U.S. Citizenship Step-by-Step

The path to becoming a United States citizen requires a number of steps. Naturalization is the legal process where a foreign citizen can become a U.S. citizen. Citizenship can take several years but there are many benefits to becoming an American citizen.

Before applying for U.S. citizenship, the applicant must be eligible. If the person qualifies for citizenship, they must complete an application, attend an interview, and pass an English language and U.S. government civics test. After completing these steps, the applicant takes an oath of allegiance and will receive their certificate of naturalization.

Immigration laws in the U.S. can be complicated, and the process can change at any time. Talk to an experienced immigration lawyer in your area to help you understand the pathway to citizenship.

Citizenship Eligibility Requirements

There are a few ways to become a U.S. citizen. Individuals who were born in the United States or a U.S. territory are generally considered citizens by birth. Alternatively, if one or both of a child’s parents were U.S. citizens at the time of their birth, they may also be a citizen by blood. If you do not fit in one of these categories, then you have to go through the naturalization process to become a citizen.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) seeks to ensure that only those with a sincere desire to become U.S. citizens will be approved for naturalization. According to USCIS, individuals applying for naturalization must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have permanent residence (green card holder or LPR)
• Be a lawful permanent resident and have been continuously residing in the U.S. for at least five years at the time of application (or at least three years for foreign spouses of a U.S. citizen)
• Have good moral character

There are some exceptions to the permanent residency requirement, with some exceptions for time out of the country that your immigration attorney can explain in more detail.

USCIS also provides helpful information about the different requirements for naturalization that helps prospective applicants determine if they can apply. Your most important resource is an immigration attorney who can prepare your application and guide you through the citizenship examination and naturalization interview process.

If you meet the citizenship requirements, you can apply for naturalization. The government provides a series of publications that explain the naturalization application process in detail. The USCIS website is a helpful resource.

How To Complete the Citizenship Application

Whether you’re working alone or with an experienced immigration law attorney, completing the application for citizenship requires:

• Complete form N-400 Application for Naturalization
• Collect the required documents
• File form, documents, and filing fee ($760 for filing a paper application and $710 for online filing, as of August 2025) to the appropriate service center.

Fingerprints and Biometrics

As part of your application, your fingerprints and biometrics will be taken. This part of the step-by-step process includes:

• Receive a letter with the biometrics appointment from the USCIS.
• Go to the approved appointment site by the deadline.
• Have your fingerprints taken.
• Provide additional documents, if requested.

This is part of a background check. The USCIS may compare your biometrics and fingerprints against a database to try to identify if the individual has an undisclosed criminal history or is not being truthful about their identity.

“Interview and Citizenship Test”

The next step is one of the last parts before you are sworn in as a citizen. For the citizenship interview and exams, the process involves:

• Receiving an appointment for the interview
• Attending the local office at the scheduled time and bringing identification
• Answering questions about your U.S. citizenship application and your background
• Taking a basic English test
• Taking a government civics and U.S. history test
• Getting information about the USCIS officer’s decision

Oath of Allegiance

If you pass the interview and exam, you can proceed to the final step of taking the oath of allegiance. The naturalization oath ceremony is where you swear to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and laws of the United States. The process of the naturalization oath involves:

• Receive a date for the swearing-in ceremony
• Appear at the ceremony
• Return your permanent resident card (green card)
• Answer questions about what you have been doing since your interview
• Take the oath of allegiance

Find a Lawyer To Help Get U.S. Citizenship

The information on this page is intended to be informative, but it does not cover every immigration topic and requirement. An experienced citizenship attorney can talk to you about your case, help you start the process, and explain your options. Get started now and contact a local citizenship attorney to discuss your path to citizenship.