naturalization Cost Calculator — U.S.
Citizenship Costs
A naturalization cost calculator should do more than add an N-400 filing fee. The full citizenship budget can include the USCIS filing amount, biometrics appointment logistics, document replacement, certified court records, translations, passport photos, and attorney review if your residence, travel, tax, criminal, or selective-service history needs legal analysis. Use this guide to estimate the practical cost of becoming a U.S. citizen and to decide whether a fee waiver, reduced fee, or attorney consultation should be part of your plan.
Important: This tool provides educational estimates only — not legal advice. Made For Law is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any federal, state, county, or local government agency or court system. Calculator results are based on statutory formulas and publicly available fee schedules — not AI. Supporting content is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Results may not reflect recent legislative changes or your specific circumstances. Do not rely solely on these estimates — always verify with official sources and consult a licensed attorney before making legal or financial decisions. Full disclaimer
Naturalization Cost Breakdown
The main naturalization cost is Form N-400, but it is rarely the only planning number. Applicants often need replacement green cards, certified dispositions, tax transcripts, translations, or legal review before filing. Those items can determine whether the case is a simple citizenship application or a higher-risk filing.
N-400 filing fee
USCIS fee schedules separate general filing, reduced fee, and fee waiver situations. Online filing is usually cheaper than paper filing when online filing is allowed.
Biometrics
Fingerprints and photos are handled through USCIS Application Support Centers. The cost is generally bundled into the N-400 filing fee, but travel to the appointment is still practical cost for many applicants.
Attorney review
Attorney fees are optional for clean, straightforward cases. They become more important when absences, criminal records, unpaid taxes, prior USCIS issues, or good moral character questions could affect approval.
Records and translations
Certified court records, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, tax transcripts, name-change records, and certified translations can add cost before USCIS ever receives the form.
Fee waiver planning
Qualifying applicants may request a fee waiver or reduced fee. The request needs documentation, and filing on paper may be required when asking USCIS to reduce or waive the N-400 fee.
After approval
After the oath ceremony, many new citizens budget for a U.S. passport, passport photos, voter registration updates, and Social Security record updates.
N-400 Document Checklist
Before you pay the N-400 filing fee, confirm whether you qualify for the general fee, reduced filing fee, fee waiver, or military filing option. USCIS may require different evidence for a request for reduced fee or a request for fee waiver, and a rejected payment can delay the naturalization application even when the citizenship eligibility facts are strong.
The application for naturalization is also a record-gathering task. Before you submit Form N-400, confirm your green card history, spouse information if you are filing under the 3-year rule, travel dates, tax filings, and whether you must file your citizenship application by mail to apply for a fee waiver or reduced fee. A naturalization cost calculator can help you determine whether the N-400 filing fee, biometrics, records, and attorney review fit your budget before you make a payment.
N-400 Payment Methods and USCIS Fee Options
Naturalization applicants can often file online, but applicants requesting a fee waiver or reduced fee may need to file by mail. Check whether USCIS accepts credit card payment, debit card, money order, cashier's check, personal check, Form G-1450 for credit card transactions, or ACH authorization for the specific filing route. If the credit card is declined, the money order is wrong, or the fee is not refundable after acceptance, the cost calculator should still treat payment risk as part of the plan.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services treats naturalization costs as more than one online fee. If you file Form N-400 online, pay the fee through the USCIS account. If you file by mail, the citizenship application by mail may go to a USCIS lockbox with a money order, cashier's check, personal or business check, or card with Form G-1450. USCIS no longer accepts outdated fee amounts, and the calculator can help flag whether you must pay the fee, may qualify for an exemption, or should apply for a fee waiver using Form I-912.
USCIS no longer accepts outdated payment amounts. If you use Form G-1450, verify that the credit card transactions authorization is signed and that the card has sufficient funds. If you use a personal or business check, money order, cashier's check, prepaid card, bank account payment, or Pay.gov where available, keep proof of payment. If USCIS rejects the payment or the application is denied after acceptance, the filing fee is not refundable in many situations.
Eligibility and Interview Costs to Plan For
Naturalization eligibility affects cost because not every N-400 is a simple form filing. Most applicants use the 5-year permanent resident rule, while some spouses of U.S. citizens use the 3-year rule. Military applicants, applicants with long travel outside the United States, and applicants with criminal or tax history may need extra evidence or legal analysis before filing.
Fee Waiver and Reduced Fee Strategy
A fee waiver or reduced fee can change the USCIS amount, but the request should be treated as its own evidence packet. Applicants should gather benefit letters, income records, tax documents, household-size proof, hardship evidence, and any translated documents before mailing. Even when USCIS waives or reduces the filing fee, private costs such as certified court records, translations, attorney review, transportation, and passport costs after citizenship remain outside the waiver.
Applicants with annual household income near the federal poverty guidelines should check the reduced fee thresholds before they make a payment. The New Americans Campaign, Mission Asset Fund, and similar nonprofit resources may help you determine whether a loan to help you pay, hardship documentation, or benefit proof is realistic. If the application is denied, you generally do not get your money back, so budget for unexpected medical bills or emergencies, translations, certified court records, and the possibility that you must file your citizenship application again.
If the annual household income is less than 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, a reduced fee may qualify some applicants for a lower amount, while applicants who are unable to pay may request a fee waiver. The calculator can help compare the 710 online filing amount, 760 paper filing amount, 380 reduced fee planning figure, and document costs such as translations, certified records, and replacement green card expenses before you decide how to file.
Naturalization Cost Calculator
Free. No signup. Your inputs stay in your browser.
Related naturalization cost calculator tools
More free legal tools
Related articles
Frequently asked questions
Edited and reviewed by our editorial team. Answers are general information — not legal advice.
How much does Form N-400 cost in 2026?
USCIS lists different N-400 fees depending on how the application is filed and whether the applicant qualifies for a reduced fee. The general N-400 filing fee is lower online than on paper. Applicants requesting a fee waiver or reduced fee generally must file on paper and include the required support. Always confirm the current amount on the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule before submitting.
Is there still a separate biometrics fee for naturalization?
For standard N-400 naturalization filings, biometrics are generally built into the listed USCIS filing fee instead of charged as a separate $85 line item. You may still have to attend a biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center unless USCIS reuses fingerprints already on file.
Who is eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship?
The standard eligibility requirements: (1) have been a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen and living in marital union; (2) have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months of those 5 years (or 18 months of 3 years for spouses); (3) have maintained continuous residence (no trips abroad longer than 6 months without advance parole); (4) be a person of good moral character; (5) be able to read, write, and speak basic English; and (6) pass the civics test. Military members may qualify under different rules (8 USC § 1440).
What does the civics test and English test require?
USCIS administers two tests at the naturalization interview: an English test (reading, writing, and speaking) and a civics test covering U.S. history and government. The civics test consists of 20 questions drawn from a published list of 128 questions — you must answer 12 of 20 correctly to pass. USCIS publishes the full question and answer list at uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources. Applicants 65 years or older who have been permanent residents for 20+ years get a shorter 10-question version and may take the test in their native language.
Does military service speed up naturalization?
Yes — significantly. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1440, active duty service members can apply for naturalization after just one year of honorable service during any period (not limited to wartime). The $710 filing fee is waived for active-duty military. Surviving spouses and children of military members who died during active-duty service may be eligible for expedited naturalization. Veterans who served honorably but are no longer active can use the standard 5-year path or, in some cases, qualify under special provisions for service during designated hostilities periods.
Does the U.S. allow dual citizenship?
The U.S. does not prohibit dual citizenship, but the naturalization oath (Oath of Allegiance) does include a renunciation of 'allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty.' In practice, USCIS does not require you to formally renounce your prior citizenship — whether you lose your prior nationality depends on the other country's laws. Many countries (including Mexico, India, and the Philippines) have separate rules about whether their citizens can hold another country's passport. Consult that country's consulate to understand the implications before naturalizing.
What happens at the naturalization ceremony?
After your interview and application approval, you receive a notice for a naturalization ceremony. At the ceremony, you take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States — the formal step that makes you a citizen. You then surrender your green card and receive your Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550). The ceremony can be a same-day administrative ceremony at the USCIS office or a larger judicial ceremony in a federal courthouse. After the ceremony, you can apply for a U.S. passport (Form DS-11, $165 for a standard 10-year adult passport).
What documents should I collect before using a naturalization cost calculator?
Gather your green card, travel history for the last 5 years, addresses, employment and school history, tax filing records, marriage and divorce records, child support records if applicable, selective service information if you were required to register, and certified court records for any arrest or citation. These documents affect whether a simple N-400 budget is enough or whether attorney review should be included.
When should I budget for an immigration attorney for naturalization?
Many straightforward applicants file without a lawyer. Add attorney fees to your naturalization cost estimate if you have long trips outside the United States, unpaid taxes, criminal history, past immigration problems, selective service issues, prior denials, child support concerns, or uncertainty about the 3-year spouse-of-citizen rule versus the standard 5-year rule.
What happens if I fail the naturalization interview or civics test?
USCIS usually gives applicants one retest opportunity for the failed portion of the English or civics test. If the officer denies the N-400 after the second interview, you may be able to request a hearing or refile later. If the issue is not just testing, such as good moral character, tax compliance, trips abroad, or a criminal record, budget for attorney review before the next step.
Open the naturalization cost calculator.
Free. No signup. Sourced to state statutes and public fee schedules.
Open the calculatorLegal professional? Embed this tool on your website →